Looking forward to a subtle period piece about love which cannot be expressed easily especially in the repressive 1950s, I was hoping for a film with plenty of subtlety and nuance, expressiveness and sensitivity. Unfortunately, these factors were demeaned by an excruciating screenplay, totally inadequate to the film and its actors; a monotonously boring and irritating soundtrack which obtruded at every point; and a labouring of obvious sentiments unnecessarily. The actors were inhibited, not by the subject, but by the production and dialogue. Watching this film was not dissimilar to watching paint dry - or in this case peeling - the door of the leading character's house was dilapidated and needed stripping down and repainting badly - a rather good metaphor for the whole film.
However, the one high point was the setting: the period detail was exact and lovingly attended to by the director (and as I read, he inherited many of the accessories from his grandmother). I was brought up in the fifties and felt totally familiar with the scenes - whether soft furnishings and wallpapers; kitchen utensils and public transport, costumes and handbags. These were a joy to see - but sadly, the film moved as slowly as the fifties I remember (maybe this was intentional!).
So I can only rate this movie as 5 out of 10. I liked the story and the characters, but the drama was too low-key to be effective and for a story of 'forbidden love' did not translate to a 21st century audience who are a world away from fifties ideology, prejudices, and inhibitions. It was nice that the film ended on a note of hope but the plot was contrived to achieve this and fell flat.
Pity.
However, the one high point was the setting: the period detail was exact and lovingly attended to by the director (and as I read, he inherited many of the accessories from his grandmother). I was brought up in the fifties and felt totally familiar with the scenes - whether soft furnishings and wallpapers; kitchen utensils and public transport, costumes and handbags. These were a joy to see - but sadly, the film moved as slowly as the fifties I remember (maybe this was intentional!).
So I can only rate this movie as 5 out of 10. I liked the story and the characters, but the drama was too low-key to be effective and for a story of 'forbidden love' did not translate to a 21st century audience who are a world away from fifties ideology, prejudices, and inhibitions. It was nice that the film ended on a note of hope but the plot was contrived to achieve this and fell flat.
Pity.