1993 Film "The cement garden"
Germany 
France 
Great Britain 1993 - color
| Autres titres | Der Zementgarten
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| Production | Bee Gilbert and Eve Vanaveski for Neue Constantin / ZDF / Laurentic / Torii |
| Scénario | Toby Tremlett |
| Screenplay | Andrew Birkin after the novel The cement garden by Ian McEwan |
| Réalisation | Andrew Birkin |
| Directeur de la photographie | Stephen Blackman |
| Cast | Andrew Robertson (Jack), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Julie), Alice Coulthard (Sue), Ned Birkin (Tom), Sinéad Cusack (the mother), Hanns Zischler (the father), Jochen Horst (Derek, friend of Julie), Gareth Brown (William), William Hootkins (voice of Commander Hunt in English version), Michael Mendl (voice of Commander Hunt in German version), Dick Hockhart (van driver), Mike Clark (van passenger) |
| Montage | Toby Tremlett |
| Music | Edward Shearmur |
| Duration | 105 minutes |
| Release | 12 August 1993 [DE: Neue Constantin] - 25 July 1994 [DE video: VCL / Carolco] |
| Cerification | 16 (Germany) |
| Distributeur | New Yorker Video (Great Britain) - October Films (USA) |
| Awards | The director Andrew Birkin won the "Goldener Bär" for the best direction at the Berlin film festival 1993 |
| Synopsis | Dans une maison étrange au jardin de ciment vivent 4 enfants privés de leurs parents et livres a eux-mêmes. Pour se protéger du monde des adultes, ils ont caché le corps de leur mère a la cave. Libres et solitaires, ils s'inventent leur propre monde et leur propre moralité, jusqu'à ce qu'un "étranger" intervienne dans leur petite société. |
| Summary | An entire family is together at the outset of the film, but not for long. After the father collapses and dies of a heart attack, the mother (Sinéad Cusack) becomes confined to bed, stricken by a mysterious and debilitating illness. This leaves the eldest sister and brother, Julie (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Jack (Andrew Robertson), to care for their younger siblings, Sue (Alice Coultard) and Tom (Ned Birkin). These four are not what most people would define as "normal." Julie and Jack are drawn to each other by a forbidden sexual attraction that neither can deny, despite the obvious taboo. Sue is withdrawn and given to writing in her diary, and Tom wants to be a girl. The incest issue is dealt with in a straightforward and non-prurient fashion. Director Andrew Birkin is not attempting to shock his audience, but rather to candidly represent the factors that lead to this relationship. His style is sensitive, not exploitative, which makes all the difference to the success of The Cement Garden. The film works because the characters are alive, and morality is shown to be relative. As dark as the subject matter is (and I haven't even discussed the meaning of the title), Birkin still culls laughter from the audience. This isn't the nervous tittering of uncomfortable viewers, but a genuine reaction. Much of the humor is relatively harmless, although a few of the jokes (especially the double entendres) are off-color. The relationship between Jack and Julie holds the film together. This is a mutual seduction, and both play their parts. Julie has all the responsibility in the household, while Jack, on the other hand, gets away with doing as little as he can, preferring to spend his time masturbating in secret places or admiring himself in a mirror. Julie is a more likable character than her brother, but only because it's difficult to love a narcissist. Andrew Robertson and Charlotte Gainsbourg have difficult roles to play - their characters require a nakedness that goes beyond the physical to an emotional level. The actors' success is necessary to the film's ultimate effectiveness. Julie and Jack are believable both as individuals and together. The Cement Garden makes no apologies - not to its characters or to the audience. The quality of fascination is as much a credit to those producing the film as to the unorthodox - and grim - central theme. The cement garden is occasionally grotesque, frequently disturbing, and, at times, surprisingly humorous. No matter what else it may be, however, this movie is always thought-provoking, and it's hard to imagine anyone leaving without the strongest of opinions. (James Berardinelli) |
| Zusammenfassung | Nach dem Tod der Eltern leben vier Geschwister auf sich allein gestellt in einem abgelegenen Haus - mit der Leiche der Mutter im Keller. Machtkämpfe und erotische Anziehung zwischen den beiden Ältesten spitzen sich zu. Mit dem Eindringen eines Fremden zerbricht der auf Zärtlichkeit und seelische Gewalt gründende Zusammenhalt. Eine düstere Geschichte um Pubertät und Geschwisterliebe, Inzest und Tod. Anfangs eher sprunghaft inszeniert, gewinnt der Film in der Folge durch die einfühlsame Darstellung und aussagekräftige Bilder. |
Gallery
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Julie (Charlotte Gainsbourg)
