FALLEN
UK/Hungary, 2017, 90 minutes, Colour.
Addison Timlin, Jeremy Irvine, Harrison Gilbertson, Joely Richardson, Hermione Corfield, Lola Kirke, Daisy Head, Juliet Aubrey, Norma Kuhling, Sianoa Smit-McPhee?.
Directed by Scott Hicks.
It is a bit of a surprise to find that the director of this supernatural fantasy is Scott Hicks (Shine, Snow Falling on Cedars, Hearts in Atlantis).
In recent decades, there have been many films about fallen angels, like the Prophecy series, as well as the 1990s drama with Denzel Washington. It is also called Fallen.
An explanation is given about the fall – not exactly the biblical story but an invention based on it. There are the rebellious angels and there are some angels who fall to earth because they did not take sides. And there is one angel who made an option because of love.
The setting is an institution where a young woman is sent after a court appearance. It will emerge that she has memories of the past, has been reliving her life and needs to be saved. There are inmates at the school who mock her, some who support her. And there is the attractive presence of Jeremy Irvine – whom she remembers in an episode from the 19th century. There is also a mysterious teacher who special subject seems to be the fall. She is played by Joely Richardson.
The film has a comparatively brief running time, sets up the characters in the institution, indicates the evil and the good angels, the evil one played by Harrison Gilbertson. They eventually sprout wings, are involved in deadly conflict, both hoping to save the heroine.
The material for a Young Adults novel and film – and for younger rather than older.
1. The title? The popularity of the novel? The mythology about angels, the rebellion against God, the rebellious Angels, the undecided Angels who fell, the angel who fell for the sake of Love? The connections with biblical stories? Melodramatic enhancing of these stories, fictions?
2. Lucinda’s story, her background, her powers, visions and shadows, her responsibility for the death of Trevor? In court, sentenced to the establishment? Her age, experience, personality? Bewilderment, resentment? The interview at her arrival, the range of women, helping, Pen and her friendship? Molly and her sinister hostility?
3. Her seeing Cam being returned? His rebellious attitudes? Her encounters with him, in class, fencing, his presence, the attraction? Her seeing Daniel, in the library, his ignoring her, in class? The fencing class and her powerful experiences, attacking him? The gradual revelation of the truth, her memories of the 19th century, Todd and his technological skills, the picture?
4. Life at the establishment, the routines, the effect on Lucinda?
5. Miss Sophia, her specialty, the library, the lessons, the stories of the angels? Her interventions? With Daniel – her pleading, her disappearing?
6. The buildup to a climax, Daniel rescuing Lucinda? The clash between Daniel and Cam? The battle between good and evil? Lucinda and her choice, the kiss?
7. The special visual effects for the fights between the two angels?
8. The explanations of Daniel’s history, Lucinda’s past and encounters with him? The future?
