Asylum (2005)

A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty in the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.

Director:

David Mackenzie

Writers:

Patrick McGrath (novel), Patrick Marber (screenplay)

Stars:

Natasha Richardson, Sean Harris, Marton Csokas

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natasha Richardson	...	Stella Raphael
Hugh Bonneville	...	Max Raphael
Gus Lewis	...	Charlie Raphael
Ian McKellen	...	Dr. Peter Cleave
Joss Ackland	...	Jack Straffen
Wanda Ventham	...	Bridie Straffen
Sarah Thurstan	...	Mrs. Rose
Alwyne Taylor	...	Monica
Maria Aitken	...	Claudia Greene
Hazel Douglas	...	Lilly
Anna Keaveney	...	Mrs. Bain
Marton Csokas	...	Edgar Stark
Robert Willox	...	John Archer
Judy Parfitt	...	Brenda Raphael
Sean Harris	...	Nick

Storyline

In the 1950s, the psychiatrist Max Raphael is hired to work as superintendent of an asylum in the outskirts of London, and he moves with his wife Stella Raphael and their son Charlie. Stella has a passionless marriage and is ignored by Max. Her boredom changes when her son befriends the handsome inmate Edgar Stark, an sculptor that in a crisis of jealousy had killed and disfigured his wife, and that is treated by Dr. Peter Cleave, an ambitious psychiatrist that aspired Max's position. During the afternoons, Stella has a hot adulterous affair with Edgar until the day he escapes and their affair is discovered. Stella has to take a decision between her family and her wild passion for Edgar.

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Plot Keywords:

threesome | 1950s | 20th century | woman | man | 

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Taglines:

Passion. Possession.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, some violence and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Classics

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Casa da Loucura

Filming Locations:

High Royds Hospital, Menston, Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,272, 14 August 2005

Gross USA:

$375,403

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,788,033

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Classics, Seven Arts Pictures, Samson Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Natasha Richardson's leading man would have been husband Liam Neeson, but for his contractual ties with Kinsey (2004).

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Goofs

The story is set in the Summer of 1959. The Mk II Jaguar, as used by Raphael, was only introduced for the London Show in October of that year. (Please see 'Trivia' item, also).

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Quotes

Nick: [to Stella, shyly] I love you. Doesn't matter, but I do.
Stella Raphael: [smiling] No, you don't.
Nick: I do. I love him, too.

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Connections

References Vertigo (1958)

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Soundtracks

Ten Green Bottles
(uncredited)
Performed by Kidzone

User Reviews

Like Betty Blue Without the comedy

This very dark film, set in England in the lae 1950's is definitely not for children since it contains some very disturbing scenes and events. Though most of it is set in a mental hospital and deals with mental illness, it is not one of those films like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" or even "Angel Baby" that romanticizes and sentimentalizes the subject. So don't expect that. Rather it is a more realistic examination of the fine line that sometimes separates so-called normal people from the mad. But make no mistake, there is a line.

Stella Raphael(Natasha Richardson) arrives with her husband (Hugh Bonneville) and young son Charley at the hospital where he has accepted a live-in position. There are rumors that another psychiatrist, Peter Cleve(Sir Ian McKellen)may have been in line for the same position. Stella does not fit in with the other wives. She is younger, more smartly dressed(one of her hats looks for all the world like a UFO) and less traditional in every way. And the hospital culture is clearly one that expects women to keep a low profile and not make waves. Since their posh living quarters have a full-time servant, there is not a lot for her to do, but she does take up gardening, and Charley makes friends with Edgar(Marton Csokas, a trusted "pet patient" of Dr. Cleve). Stella is also drawn to the handsome and magnetic Edgar,a sculptor, despite being warned that he is there for killing his wife violently. They dance together at a staff-patient party, and soon after have a hurried coupling in the garden shed. After that, it is furtive, animalistic sex whenever and wherever they can. One day Edgar, against Stella's better judgment comes to her in her own bedroom, where he is seen by her mother-in-law, a disdainful woman who has clearly never liked her. After Edgar steals some cash from the dresser and seizes the opportunity to escape, things rapidly deteriorate in the Raphael home. There is also another shift. Stella's husband, who at first, seemed cold and repressive, almost deserving of being cuckolded, becomes more likable, and in one of the final scenes of the movie, shows that he has probably loved Stella after all. Edgar, on the other hand, reveals himself to be jealous and unpredictable at best, and at worst, violent durng a time when he and Stella attempt a beatnik life in London with another Australian artist friend of his. And what of the inscrutable Dr. Cleve? Does he really want to help patients or is he a power-hungry manipulator? One of the reasons I compared this film to Betty Blue is aprtly because of some of the disturbingly violent acts of characters, but also because it shows that survival instincts sometimes don't have anything to do with madness or sanity. Whatdoes not kill me does not necessarily make me stronger--sometimes it just makes me crazier and more self-destructive.

Martin Csokas is an actor I had never heard of before but would certainly like to see more of him.