by Yazmin Ghonaim

FIRELIGHT William Nicholson (1997) In his directorial debut, screenwriter William Nicholson re-creates the spirit typical of the 1940's romantic movie dramas, with Firelight. Starring Sophie Marceau as Elisabeth, a beautiful Swiss governess, the story is set in England in the snowy winter of 1838. The opening scene reveals Elisabeth standing in the center of an austere room half-lit by a fire, as she is questioned and examined by a corpulent mid-wife. A timid male voice coming from behind a dark, wooden screen decides that she will be the one. Driven by desperate circumstances, Elisabeth makes a secret deal with Charles (Stephen Dillane) --whose voice she has heard and of whom she knows nothing-- and accepts to bear him a child in exchange for having her father's debts cleared. The only son of a British aristocrat, Charles must secure an heir; one that his invalid wife cannot provide. Composed of a series of shots that are selectively illuminated by the firelight from a seemingly "omniscient" fireplace, "...the one source of heat [amidst] the coldness and the empty rooms", as Nicholson describes it, the story's drama emanates from the scenes of: the characters' awkward sexual encounters; the fulfillment of their bargain; and their re-encounter years later, as Elisabeth sets out to find her daughter. In yet another desperate attempt, this time to extend a much needed love and education to the spoiled Louisa (Dominique Belcourt), Elisabeth imposes her warm presence in the melancholic household, transforming it into a field of amber radiance.		DVD Music Books Search by keywords:
Outstanding Features: Story Firelight Movie Review © 1998 Cinephiles - All rights reserved.