SWEET REVENGE
UK, 1998, 88 minutes, Colour.
Sam Neill, Helena Bonham Carter, Kristin Scott Thomas, Rupert Graves, John Wood, Steve Coogan, Martin Clunes.
Directed by Malcolm Mowbray.
Alan Ayckbourn was one of Britain’s most successful playwrights in the later decades of the 20th century and into the 21st century. He was notable for his wit as well as his irony and satire on British characters in British life.
This is a brief film based on his Revenger’s Comedies. This was used for the original title of the film. However, the film-makers decided to go with a lighter touch with Sweet Revenge.
The film was directed by Malcolm Mowbray who directed a number of comic films and television programs including A Private Function.
The running time is short but quite an amount of plot is packed into it. Opening on Tower Bridge, he shows the attempted suicide of Henry Bell, played with some naivete and innocence by Sam Neill. He is prevented from succeeding with his attempt as he goes to help Karen, Helena Bonham Carter. Her suicide attempt has not succeeded either – and she has gone to the wrong bridge.
Over a drink, Karen suggests a kind of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train pact to murder the cause of anguish in each other’s life. Karen is better at this than Henry and she takes on a secretarial job with the man who took over from Henry, played in his style that was to become so familiar by Steve Coogan. Henry, on the other hand, is supposed to murder Imogen, Kristin Scott Thomas, the wife of a local landowner who Karen says slighted her. Instead, Henry and Imogen fall in love and eventually marry, not without an absurd dual between Henry and Imogen’s husband. And all this is presided over by Imogen’s uncle, John Wood, who does the narration in the form of a visit to a church, introducing himself to God formally and explaining why God should help Henry.
1. An amusing comedy, satire, with irony?
2. Alan Ayckbourn’s title, The Revenger’s Comedies? The film’s title and the focus on the sweetness of the revenge? Ironically?
3. Alan Ayckbourn and his plays, theatrical success, the several later adaptations by Alain Resnais? This adaptation from the 1990s? His situations, characters, humour, parody, satire? The theatrical nature of the film, the opening out from the theatre?
4. Colonel Marcus and his narrative, going to the church, the formal introduction to God and thanking him for his time in listening? His story of Henry Bell? The flashbacks? His narrative continuing during the film, sometimes to camera? The end and his comments? A very Brit character?
5. Henry and his situation, on the bridge, losing his job, the divorce, his papers falling into the river? Hearing Karen’s plea, the rescue? Listening to her story – her hyper story? The wrong bridge? Going to the cafe, the reactions to the men? The blunt style? Taking Henry home?
6. Karen, the situation, her exaggeration, the wealth, the house, Winnie, old, dominating the trainee and wanting to stay? The night, sexual relationship, Henry’s clothes gone, carried out? Eccentricities? Driving, her car? Oliver and his explanations?
7. The pact, the overtones of Strangers on a Train? How serious her intent? Drawing Henry into her plans?
8. Oliver, the younger brother, his character, the story of their childhood, the burnt house, their parents’ death? His bike, riding through the house? A pleasant playboy? His friendship with Henry?
9. Tony, his story, type, the hunt, despising his wife, not having a relationship with Karen despite her story, his actual liaison with the trainee’s mother, and the woman and her finding out the true story and her over-reaction? An unlikely liaison?
10. Imogen, haughty at first, encountering Henry, the injury, his carrying her, falling in love, the husband catching them several times, his anger?
11. Solving the problem with a dual? Marcus, his bringing the message? The explanations of the rules? The duals in the 20th century? Oliver training and helping Henry, assisting him? Tony and his assistant? The set up, Henry’s reaction, ducking, his gun going off, Tony accidentally shot, his death and lament that he was dying from an accident? Marcus and his being content with the result, for Henry and Imogen to marry?
12. Karen as secretary, her frizzy hair, the arrival of Bruce, as a personality, his touching her and her reactions? Work in the office? The importance of the inhaler? Karen and the phone calls to Bruce’s wife, her voice, with the radio, finally appearing at the car and her dress? The wife’s reaction? Bruce and his reaction? In the office, the inhaler, Karen pretending not to find it? His death? Henry and his shocked reaction?
13. The happy ending to Henry and Imogen?
14. An amusing comedy, British perspectives?
