Dreams of a Life (2011)

A filmmaker sets out to discover the life of Joyce Vincent, who died in her bedsit in North London in 2003. Her body wasn't discovered for three years, and newspaper reports offered few details of her life - not even a photograph.

Director:

Carol Morley

Writer:

Carol Morley

Stars:

Zawe Ashton, Alix Luka-Cain, Alistair Abrahams

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Zawe Ashton	...	Joyce Vincent
Alix Luka-Cain	...	Young Joyce
Alistair Abrahams	...	Himself
Mandy Allen	...	Herself
Prue Almond	...	Herself
Kim Bacon	...	Herself
Daniel Roberts	...	Himself
William Barthorpe	...	Himself
Alison Campsie	...	Herself
Catherine Clarke	...	Herself
Michael Davies	...	Himself
Alton Edwards	...	Himself
Jerome Everette	...	Himself
Lynne Featherstone	...	Herself (as Lynne Featherstone MP)
David Gibbs	...	Himself

Storyline

A filmmaker sets out to discover the life of Joyce Vincent, who died in her bedsit in North London in 2003. Her body wasn't discovered for three years, and newspaper reports offered few details of her life - not even a photograph.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper article | english | nelson mandela | black woman | mixed race | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Oneira mias zois

Filming Locations:

Hannaywood Studios - 347 Bannow Road, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,085 (USA) (3 August 2012)

Gross:

$6,595 (USA) (10 August 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon and Morley Productions, Irish Film Board, Soho Moon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the police forensics team begin looking around Joyce's flat, at one point her television is seen, on top of which is a statue of a women, appearing to be made of wood. Later on in the film, when Joyce's friends begin discussing her mother, they speak over a flashback of her mother and Joyce as a young girl, the same statue can be seen on a mantelpiece in the background.

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Soundtracks

"Ambition"
Performed by Iggy Pop
Written by Glen Matlock
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd
Published by Warner / Chappell Music Limited

User Reviews

Life & Death

I can't remember which poet said it now, but when questioned on why we create art he responded, "to make our living and dying important again, and the living and dying of others." By this measure, Dreams of a Life is an artistic triumph; it does exactly that. If Carol Morley had not re-invented herself as a private detective who would know about Joyce Vincent's story now? The tenacity and iron will it must have taken to get this project off the ground is evident in the care with which this film has been made. Not only in terms of what it draws out of the people who knew Joyce, but also in the skilled reconstructions and outstanding performances from the cast.

The film is fresh and offers something new to the genre with its blurring of documentary and drama. There are moments in the film to make your heart break but as much as anything the film is a celebration and a remembrance of a life lived.