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

Florence Pugh (Abbie) is a singer songwriter in real life.

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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

Features Tomorrow's World (1965)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Entertaining film that could have been better

Set in the 1960s at an all girl school we meet Lydia (Masie Williams) who has a best friend in Abbie. They have it all as friends and a love of nature centring around an old oak tree. They have a mixed bag of teachers who seem to adhere to Victorian values and modesty principles – that is despite the burgeoning 'summer of love'.

Then tragedy happens and Masie starts to have fainting fits – very soon the phenomenon spreads and she seems to be at the centre of it. Throw in a mum with issues (Maxine Peake) and a bit of the Occult, forbidden sex and deep rooted paranoia and you have the makings of a rather good story.

Maxine Peake is billed starring here, but she is not really on screen for a great period of time; Greta Scacchi as the dowdy Miss Mantel is though pure excellence in a performance dripping with understatement. I have seen comparisons to 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' and even the events around Salem and the subsequent Witch trials. However, I think such comparisons may lead to expectations that may not be met. It is though a film that had a great idea and I think it could have been taken much further as it sort of peters out; despite that it is still on I can recommend.

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