THE BRIDGE
UK, 1991, 99 minutes, Colour.
Saskia Reeves, David O' Hara, Joss Ackland, Rosemary Harris, Anthony Higgins, Geraldine James.
Directed by Sydney Mac Cartney.
The Bridge was adapted from a popular novel by Maggie Hemingway, a memoir of the late Victorian era, the speculation behind a painting, The Bridge, by artist Philip Wilson Steere, one of the initiators of British Impressionism. The film was directed by Sydney Mac Cartney, a commercials director. The film is very stylish, in the vein of BBC period productions.
The setting is the summer of 1897, Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The setting is the Suffolk coast where Steere goes to paint. He encounters an attractive woman, unhappily married, and they begin a liaison. The family discovers the truth, take disciplinary action against the woman and the husband attempts to buy off the artist. As he looks, finally, at the husband and wife discussing under the bridge, he paints this painting.
Saskia Reeves (December Bride, Close My Eyes, Antonia and Jane) is very attractive as Isobel, the woman caught in the loveless marriage. David O'Hara is the artist. There is a very strong supporting cast including Anthony Higgins as the husband, Rosemary Harris as the aunt and Joss Ackland as the local lawyer.
The photography of the Suffolk coast is beautiful, the film re-creates its period stylishly and dramatically.
1.The reputation of Philip Wilson Steere, 1887, The Bridge - and a speculation of the story behind the painting?
2.1887 and the Suffolk coast, the town, the home, the sea, the bridge? 19th century style, decor, costumes? Score?
3.The painting and Steere at work during the credits? His classic status, British Impressionism? The work of the artist, reputation with the critics, status?
4.The title of the film, the title of the painting? The tragic story?
5.The portrait of Steere himself, at work, age and background, attracted by the children, the attraction to Isobel, painting her? The storm and the melodrama of Todd's death? His wanting to paint the tragedy? Approaching the widow? The clash with the widow - and the later pathos of her death? Attracted to Isobel, offering to paint her, meeting Reginald, Aunt Jude and the family? His relationship with Smithson? Meeting Isobel under the bridge, talking with her, discovering the truth? His departure - and his return? Going with Isobel to the beach hut? The sexual liaison? Glimpsed by Emma? Summoned by Reginald, the attempt to pay him off - and his refusal? His leaving, but observing Isobel and Reginald at the bridge and painting them? Portrait of the artist?
6.The Victorian family, the arranged marriage, the loveless relationship? Children? Women and their being confined by convention? Family proprieties? Manners, restrictions? Isobel breaking out? Her fate and tragedy?
7.Isobel and her love for Emma, the tension with Reginald? Her life as a kind of imprisonment? Meeting Steere, attracted, talking with him under the bridge? The painting, going to the jubilee celebrations? Reginald and his absence, her pining? Reginald's return, Steere's return? The sexual encounter? Emma? Aunt Jude rebuking her and locking her in the room? Her being let out, Steere's leaving, the final discussion with Reginald at the bridge?
8.Aunt Jude, the proprieties of the Victorian era? The Victorian chaperone? Her severity in her treatment of Isobel?
9.Reginald, the Victorian gentleman, the arranged marriage, his pride in his family? Work? The pathos of his mother's death? The antagonism on his return, the confrontation with Steere, attempting to pay him off? The final clash with Isobel?
10.Emma, love for her mother, on the beach, the holiday, in the house? The friendship with Steere, seeing her mother with Steere? Revealing the truth? The innocent as the cause of tragedy?
11.The sketch of Smithson, the lawyer, his role in the town, observing what went on?
12.The episode of the storm, Todd and the fisherman, his son, the pathos of his death? The grief of the widow? Her place in the town, the attitude of people towards her? Steere wanting to paint her? Her anger? Her death and the discovery of her body?
13.An art memoir of the Victorian era?
