The Edge of Love (2008)

Two feisty, free-spirited women are connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet who loves them both.

Director:

John Maybury

Writer:

Sharman Macdonald

Stars:

Simon Armstrong, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Armstrong	...	Wilfred Hosgood
Ben Batt	...	Sergeant
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Registrar
Rachel Bell	...	Midwife
Paul Brooke	...	Mr. Justice Singleton
Huw Ceredig	...	John Patrick
Richard Clifford	...	Alistair Graham
Richard Dillane	...	Lt Col David Talbot Rice
Joel Dommett	...	Train Soldier
Rachel Essex	...	Mel
Craig Gallivan	...	Sailor Beating Dylan
Callum Godfrey	...	Boy on Train
Simon Kassianides	...	Partisan
Keira Knightley	...	Vera Phillips
Anne Lambton	...	Anita Shenkin

Storyline

Two feisty, free-spirited women are connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet who loves them both. The passion and pathos of legendary poet Dylan Thomas is told through the lives of two extraordinary women. Vera Phillips and Dylan were teenage loves; fast forward ten years and the two reconnect in London. She's working as a singer whilst he's churning out scripts for government propaganda films and living off the last in a long line of infatuated women. The two former lovers feel the thunderbolt once more, but Thomas is now married to the adventurous Caitlin. Despite their love-rival status, the women form a surprising friendship. Caitlin indulges in her own infidelities, and recognises a similar adventurous spirit in her husband. But she knows his connection with Vera is something different, not to mention dangerous. Romantic turmoil continues in Vera's life. She marries her devoted admirer William Killick, but she can't deny the chemistry between herself and Dylan, nor does she ...

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Plot Keywords:

poet | jealousy | wales | infidelity | courtroom | 

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Taglines:

The only thing more dangerous than war... is love.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, language and disturbing war images

Details

Official Sites:

Capitol Films Official site [United Kingdom]

Country:

UK

Language:

English Welsh

Release Date:

20 June 2008 (UK)

Also Known As:

A szerelem határai

Filming Locations:

Wales, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,944 (USA) (13 March 2009)

Gross:

$28,635 (USA) (3 April 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Capitol Films, Prescience Film Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sharman Macdonald wrote the role of Caitlin with Keira Knightley in mind, but Keira chose to play Vera instead.

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Goofs

The air war scenes outside (as opposed to the opening film scenes in the Underground) purport to show London being bombed during the Blitz. The scenes actually were other film footage as Germany used no four motor bombers during the Blitz. The scenes were actually of Allied B-17s bombing Dresden, Germany at the war's end.

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Quotes

Caitlin MacNamara: My first was Augustus John. He seduced me when I was 15 the old goat. It doesn't mean anything, fucking. It isn't love. I get an itch, it's gotta be scratched. I do it myself when I'm too lazy. Why bother when you can get someone else to do it for you?
Vera Phillips: Nothing to do with love, fucking?
Caitlin MacNamara: Uh-uh. Nothing. Who was your first?
Vera Phillips: [Innocently] What?
Caitlin MacNamara: You don't need to tell me, I know it was Dylan.
Vera Phillips: We were kids. Tent, fire, and a beach blanket.
Caitlin MacNamara: Nice and comfy then.
Vera Phillips: Children, still innocent.
Caitlin MacNamara: We are still ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Uned 5: Episode dated 20 June 2008 (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Careless Love"
Lyrics by John Maybury
Music by Angelo Badalamenti
Published by Anlon Music Co.
Produced by Angelo Badalamenti
Courtesy of Universal Music Classics and Jazz
Under License from Universal Music Operations
Performed by Madeleine Peyroux

User Reviews

Worth a glance if you're REALLY interested otherwise it's not worth the entrance fee.

I went to see this as the Edinburgh Film Festival the other day and I have to say I was a bit disappointed.

The score and the cinematography were lush and gorgeous and the acting was very good but the script lacked characterisation. I realise that Dylan Thomas was not meant to have been an overly pleasant man, but I failed to see why the seemingly likable, headstrong character of Vera Phillips ever fell in love with him. He came across as completely selfish and sleazy with virtually no redeeming qualities and it frustrated me that there seemed to be no explanation for every woman fawning over him. Characters made choices out of the blue and eventually I just grew to dislike all the characters I have loved in the first half.

What also grated about this film is that sometimes I swear I could have been watching 'Atonement' the amount of time Keira Knightley said "Come back to me." I really hope she wasn't trying to relive the glory of 'Atonement' through this film because I am afraid she will be sorely disappointed. Even though I personally did not enjoy 'Atonement' I can recognise that it is a marvellous film and sadly "The Edge of Love" just cannot compare.