MALACHI'S COVE

UK, 1973, 75 minutes, Colour.
Donald Pleasence, Dai Bradley, Veronica Quilligan, Peter Vaughan.
Directed by Henry Herbert.

Malachi's Cove is a small film but beautiful and warmly recommended. Based on a short story by Anthony Trollope, set in Cornwall 1880, the striking photography of coast and village invites us into the atmosphere of the times and the lives of the village people, happiness, squabbles, religion, but especially into the lives of old Malachi and his granddaughter who make their living gathering and selling seaweed from the rocks. Donald Pleasence gives a fine performance that is matched by the young Veronica Quilligan. Their obscure lives, struggles, joys and sorrows become very important as we watch them and explore their simplicity and values. A beautifully human experience.

1. The title, the focus on Malachi, on the Cove itself? The 19th century atmosphere, the world of a short story of the time, Anthony Trollope and his outlook? A satisfying visualisation of a short story?

2. The importance of the 19th century setting, 1880, Cornwall, the beaches, the house on the cliff? The presentation of the village, shops, church? The atmosphere of the village to help us understand Malachi and Mally? How well drawn was the village and its way of life, the attention to detail?

3. The importance of the Cornish environment for understanding the characters: old Cornish legends, old Cornish language and sayings, the poverty of Malachi's house, the parents killed in the water, the seaweed as a way of life, selling it? Barty and his experience on the cliffs and rocks?

4. The film's communication of the atmosphere of Cornwall: the sound of the language, the songs, the isolation, the simple way of life, the loneliness, the spirit of that part of England?

5. The focus on Mally: an attractive young girl, her isolation, dirtiness and poverty, charm and humour? A growing girl alone with her grandfather? The revelation about her parents and the flashbacks and the times that they appeared: in her encounter with the Gunliffes, her sitting watching the coastal scenery, her visit to the graves? The effect of her parents on her, their absence? Her grandfather and his looking after her? Her complete dedication to her grandfather? Jezebel the donkey as some companionship?

6. How important was the minute detail in which Mally's life was presented: with Jezebel, at work on the cliffs and on the shore for the seaweed, the bags, the sails? The detailed presentation of her home and its dinginess, her grandfather and his gin and tobacco and medicine? Her visit to the shops and the lack of money? Her visit to the doctor and the colour of the medicine? Her encounter of the fisherman on the cliff? Her visit to Mr. Carew and her discussion about the rights of private property? Her chats with the minister and his visit to the home? His kindly conversation and understanding, wanting to reconcile the families? Her visit to the church, her sleeping, her memories, Barty and his reaction, her wandering amongst the graves, the minister trying to help her with the families?

7. The portrayal of the Gunliffe family? The father and his work and his hesitation to help Mally for her parents? Mrs. Gunliffe and her bitterness and her rudeness to Mally? The confrontation at the end? Barty and his poking fun at Mally so often, raiding the cliffs for the seaweed, their rivalry? Mally and the revelation of the reason for her hatred of them? Her spite? The encounter at work, at the church? The confrontation at the end. daring Barty and his fall? The momentary hesitation about leaving him? Her rescuing him and being confronted with accusations of murder? The bitterness of Mrs. Gunliffe and her attack on Mally? The discovery of love and friendship in Mally? The happiness of the final scene after the reconciliation?

8. The weed merchant and his sons, the humour of the characterization, the wisdom of his advice to Grandfather?

9. The portrayal of Grandfather: his work on the Cove, building the house, his daughter and her death? What kind of man was he in himself, his grumpiness, his legs and their pain? The way of life in the house, sitting, smoking and drinking, the medicine, Mally putting him to bed, preparing his meals? His advice? His wanting her to be free? His warnings to Barty? The importance of his going down the cliff to help Barty? The vehemence of his final outburst but his realization that Mally had to be free? A sympathetic portrait of a crusty old man? The humanity in the character?

10. The character of Barty, his mother spoiling him, his father slinging off at him? His work, with the girls from the town, the church episode, his being slapped? The impact of the accident, his gratitude to Mally, his decision about being free from his mother? The bonds with Mally as they worked together at the end?

11. How pleasing a portrait of a way of life, people, details of another world?

12. The qualities of warmth, humanity in the film? Toughness, the capacity to survive, basic love and hate, forgiveness, wisdom and experience?