Distant Voices Still Lives

In my subject line, I call this movie a musical. That's because there are many scenes of the characters in pubs or at home, bursting into song, and usually the choice of song reflects the person's feelings at that moment. But these are not sequences like those you see in Musicals. There's no instrumental backing, the people are just singing out loud for their own entertainment & to offset the grim 'kitchen sink' reality of their family life.

I'd like to add that although Freda Dowie is listed as the star (and she IS a standout as the Mum), another actor who may be more familiar is the father, played by Pete Postlethwaite (Romeo + Juliet, Brassed Off). Although his character is frighteningly unsympathetic, it is a wonderful performance.

So, all in all, probably not everyone's cup of tea, but worth the effort if you want a riveting artistic & emotional experience.


Pure art and music to tell a different kind of story   March 18, 2008
All Red (USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

The British Film Institute has produced the wonderful and completely visionary films of writer/director Terence Davies. These films are so beautifully unique, that to try to categorize them is really impossible. "Distant Voices,Still Lives" is another of the artistic masterpieces that flow from Davies heart. This time, through song and his usual superb camera work and editing, allows us to peak into the world of the Davis family, Mum,Da and the three children. The time period covers from the early 1940's to the 1960's, and we look at each individual life and experience the highs and lows of each. There actually is very little dialog in Davies' films, because he is able to capture in the inner sanctum of the soul through the right combination of song and camera shots. Again, Davies seems to "paint" his films, and everything is so exact and done to perfection, that one simply has to sit back and behold.
Davies other two films The Neon Bible and Long Day Closes both concern similar themes of familial ties, use of song to convey inner thought, and are autobiographical of the memories that Davies has. There is an undeniable tenderness and respect that Davies has for all of his characters, but he never shies away from brutal honesty about what he remembers, both the pleasant and not so pleasant; Davies shows us life with all of it's warts, joys, and foibles. His characters are real people and each story is completely and thoroughly conveyed. Terence Davies Trilogy is Davies' earliest works, that lay the groundwork for all of his later films. As a complete set, all of these films are treasured masterpieces that the truest of film lovers can enjoy over and over again. There is perfection in every single little detail of his films. Everything has it's purpose, and one needs to view his films as if examining a Rembrandt or a Van Gogh.