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

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

May have been influenced by a real life mass feinting at Hilda's Girls' School in Blackburn, England in 1965. The film is set in 1969.

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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

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 Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Blander than it should be

When a charismatic classmate dies, her school-friends start to suffer from a mysterious mass fainting fit. Is it supernatural, grief or just a cry for attention? The headmistress (well-played by Greta Saatchi) just wishes it would all go away. It's a nice concept, but the film seems too obviously sympathetic to the girls, without really letting us inside their heads. Oddly, they don't seem to be so freaked out by their condition. Also, the soundtrack is absurdly intrusive, and deflates rather than enhances the natural atmosphere. And there's just a little too much in the way of extraneous plot - budding sexuality, a troubled mother - daughter relationship - to truly build the sense of claustrophobia which would be needed to make the film a success. Overall, it's just a little bit blander than one might have hoped.

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