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 & 5 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
Hannah Rose Caton	...	Titch (as Rose Caton)
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:

incest | neglectful mother | fake fainting | fainting | brother sister incest | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Maisie Williams and her character, Lydia Lamont, were 16 years old at the time of filming.

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Quotes

Lydia Lamont: I resent this idea that we're just emotional. This is real.
Psychiatrist: It's real, it has consequences, yes. What's important here is that it's real to you.
Lydia Lamont: Real to me, what does that mean? It's real to all of us. Something's seriously wrong. Why is everyone ignoring us?

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Crazy Credits

There are no opening titles, and the film's title is only shown at the end.

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Connections

References Premonition (2007)

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Soundtracks

To Be A Pilgrim
Lyrics by John Bunyan, modified by Percy Dearmer
Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams

User Reviews

Pratfalls!

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" a fine film of the 70s, telling a story of how a group of schoolgirls disappeared on a visit to Ayers Rock. This film had it eerie, creepy, atmospheric, less talky than this; in other words classy.

Alas this film, which I thought would match this from the reviews I read, did not come anywhere near it. Whereas this was certainly a personal project to writer / director, to everyone else it really is a non-sensical load of tosh. Neither eerie, classy, engaging or atmospheric.

The school group was similar to "Picnic" i.e. pretty centre of attention girl, mixed up clever girl down to fat eat a lot girl...pretty stereotypical characters.

When the fainting/shaking actually occurs, especially in the school assembly scene I'm afraid it became comical. They were obviously well drilled on how to faint.

The Director did try to convey a sense of nature at work here. For example, intimating that Abbie's spirit lingered among the old oak tree, straight through to hearing fox cries, owls hooting, even in the scenes shot in Lydia's house! Needless to say the (step)brother and (step)sister "getting it on" scenes were pretty uncomfortable. On that point was not convinced on the Mother character, especially the acting.

Major plus however, Florence Pugh, she is going to go far. A great looking girl with a distinctive voice and she can sing play guitar.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 August 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Falling

Filming Locations:

Carmel College, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP750,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$569,498

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon and Morley Productions, Independent, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1