KEEPING MUM
UK, 2005, 103 minutes, Colour.
Rowan Atkinson, Kristen Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Patrick Swayze, Tamsin Egerton, Liz Smith, Emilia Fox, James Booth.
Directed by Niall Johnson.
It is probably true that some British housekeepers are battleaxes. But most of them don’t wield an axe, especially on unsuspecting neighbours. But, Maggie Smith, as the sweetly-smiling Grace Hawkins, has some secrets like this, and she needs to keep mum.
If you have ever seen that old classic, Arsenic and Old Lace, the one where two nice old ladies send lonely old men off to their eternal reward (or, at least, bury them in the cellar), then you will know what to expect. This is genteel black comedy.
We know from the opening of Keeping Mum that, under the sensible hat, inside the old-fashioned clothes, Maggie Smith’s Grace is a psychopathic killer. When challenged by the family she keeps house for that people just don’t go round killing people they don’t approve of, she cheerfully remembers that was the one thing she and her doctors disagreed on.
The family consists of the local vicar of Little Wallop (down Truro way), his dissatisfied wife, his emerging nymphomaniac 17 year old daughter and a son who is continually bullied at school. It is to the credit of Rowan Atkinson’s quite laid back performance as the vicar, that he brings a little pathos to the film. However, he does get the chance to perform some ‘Beanery’ comedy, especially a disastrous spell at goalkeeping during the local football match.
And Kristin Scott Thomas brings more than a spot of good acting to the frustrated wife. We know that she is a clerical desperate housewife when she becomes infatuated with her bronzed American golf coach, Patrick Swayze sending up his image. Or, at least, creating the impression that he is murderable when Grace unmasks him as a lying rotter.
It’s not as witty as all that. The comedy is often obvious. But, on the other hand, an impressive cast make it a smilingly light night out.
1.The pun of the title? Audience expectations? Comedy and irony?
2.A black comedy, the moral presuppositions about murder, accepting these for the film to go on?
3.The English village, the church, rectory, ordinary life, homes, the golf club? Musical score?
4.The prologue, Rosie, in the train, her trunk, the blood, her arrest, her story, the murders, in court, the psychiatric treatment, the years passing, her release? And the television discussion about her release?
5.The town, the church, the Reverend Walter Goodfellow (and his name)? His wife and her boredom? Their daughter, sex-preoccupied? Her choice of boyfriends – and rapid choice? Their son being bullied? Mrs Parker and her wanting to discuss the flower-arranging committee? The routines of ordinary life in the village?
6.Grace, her arrival, meeting Peter, Gloria confronting and scolding her, then glad to see her? The heavy trunk – providing a clue? Her room, her manner, wisdom, fostering everybody’s abilities, the catalyst for change?
7.Rowan Atkinson as Walter, quiet performance, fussy, out of date, his being bothered by Mrs Parker? His sermons? His going to the conference, preparing the address, God moving in mysterious ways? Grace suggesting jokes? His going to the computer, telling the jokes, changing? The change with his wife and their relationship? Going to the conference, some impromptu jokes, his speech and great success? The problem of God’s mysterious ways, Isaiah 55, “I am mysterious, live with it”? His return home, genial?
8.Gloria, the long years of their marriage, her children, tedium in the town, her golf practice, the liaison with Lance, his advances, promises, the trip to Mexico? The rendezvous, her worry? The phone calls and pretending they were from Lilian? The lies and meeting him for lunch? With Grace? The ultimatum? His disappearance? His meeting with Walter at the football match? With Holly, spying on her, the video? His character, the plan with Gloria? His death?
9.Mr Brown, the barking dog, incessant, Gloria unable to sleep? Mr Brown’s? surliness? The disappearance of his dog? Grace killing him?
10.Mrs Parker, snooping, the flower-arranging committee, her final confrontation, Grace with the shovel, her heart attack?
11.Lance, his character, the golf professional, American, sleazy, his phone call and Grace responding to it? His videoing Holly, his death?
12.Holly, rebellious, criticising her mother? Her range of boyfriends? Grace interesting her in cooking, the boyfriends and cooking? Seeing the truth on the television, her mother, the process of dealing with it, hiding under the bed? Collaborating with Grace? Appreciating her mother?
13.Gloria, the change, Grace as her mother, having to deal with the murders?
14.Peter, the bullying, Grace and the tampering with the brakes on the bikes?
15.Grace in herself, nice, her disagreement with the doctor about killing? Being Gloria’s mother? Her memories, her hopes? Her going away?
16.The aftermath, Gloria’s comments, everything to the good – and the threat of dredging the pond? Glimpsing the corpses under the water?
