THE PASSION OF DARKLY NOON
UK, 1995, 101 minutes, Colour.
Brendan Fraser, Ashley Judd, Vigo Mortensen, Loren Dean, Grace Zabriskie.
Directed by Philip Ridley.
The Passion of Darkly Noon comes from writer director, novelist Philip Ridley. Over twenty-five years he has made only a few films, fifteen years between Darkly Noon and his horror film, Heartless.
The film is eerie and apocalyptic in its conclusion. It focuses on religious people in the southern US, thought of as different, persecuted by townspeople. Brendan Fraser portrays Darkly Noon, a young man whose parents have been killed, wandering the forests and rescued by a young coffin maker, Loren Dean, and cared for by Callie, Ashley Judd, and her de facto husband, Clay, Vigo Mortensen. Nearby is a hostile neighbour, played by Grace Sabriski, who blames Callie as a witch for destroying her family.
Darkly Noon is a very proper and reserved young man, becomes infatuated with Callie, does not understand his passion. He listens to the neighbour, he imagines his parents (up a tree), giving him advice. While he works with Clay, and Jude befriends him, he becomes more obsessed in his inner life, ultimately painting himself red and attacking Callie with dire results.
The film is atmospheric, sets up a picture of isolated life in the southern United States.
1. The impact of the film? As portrait, drama, passion, apocalyptic climax?
2. The southern setting, the forest, the isolated house, the buildings? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus on passion, felt passion, enthusiasm for the Gospel, sexual passion? The way that Darkly Noon’s name was found, pinpointing words in the bible?
4. Darkly Noon and his wandering the forest, his age, appearance, suit and tie? His collapse on the road? Being found by Jude, the rescue, bringing him back to the house, Callie looking after him?
5. The signalling of the days of the week that Darkly Noon was with Callie, the build-up to the final night?
6. Callie, living in the forest, beautiful, loving Clay, supporting him? Friends with Jude? Clay wandering off but always coming back? His not being able to speak? Their not being married, but de facto married? Callie and her being a free spirit? Her care for Darkly, calling him Lee, the clothes, going to the springs, listening to his story, his name, rescuing the bible? Awareness of his attitude towards her? Her joy with Clay coming back, their life together? Her welcoming Jude? Quincy and his visit? The criticisms of Roxy, her explanations?
7. Clay, Roxy’s son, the background story, Roxy’s husband and his attack on Callie, Roxy blaming Callie? Her meeting Darkly in the woods, explaining the situation to him, Callie’s rebuttal? Clay and his being comfortable with Callie? The hard work, carpenter, Darkly working with him? Communication without speaking?
8. Jude, friend, building the coffins, going to town, always planning to go away? Rescuing Darkly, becoming friends? His decision to leave, asking Darkly to come with him? His understanding what was happening to Darkly?
9. Darkly, his recovery, the death of his parents and the effect on him, his religious beliefs, primness and prudery? His attraction towards Callie, watching her, the sexual scene? His being at the spring, reserve? His observations, beginnings of jealousy towards Clay, watching Clay and Callie, listening to Roxy, imagining his parents giving him advice, their being in the tree, their being in the house?
10. The final night, the build-up and his inner voices, painting himself red, the weapon, coming into the house, the fire, setting the house alight, the attack on Callie? The fight with Clay, Clay’s injury? Jude, his coming to the house, the gun, shooting Darkly? Rescuing Callie?
11. The overall effect of the drama, getting to know the characters, understanding the inner lives and passion?
