Movie Review: Empire of Light

 Movie Number 17 of 2023

The Movie: Empire of Light

The Cinema: The Rivoli, Camberwell

Stars: 4

Part of the allure of cinema is its nostalgic value. Therefore, seeing Empire of Light at the Rivoli, one of Melbourne's best known art deco cinemas was a great choice. The vibe of the film matches some of the glory of Empire Cinema, in which much of the movie's action takes place. 

Set in a seaside town in Southern England, the film tells the story of Hillary (Olivia Colman), a quiet, nervous woman who works as the duty manager at the local cinema in the early 1980s. She's at the beck and call of her awful boss (Colin Firth). She gets on well with her strange workmates - and for anybody who has worked in one of these insular locations, you will understand.  Along with the band of misfit ushers, the team have a fairly quiet existence, until joined by Stephen (Michael Ward), whose Caribbean ethnicity initially sets him apart from the group. This is quickly overcome. Remember, this is Britain in the early 1980s. Margaret Thatcher, skinheads and the dark overtones of a country in crisis mean that Stephen's life outside of work is far from plain sailing.

Also making things interesting is the state of Hillary's mental health. What starts out as a feeling that something is off-kilter. This feeling is well substantiated as her behaviour becomes more erratic as the movie progresses. Olivia Colman really is the master of nuts. She's fantastic. 

There's a lot of highlights to this film. Michael Ward is achingly good as Stephen, the guy who wants more in a place where those who are different are not readily accepted. Stephen looks for the good in people where it may not be apparent.

The MA 15+ rating on this film is a little surprising, but there is one difficult, violent scene during an uprising which gives merit to the rating. What this does well for the rest of the film is show the menace within which Stephen lives his life. The everyday racism is appalling. It's eye opening to think that there are people in the community who want this sort of behaviour to return. 

The other major character in the film is the cinema itself, a rundown version of what it used to be which looks over the boardwalk. Above the two operating theatres is another world. This is all part of the charm of this film, showing what was once there, and what there is now. For somebody who remembers cinemas like this as a child, and when I lived in Britain, this all added to the film.

Sam Mendes wrote and directed this, an homage to the cinemas of the past. The director of American Beauty and Skyfall does a wonderful job with this. The film was also nominated for an Oscar in the Cinematography category. How they made a rundown theatre and an equally rundown town (sorry, Margate) look so beautiful is beyond me. The script is inciteful. It gives Olivia Colman yet another chance to show her range. And rage. 

For lovers of English cinema, and for those who want to see a bit of modern history which is rarely looked, this is definitely worth a look. 

Today's song: