In a decaying mansion in England, the former Lord Donald Brocklebank (Roger Lloyd Pack) lives with his wife Nancy (Kate Fahy), who is very ill, and their retarded and schizophrenic teenage son James (Leo Bill) that needs to use several pills to calm down. Donald is completely broken, apparently for paying for Nancy's medical treatment, and has been pressed to see his manor.
One day, Donald needs to travel early in the morning to London for a business and he summons Nurse Mary (Sarah Ball). However, James decides to prove to his father that he is capable to take care of his mother and he closes all the accesses to the house and locks himself with his mother inside the house. He gives an overdose of pills to his mother expecting to heal her and Nancy dies. In the funeral, there is another problem with James driving Donald insane.
"The Living and the Dead" is a harrowing and disturbing journey to insanity. The screenplay entwines reality and madness, past and present, in an environment of nightmare and the viewer needs to be very concentrated in the film to understand the story.
Leo Bill and Kate Fahy deliver top-notch performances and the camera work is amazing. This is the first work of Simon Rumley that I see and I noted in IMDb that many viewers have not understood the unpleasant journey to hell and insanity of Donald Brocklebank that is indicated to specific audiences. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Distúrbio Fatal" ("Fatal Disorder")
One day, Donald needs to travel early in the morning to London for a business and he summons Nurse Mary (Sarah Ball). However, James decides to prove to his father that he is capable to take care of his mother and he closes all the accesses to the house and locks himself with his mother inside the house. He gives an overdose of pills to his mother expecting to heal her and Nancy dies. In the funeral, there is another problem with James driving Donald insane.
"The Living and the Dead" is a harrowing and disturbing journey to insanity. The screenplay entwines reality and madness, past and present, in an environment of nightmare and the viewer needs to be very concentrated in the film to understand the story.
Leo Bill and Kate Fahy deliver top-notch performances and the camera work is amazing. This is the first work of Simon Rumley that I see and I noted in IMDb that many viewers have not understood the unpleasant journey to hell and insanity of Donald Brocklebank that is indicated to specific audiences. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Distúrbio Fatal" ("Fatal Disorder")