Enchanted April

[Matilda]

I thought I'd start a fresh post on this film, since the earlier mentions
are now a way down the posts.

I've watched it twice, and really loved it. But not having read the book
(I must try to get hold of it), I'm not sure that it was really happily
ever after at the end - I couldn't help wondering how long the spell
would hold once everybody was back in London.

I really worried about the Arbuthnots - Rose's reserve had been breached
by Mr Briggs, and Arbuthnot had gone to the villa lusting after Caroline,
and they were simply redirecting their forbidden feelings towards each
other, but it wasn't real. Rose was not the type of woman who would have
an affair, and it would take an enormous leap for her to consider leaving
her husband, but I thought she really would have been truly happy with
Mr Briggs. And he, poor man, would probably eventually have his heart
trampled on by Caroline - she really needed the adoration of lots of men,
however much she tried to deny it.

Lottie and Mellersh might have had more of a chance, but his new-found
admiration for her was at least partly founded on what he saw as her
usefulness to him in business. Back in London, she wouldn't have those
contacts and would probably have slipped back into her housewife role -
would his affection have held?

The one I felt most hopeful for was Mrs Fisher - I think that once her
defensive layers had been stripped away, she really was reborn. My
optimism probably comes from Joan Plowright's beautifully realised
performance - she's an actress whose technique I admire, but she doesn't
often move me. In this film, she did.

Most perfect moment? For me, the sounds of Mr Briggs playing the Elgar
oboe piece "Chanson de Matin", the music wafting out over the garden.
I could have stayed with that indefinitely.

And a question, especially for anyone who has read the book - it seemed
that Lottie and Rose didn't know each other before Lottie's bright idea
of hiring the villa together. It would be very unusual for two women,
especially for one as reserved as Rose, to have got together so quickly,
but as Lottie had to introduce herself, they were clearly strangers.
Perhaps they just knew each other by sight from the club? Can anyone
enlighten me?

[CBHagman]

1. Alas, I gave away my copy of the novel... (SPOILERS)

Perhaps I can find the text on Googlebooks.

The screenplay makes some changes from the novel. I recall in particular that the first meeting being Mr. Briggs and Caroline Dester is very different from what's depicted in the movie.

As for your thoughts on the various couples, I have not spent that much time on the ambiguity of the ending (Note Lottie's voiceover about their return to London being another story...). I always took it to mean that their friendships, as well as the magical influence of San Salvatore, continued after they'd returned home. However, I realize you can read it any way you want.

Okay, here's a spoiler: The novel makes clear what the film only hints at: Rose Arbuthnot is indeed a "disappointed Madonna," as her husband puts it, because she has lost a child. The novel doesn't clarify -- did she have a miscarriage? Was her baby stillborn? No details.

I always chose to believe that Rose became pregnant again at San Salvatore, but that's just my opinion.

As for the Wilkinses, I took the turn of events in the screenplay to mean that Lottie finally won confidence, Mellersh began to cultivate sensitivity, and they started to develop a sexual rapport. They do have a few rather sensual moments together, notably the scene where he's brushing her hair and a later one where they feed each other fruit during the picnic.

I seem to really need to believe everything was fine, but will confess to lingering doubts about the Arbuthnots. And Michael Kitchen is such a sweetie as Mr. Briggs that you really feel his disappointment when he realizes Rose is not available after all.

[Matilda]

2. Oh my, if Rose had lost a baby,

it makes her husband's attitude all the worse. He was completely
insensitive in his opening scenes, and couldn't wait for her to go away
on holiday.

I just couldn't help the feeling that Rose would always be disappointed.

I also loved Michael Kitchen's performance - he's such a sensitive and
likeable actor. I know him mostly from the series "Foyle's War" - did
that air in the U.S? It was a very straightforward, story-telling type
of series, but he gave his role many layers that made it quite complex
and very interesting.

[CBHagman]

3. All things Michael Kitchen.

You won't be surprised to hear that Michael Kitchen is all over PBS, our public television network. Yes, PBS has aired Foyle's War, as well as Reckless and To Play the King. In that last Kitchen was cast as a fictionalized version of the Prince of Wales, and I was duly impressed by how he nailed the voice and the body language.

It's likely Kitchen was long best known for his turn as Robert Redford's buddy in Out of Africa, but he's certainly put together an impressive body of work since then.

Mr. Briggs in Enchanted April is a lovely creation. He's a lot quirkier than the guy in the book, and Kitchen makes the most of it in just a few scenes.

[Matilda]

4. Ah, "To Play The King" - I do remember that.

Ian Richardson pretty well walked away with the whole series in spite of
the many other fine actors who appeared in it, but I do remember Michael
Kitchen as the "King Charles" figure, and he did have the character spot
on. I don't recall ever seeing "Reckless", but if it comes here on
cable, as so many older series do, I'll be sure to watch it.

I've seen Michael Kitchen guest in episodes of other series, and he's
always good; but I've seen little or nothing of his work in film; I
think the majority of his work has been on the small screen.

Edit to fix typo

[CBHagman]

5. "Reckless" ought to be on DVD.

I'm fairly certain both the original series and the sequel came out on DVD in the States, so I'd hope you could get them in Australia. It's really unmissable -- Francesca Annis, Robson Green, and Kitchen in a story of infidelity and a lot more. The writer is Paul Abbott, who brought us State of Play, Touching Evil, and Clocking Off, among others.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138739/

[Matilda]

6. Checked Quickflix, and they don't have "Reckless".

But they do have "Mrs Dalloway", which I haven't seen, so I put it on my
list. Vanessa Redgrave and Michael Kitchen; it just has to be good.

I've liked Francesca Annis ever since she appeared as Lillie Langtry in
the TV series way back when. She was so sexy and beautiful, and gave
such a good performance. (I share a birthday with Lillie Langtry; it
kind of makes up for Margaret Thatcher.)

I also noticed Daniela Nardini was in it too; she's one of my favourites
amongst the younger British actors. I first saw her in "This Life" (did
you get that one?), and loved her, and I've enjoyed watching her ever
since in quite a varied range of roles.

I'll just have to watch for "Reckless" on cable; it may well have even
been on and I just missed it.

[lavenderdiva]

7. After many years of waiting for 'Enchanted April' to come out on DVD

I finally got my copy of the DVD this past week from TCM. I had signed petitions on-line years ago, hoping this would encourage the powers that be to put it out on DVD. So, it was with great excitement that I opened my post box and saw the package!!

[Matilda]

8. I'm always amazed by the amount of sheer trash that's released on DVD,

but you have to search - or petition - for quality.