Distant Voices - Terence Davies at the Cinematheque

DISTANT VOICES – The Films of Terence Davies

Cinematheque Ontario presents the second time around – a retrospective of Terence Davies films.  The first time back in the early 90’s , Davies attended and graced Cinematheque members with an introductory talk followed by a Q&A section at the end of the screenings.  I was a wee younger then and not a film critic.  I remember being amazed by this great British talent after watching the mesmerizing THE LONG DAY CLOSES the first time while in London.  I got Davies to autograph the front cover my SIGHT & SOUND issue that had a still of THE LONG DAY CLOSES on it.

Davies is a fantastic speaker.  Hearing him rattle on about his youth, the cinema and his passion in making film is absolute delight.  To me, his best films are those made in his native Britain – DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES, THE LONG DAY CLOSES and his latest, the documentary OF TIME AND THE CITY which will have a limited run a the Cinematheque.  But Davies also succeeded in Hollywood with the highly praised HOUSE OF MIRTH.

Check out the Cinematheque Ontario website at:
http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca
for details on the Davies films, screening times and prices.

Below are reviews of three of the Davies screenings. 

THE LONG DAY CLOSES (UK 1992) ***** Top 10
Directed by Terence Davies

THE LONG DAY CLOSES could arguably be described as the most cinematically poetic film of all time.  Terence Davies’ hauntingly stunning film brings tears to my eyes for its sheer beauty and director’s craft.

Those familiar with Mr. Davies and his films will be able to appreciate his work better.  His trilogy of short films is basically embodied in this work.

THE LONG DAY CLOSES is the story (if one wants to call it one) of 11-year old Bud who lives in Liverpool.  Bud is clearly the Terence Davies at his youth.  At the film’s start, Bud (Leigh McCormack) asks his mum: “I have only a penny.  Would you give me 11 pence to make a shilling to go to the pictures?” This cheeky boy finds solace in going to the cinema, though often he has to wait in the rain to find an adult to take him in.  (I assume that Bud is watching the AA rated films that require an adult accompaniment.)

Davies is unafraid to show the prejudices of the times - a polite African is given a hard time by his family when appearing at the door - and Bud’s difficult life at school.  The humour can laugh-out loud funny (the carrying on with his family’s fat couple) or subtle (Bud’s geography teacher’s lesson on the types of erosion).

Those who have heard Davies introduce his films or speak know him to be a very eloquent speaker, often punctuating his speeches with humour and anecdotes.  But Davies is a very serious man, one who despises his Catholic up-bringing, his stern father (not seen in this movie, but in actual life died from prostrate cancer) and even his homosexuality.  All this is seen in the film.  But his love for musicals (especially SINGING IN THE RAIN) is most evident in the musical score of this film. The soundtrack is filled with American musical scores of old like the melodious. TAMMY.

The title THE LONGS DAY CLOSES is probably derived from the long 2-minute take Davies shoots of a carpet in Bud’s house as the sun shines in the wee morning hours to its setting as the camera tracks up to Bud looking out the window.  Davies is a master at camera tracking.  The one genius tracking shot has a cross with a crucified man swung from a horizontal position, sideways right up vertical in one take.  And who else but Davies would think of an overhead tracking shot over the lights of the projector in the cinema?

THE LONG DAY CLOSES won a 10-minutes standing ovation when played at Cannes.  Though it came away with nothing, Davies’ film has won a place in
the heart of many critics and audiences the world over.  THE LONG DAY CLOSES is one of my 10 favourite films of all time.

OF TIME AND THE CITY (UK 2008) ***** Top 10
Directed by Terence Davies

OF TIME AND THE CITY could very be titled MY LIVERPOOL.  Like the recent Guy Madden’s MY WINNIPEG, OF TIME AND THE CITY is a director’s poetic musings of the likes and dislikes of the city where he was born.  Davies returns to his roots in Liverpool after a brief spell making Hollywood films.

Very much like THE LONG DAY CLOSES, but with less of an emphasis on him and his family, Davies’ new documentary is as stunning and beautiful as that minor masterpiece.  With OF TIME AND THE CITY, Davies is again not afraid to show his guilt at his homosexuality of his youth, his sheer distaste for the Catholic Church and though moderated here, dislike for the monarchy and government.  (It should be known that Davies is in person, a very humorous and likeable speaker.) Davies narrates the film on his own – he has a stern baritone voice - and the narration is filled with his poetry and the words of Masters like Joyce and Jung.  The music here is of a more serious nature – most of the musical numbers that filled THE LONG DAY CLOSES are replaced by classical pieces. 

THE TERENCE DAVIES TRILOGY (UK 1984) ****
Directed by Terence Davies

The Davies trilogy is comprised of three of his short films, CHILDREN, MADONNA AND CHILD and DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION screened in that order and put together as a feature.  Shot in stunning black and white, the autobiographical film shows the director in his youth from boy to adult to death.

These three featurettes are distinctly sombre and harrowing by nature.  Those two words are sufficient to keep audiences away despite the film being worth a look.  For example, CHILDREN ends with a prolonged suffering segment in which his father writhes in pain from prostrate cancer.  While CHILDREN ends with his death, MADONNA AND CHILD ends with his mum’s and the last with his.  The actors hardly smile and the black and white photography enhances the bleakness.  The only ray of sunshine arrives in the one or two cheery tunes (including one song sung brightly by Doris Day) heard at the end.