Firelight (1997)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

William Nicholson

Writer (WGA):

William Nicholson (written by)

Release Date:

4 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Tagline:

Passion has no limits

Plot:

In 1838, lovely governess Elisabeth agrees to bear a child of anonymous English landowner, and he will in return pay her father's debt...

Plot Keywords:

Nanny | Sex | Frozen Lake | Victorian Era | Underwater Scenes

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Sophie Marceau	...	Elisabeth Laurier
Stephen Dillane	...	Charles Godwin
Dominique Belcourt	...	Louisa Godwin
Kevin Anderson	...	John Taylor
Lia Williams	...	Constance
Joss Ackland	...	Lord Clare
Sally Dexter	...	Molly Holland
Emma Amos	...	Ellen
Maggie McCarthy	...	Mrs. Jago
Wolf Kahler	...	Sussman
Annabel Giles	...	Amy Godwin
John Flanagan	...	Robert Ames
Valerie Minifie	...	Hannah
Diana Payan	...	Mrs. Maidment
John Hodgkinson	...	Carlo

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Belgium:KT | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) (uncut) | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Calvados, France

Company:

Carnival Films

Quotes:

Elisabeth: Do you know about Firelight?
Louisa: What about it?
Elisabeth: It's a kind of magic. Firelight makes time stand still. When you put out the lamps and sit in the firelight's glow there aren't any rules any more.
[blows out lamp]
Elisabeth: You can do what you want, say what you want, be what you want, and when the lamps are lit again, time starts again, and everything you said or did is forgotten. More than forgotten it never happened.

Amazingly Beautiful Story!!

I originally watched this on Encore Indie and it touched me in a way only a few movies or stories ever do. The subject matter could have become tawdry if not handled well, which it was. All the characters had their place, even the American who offered Charles an option of a place to go, to be free of all the pretense and obligation of his life, being also a main theme of the story, obligation and responsibility, as well as the desire to break free of them. And watch it several times, the nuances that come out are amazing and also listen to the background talk, some interesting facts come out which help you understand the characters and stories even more. I actually watch it with headphones on to hear all the conversations going on. And Charles, watch his facial expressions, they are absolutely priceless and perfect. My father actually sat and watched it, and trust me he's a ESPN guy, not romance movies. Anyway, it was just amazingly beautiful and passionate.