The Theory of Flight (1998)

A dreamer who aspires to human flight is assigned public service after one of his attempts off a public building. This leads him to meeting a young woman, who is dying of motor neuron ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Greengrass

Writer:

Richard Hawkins

Stars:

Helena Bonham Carter, Kenneth Branagh, Gemma Jones

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Jane Hatchard
Kenneth Branagh	...	Richard
Gemma Jones	...	Anne
Holly Aird	...	Julie
Ray Stevenson	...	Gigolo
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Daryl Beeton	...	Club Organiser
Robert Blythe	...	Farmer
Olivia Copner	...	Ballet dancer
Sarah Copner	...	Ballet dancer
Aneirin Hughes	...	Doctor
Jill James	...	Mrs. Allen
Ruth Jones	...	Becky
Sue Jones-Davies	...	Catharine
Frances Lima	...	Julie's Colleague
Sian Naiomi	...	Volunteer

Storyline

A dreamer who aspires to human flight is assigned public service after one of his attempts off a public building. This leads him to meeting a young woman, who is dying of motor neuron disease. The strong-willed woman admits her wish to be de-flowered before her death. The man, struggling to maintain his relationship with his girl friend, declines but offers to help pay for a gigolo to do the deed. The following events play off the inherent comedy and drama of the circumstances.

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Plot Keywords:

gigolo | flight | dying | disease | friend | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 September 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Envole-moi

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$15,179 (USA) (25 December 1998)

Gross:

$71,999 (USA) (29 January 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Distant Horizons, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film Gene Siskel reviewed on Siskel & Ebert in January 1999 before his passing.

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Quotes

Jane: Money is a means to an end. Sex is that end.

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Connections

References Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Mi rival"
Written by Maria Lara
Performed by Antonio Machín (as Antonio Machin)

User Reviews

Pretty decent stuff, actually

Despite its low-key release in this country, and its apparent disregard in other countries (the 'R' rating in the States can't have helped - honestly, just because HBC uses the C-word!), this is actually a fine piece of work. The sentimentality does occasionally threaten to choke it, but it's overcome by the playing of the two leads.

It's easy to win plaudits just because you're playing a physical or mental cripple (Daniel Day-Lewis, Geoffrey Rush, Dustin Hoffman, etc.), and Helena Bonham-Carter may not quite capture the physical degradation of MND, but her vocal stretching and ruthless emotional drive compensate entirely. In fact, almost all her performance is conducted through her eyes (and what eyes!). This is an intelligent turn from an actress who is rapidly undoing her English Rose reputation, and emerging as a figure of some stature. Awards must surely follow, though not, alas, for this fine performance.

Branagh, one feels, has never quite given his best on film (except possibly 'Hamlet', and there his playing was diluted by the large cast). Here, though, he tops his other appearances, playing to the hilt a self-loathing, unstable, ultimately lovable guy with a subtlety he hasn't always displayed, and exhibiting both intelligence and depth. In short, we believe him, just as much as we could NOT believe him as Frankenstein, as the priest in 'The Proposition', as the lawyer in 'The Gingerbread Man', even as Andrew in 'Peter's Friends'. This is surely his finest performance yet - so why could he not produce the goods much earlier?

As a film, it looks more like a television offering, and without its stars it probably wouldn't amount to very much. But it's been a pleasure to see this pair perform their socks off like this, and I eagerly await more from them (though not 'Love's Labour's Lost'...). 8 out of 10, but Branagh and HBC get 10 out of 10.