The Falling (2014)

It's 1969 at a strict English girls' school where charismatic Abbie and intense and troubled Lydia are best friends. After a tragedy occurs at the school, a mysterious fainting epidemic breaks out threatening the stability of all involved.

Director:

Carol Morley

Writer:

Carol Morley

Stars:

Maxine Peake, Maisie Williams, Florence Pugh

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maxine Peake	...	Eileen Lamont
Maisie Williams	...	Lydia Lamont
Florence Pugh	...	Abbie Mortimer
Anna Burnett	...	Susan
Greta Scacchi	...	Miss Edith Mantel
Rose Caton	...	Titch
Lauren McCrostie	...	Gwen
Katie Ann Knight	...	Connie
Evie Hooton	...	Janet
Monica Dolan	...	Miss Martha Alvaro
Mathew Baynton	...	Mr Hopkins
Morfydd Clark	...	Miss Pamela Charron
Joe Cole	...	Kenneth Lamont
Elizabeth Marsh	...	Miss Fanshawe
Hannah Stokely	...	Miss Ash

Storyline

It's 1969 at a strict English girls' school where charismatic Abbie and intense and troubled Lydia are best friends. After a tragedy occurs at the school, a mysterious fainting epidemic breaks out threatening the stability of all involved.

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Plot Keywords:

fainting | incest | coming of age | mass hysteria | epidemic | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 2015 (UK)

Also Known As:

Eszmélet

Filming Locations:

Carmel College, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon and Morley Productions,Independent,BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The poem in voiceover "There was a time when meadow, grove and stream..." is 'Ode on intimations of immortality' by William Wordsworth.

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Crazy Credits

Disclaimer near the end of the credits: "Although this film was inspired by a variety of real episodes of mass psychogenic illnesses, the narrative is entirely fictional."

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Connections

References Premonition (2007)

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Soundtracks

Voyage of the Moon
Written by Donovan (as Donovan Leitch)
Performed by Mary Hopkin

User Reviews

A visually stunning and multi-faceted mystery drama.

In 1969, Lydia (Maisie Williams) and Abbie (Florence Pugh) are two best friends at an English girls' school, but their peace is shattered when Lydia is taken over by a mysterious illness. Her behaviour becomes erratic and uncontrollable, and as a result, her emotionally distant mother (Maxine Peake) becomes increasingly disquieted. As the illness spreads throughout the school, it begins to take its toll and tear the tight-knit group apart, and the cause of it seems to lie deeper in the minds of the girls than anyone could ever have expected.

Williams and Pugh are enchanting as Lydia and Abbie, and the supporting cast, including Greta Scacchi and Monica Dolan, give the film a perfectly executed sense of perception. Peake, too, gives an astounding performance, stealing the scene with every word she utters.

Carol Morley's direction creates a lingering uneasiness about the film, which contrasts eerily with the stunning landscape of the English countryside. The story is layered with intertwining details that increase the enigmatic charm of it without crossing the fine line into pretentious melodrama.

Despite, at times, being directionally unclear, the film's dream- like quality brings all of the elements of the production together to form a visually stimulating mystery drama. This haunting tale of mass hysteria is a masterpiece that only proves Morley's promise as a feature film director.