I have seen a number of films in the Edinburgh International Film Festival (http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/) this year so thought I would use my blog to write some reviews.
The first film I saw was the Premiere and opening film “The Edge of Love” with Keira Knightly, Matthew Rhys, Cillian Murphy and Sienna Miller. I should mention thanks to the Apex Hotels for the invite!
The showing was the 1830 showing with the stars in attendance (sort of!) and a chance to walk down the *red carpet*. Have to say I LOVED walking down the red carpet – once in a life time experience and was both nerve-wracking and thrilling.
The film itself was just OK. It centred largely the relationships between the four main (and pretty much only) characters – Dylan Thomas, his wife Caitlin Macnamara, his childhood friend Vera Killick (nee Phillips) and her husband William Killick. It was set in both London and West Wales.
It was a quite interesting storyline – a lot of conjecture mixed with some actual events. For example the incident where the incident where William Killick shoots at the Thomas’ household and threatens them with a grenade was a true occurrence – even if the events surrounding it were not. It follows the period of time when the three main characters, Thomas, Caitlin and Vera were extremely close both during their time in London and later in West Wales.
I found the first part of the film, tighter and more together and than the second part which was shot in Wales. The film seems to go down hill when Vera’s husband, William goes away to war – this may be to help represent the unravelling of his character on return from the Second World War. However, my personal opinion is that as this is the part where the most imagination is required – as to what actually happened during this time – the writing is what is at fault.
I felt the acting was good – on all parts – even if Knightley’s accent could have been a little less exaggerated. I was particularly impressed with Sienna Miller as I had not actually seen her act in a film before.
In conclusion I did enjoy the film even if it may have been down to the *event* of attending the premiere and after show party rather than the actual film!
Tags: Edinburgh International Film Festival, EIFF, film, review, The Edge of Love
