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Acting
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Directing
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Story
Starring: Samantha Morton, Kathleen McDermott, Paul Popplewell
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Running Time: 97 mins
Morvern Callar is a British film about a young woman who, after discovering her boyfriend’s body after his suicide, recovers as she applies to a publisher with her name on his posthumous novel.
An intimate and passionately-produced drama, Morvern Callar is by no means an easy watch, but it conjures up intriguing emotional and psychological questions from what seems like nothing.
Told almost in the style of a slice-of-life drama, director Lynne Ramsay’s film sees its lead character, Morvern Callar, come to terms with life in the aftermath of her boyfriend’s suicide, experiencing a dramatic wave of emotions that see her taking a vastly unexpected path.
On the whole, the film’s slow-moving pace and mumblecore dialogue can seem off-putting when things get started, but Lynne Ramsay allows you to foster a strong connection with the film’s main character, thanks to a touching lead performance from Samantha Morton and powerfully intimate direction from Ramsay.
As a result, while Morvern Callar is never the easiest watch, it does offer up some powerfully honest emotion, complete with some very challenging and thought-provoking psychological themes about coping with death and the concept of the afterlife on earth that make for riveting viewing.
Admittedly, Morvern Callar isn’t the most spectacular film, opting for a much grittier, close-up view of a woman coming to terms with death, but there’s no denying the bold approach of director Lynne Ramsay. So, that’s why I’m giving Morvern Callar a 7.1 overall.
