The Heart of Me (2002)

Director:

Thaddeus O'Sullivan

Writers:

Rosamond Lehmann (novel)
Lucinda Coxon (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 May 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Every pleasure has a price...

Plot:

1930's London. Two sisters - Madeleine and Dinah - One marries Rickie, the other falls in love with him. He begins an affair which is to have repercussions throughout their lives.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Car Accident | Painter | Hospital | Morning Sickness

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Helena Bonham Carter	...	Dinah
Olivia Williams	...	Madeleine
Paul Bettany	...	Rickie
Eleanor Bron	...	Mrs. Burkett
Luke Newberry	...	Anthony
Tom Ward	...	Jack
Gillian Hanna	...	Betty
Andrew Havill	...	Charles
Alison Reid	...	Bridie
Kathryn Tennant-Maw	...	Sylvia
Rebecca Charles	...	Miss Matthews
John Rowe	...	Drysdale
Shaughan Seymour	...	Jeweller
Simon Day	...	Hospital Doctor
Jenny Howe	...	Nurse

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Isle of Man

Company:

Martin Pope Productions

Trivia:

One of the cars used in this movie is a 1931 Austin 7 box saloon.

Quotes:

Dinah: And throughout all Eternity I forgive you, you forgive me

Soundtrack:

Heart and Soul

a thought-provoking and challenging story

this is the second time that i have seen this movie and it definitely lives up to repeated viewings. at heart the story maybe about an illicit affair of forbidden love, but in reality it seems much more. It lays bare the consequences of the worst betrayals of trust without apportioning blame. all three characters, Madeleine, Dinah and Ricky, are left unsatisfied and the pain that they feel makes the film challenging viewing - it is simply so sad. what i liked most about the story is its time frame, as we weave through fifteen odd years and see the story, or rather the affair through the different perspective of time - it is such a clever technique because our sympathies never rest- we switch allegiance constantly and recognise that for these three people there could be no happy resolution.

there is so much else to love about this film, i loved the way the large elegant house, appeared to take on the appearance of Madeleine's state of mind - all bright and happy in the beginning and then grey and sterile at the end.

the film does have a fault i would say, though. which is why i have given it 8. i do not like Helena Bonham carters performance. it was partly because both Olivia Williams and Paul Bettany gave such wonderful performances that hers appears forced and insincere. i think that we are meant to like Dinah and see her as colourful and vital - but i didn't believe in her portrayal. she is remarkable at expressing anguish and truly has a beautiful voice when reciting Blake, but i found her garish costumes and brazen comments, unconvincing and unnatural. she grated on me because i really needed to believe that this woman was worthy of Ricky's obsessional love and i didn't. having said that i still recommend this movie, if only really because of its deep and intelligent exploration of the different types of love.