MIRANDA

UK, 2002, 93 minutes, Colour.
Christina Ricci, John Simm, Kyle Mac Lachlan, John Hurt.
Directed by Marc Munden.

Miranda was produced under the auspices of Channel Four which, soon after, dissolved its film projects. The film took a long time to be released, gives evidence that there was a lot of post-production work, perhaps the addition of a voice-over by the central character, Frank. This means that the film is not entirely watchable - a strange mixture of con-trick drama with some fantasy comedy. Christina Ricci is the femme fatale, involved in conning rich industrialists (embodied by Kyle Mac Lachlan) with the aid of mastermind John Hurt. John Simm is the love-besotted librarian, Frank.

The film's plot interweaves between Frank and his erotic obsession with Miranda, her moving in with him, her returning to her confidence tricks and emotional blackmail and leaving Frank high and dry. Unexpectedly at the end, Frank actually helps her and they settle down happily ever after. The director, Marc Munden, was a television director.

1. The impact of the film? Entertaining? Romance, confidence tricks, fantasy?

2. Northern England, the towns, libraries, hotels, homes? The ordinariness of the situations? The musical score - and the range of songs which give voice to Frank's fantasy and obsession with Miranda?

3. Christina Ricci as Miranda, young, confidence tricks? The femme fatale? Her relationship with Christian, working for him, reporting to him? The pursuit by Nailor and the deal, property development? Her scams, getting the Japanese businessman to buy the library? The big plan to sell the London hospital to Nailor, using his fixation on Miranda? The possibility of these kinds of scams? The credulity of the buyers?

4. Frank and his world, the initial fantasy, his living in a fantasy world? A boring character? In the library, with the clients? The encounter with Miranda, her becoming the girl of his dreams? The songs in the background? With Miranda, her response to him? His falling in love, inviting her to move in, the sexual encounter? Her mystery and his responding to the mystery? Her disappearance, his having to cope, discovering the truth? His helping her against Nailor? The possibilities for her reform, his settling down with her? His pursuit of her - and the suggestions that he was behaving more like a stalker than someone in love?

5. Christian, John Hurt's sardonic presence, the schemes, his hold over Miranda, the meetings with her? His meetings with Nailor? The plan to sell the hospital, the tours and the visits, his persuasive presentations? The climax with Nailor, losing Miranda?

6. Nailor, the American businessman, property developer, believing Christian, the obsession with Miranda, his wanting to buy the hospital? Miranda's disappearance? Her return, Nailor and his giving the five million pounds? Miranda with Nailor, the sexual encounter, her running away? His desperation, the confrontation, Frank and his intervention?

7. The other buyers, the Japanese and the buying of the library - and their being able to be persuaded that this was feasible?

8. The film seen as a romantic comedy, a mismatch of Frank and Miranda? Her falling in love with him? His obsession? The happy ending?

9. A satisfying entertainment or not?