FIRELIGHT

UK, 1997, 103 minutes, Colour.
Sophie Marceau, Stephen Dillane, Dominique Belcourt, Kevin Anderson, Lia Williams, Joss Ackland.
Directed by William Nicholson.

Firelight was written and directed by William Nicholson (Nicholson’s only direction of a film). Nicholson was writer of a range of films including Shadowlands and Grey Owl for Richard Attenborough as well as First Knight, Gladiator and Elizabeth the Golden Age.

The film has echoes of Jane Eyre, the story of a governess, a husband who has a wife injured who is kept in a room upstairs, a staff who are very loyal… Sophie Marceau is Elisabeth Laurier, a Swiss woman who has agreed to bear a child in surrogacy for Stephen Delane, whose wife was injured in the accident. She agrees to give up the child and takes the money for her bankrupt father. However, she tracks down the child and applies for the job of governess. The little girl (Dominique Belcourt) has been spoilt and is antagonistic to all governesses. However, Elisabeth takes a firm stand and there is a bond developing between the two. Kevin Anderson plays a friend from America who gets advice about sheep-breeding. Lia Williams portrays the sister of the ill wife. Joss Ackland is the irresponsible father.

The film looks beautiful in its re-creation of rural England in the 1830s and 40s. In many ways, it is a derivative piece, reminiscent of 19th century novels. However, for audiences who are fond of those stories, it is very enjoyable.

1. 19th century period, costume drama? Quality?

2. The links with the literature of the 19th century? Especially Jane Eyre? The governess, the owner of the house, his sick wife…?

3. 1838, the atmosphere, Victorian England? The resort and hotel? The mansion? The countryside? The fields and the sheep? A sense of realism?

4. The basic premise: Charles Godwin and his needing a child, the contract with Elisabeth? Elisabeth and her background, Switzerland, her father in debt? Her memories of her family and her father? Repaying him? The encounter with Charles, her personal feelings, the conceiving of the child? The birth of the child? The child taken away?

5. Charles, a good man, principles? The situation in which he found himself? The demands of his father? Meeting Elisabeth, the contract, the encounter, the taking of the child?

6. The passing of the years, Elisabeth and her diary, the inquiries about where her child was? Charles, his marriage, his wife’s accident, her being kept in the room, his talking with her? The family situation? Her sister and her presence in the house? Her love for Charles?

7. Elisabeth, the application for the job of governess? The interviews? The meeting with Constance? Her friendliness? Louisa and her cantankerousness? Elisabeth’s response to seeing her child? Charles and his return, his shock at finding Elisabeth, wanting her to leave, the month’s contract?

8. John Taylor, his visit, the discussions about sheep, Charles and his expertise? John and his attraction towards Elisabeth, the proposal, her courteous refusal?

9. Elisabeth and her work with Louisa, Louisa and her tantrums, being spoilt, relying on her father? Elisabeth and her discipline, not letting Louisa eat, not eating herself? Throwing the colours over herself and Louisa? Training her to read, the cards and the images? Her father gradually taking Elisabeth’s side? Louisa and her beginning to learn?

10. The month passing, the effect on Louisa? The effect on Charles? The attraction, Elisabeth and Charles in love? Constance and her devotion?

11. The visit of Lord Clare, his mistress? His attitudes to life, libertine? His explanations to Elisabeth? His concern about his son, his son being very different from him? His insight into what was happening in the house? The dancing, Constance and her dancing with Charles, his dancing with Elisabeth?

12. The selling of the house, impoverishment? Constance and her realising what was happening, her graciously stepping back? Elisabeth and Charles and the marriage? Louisa looking into Elisabeth’s diary and finding the truth, loving her mother?

13. A film with romantic themes, moral issues of surrogacy, society in the 19th century?