The Secret Rapture (1993)

Katherine is a basically miserable and mentally unstable woman who is married to even-aged Isobel's father, who is the only one willing to give Katherine the unconditional love that she ... See full summary »

Director:

Howard Davies

Writers:

David Hare (play), David Hare (screenplay)

Stars:

Juliet Stevenson, Joanne Whalley, Penelope Wilton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Juliet Stevenson	...	Isobel Coleridge
Joanne Whalley	...	Katherine Coleridge (as Joanne Whalley-Kilmer)
Penelope Wilton	...	Marion French
Neil Pearson	...	Patrick Steadman
Alan Howard	...	Tom French
Robert Stephens	...	Max Lopert
Hilton McRae	...	Norman
Robert Glenister	...	Jeremy
Richard Long	...	3rd Businessman
Finty Williams	...	Greta
Saira Todd	...	Kiki
Julia Lane	...	June Allardyce
Philip Voss	...	Civil Servant
Diane Fletcher	...	Day Nurse
Janet Steel	...	Night Nurse

Storyline

Katherine is a basically miserable and mentally unstable woman who is married to even-aged Isobel's father, who is the only one willing to give Katherine the unconditional love that she craves lest her inner chaos should wholly consume her. For any kind of peace of mind, she is consequently entirely dependent on him. As, however, her husband dies (of natural causes), Katherine quite instinctively transfers her primal need for all-encompassing care to his daughter, Isobel. As this is a serious intrusion upon her and her boyfriend's private life, Isobel rejects Katherine - at first. She soon realizes that Katherine needs her attention more than her boyfriend, whom she then opts to leave, to go and live with Katherine in her father's countryside cottage. The last scenes of the movie, not to be revealed here, raises the question of who, after all, were the more needful of Isobel's love.

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Plot Keywords:

love | widow | husband wife relationship | alcoholic | manipulation | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, and for language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (UK)

Also Known As:

Geheime Verführung

Filming Locations:

Exmoor, Somerset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films, Greenpoint Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Remarkable Actress

Virtually unseen in this country, "The Secret Rapture" showcases the remarkable Juliet Stevenson in David Hare's drama concerning internal conflicts and unspoken hostilities which threaten a British family. She potrays a woman self-sacrificing to the point of destructiveness, a passive-aggressive sacrificial lamb who controls those around her through acts of self deprecation and kindness. She's nicely contrasted with Joanne Whalley's nasty-edged femme fatale who seals the family's doom, reminiscent of Gene Tierney's carnivorous soul-eater in "Leave Her to Heaven"... Should be seen by David Hare fans and those unacquainted with an excellent performer who also did spectacular work as the grieving widow in "Truly Madly Deeply".