The Edge of Love (2008)
it's nothing like Atonement (Whoever says it looks like Atonement seriously needs to rewatch the whole thing) except for the fact that it's set in the war time, and it involves Keira Knightley and her speaking "come back".
The theme is broad- platonic love, obsessive love, familial love, passionate love... Everything is in there.
The story chronicles the life of Dylan Thomas, a Welsh poet and the relationship between he and his wife, Caitlin (Sienna Miller), his childhood sweetheart Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley) and Vera's soldier husband William Killick (Cillian Murphy).
It's a beautiful and moving bio pic about a group of people who are entangled in a relationship that is only clear to them, and the script is written perfectly. Although I still have to admit that I like Joe Wright's filming techniques and everything (The scenery is superb and the music as well!!!) John Maybury's film dazzles me when he doesn't go the way of filming a cliched war epic. It's heartbreaking but it's also bohemian-ish and playful, you can actually feel the female bond established by Sienna and Keira in the film.
Cillian Murphy's role is a bit psychotic. He can't adapt to the environment that Dylan lives in after he comes back from the war, showcasing the mentality of soldiers back then who were traumatised by the war.
and I never knew Keira can sing like that! I mean she has the style of a 40s cabaret singer. It reminds me of those songs sung by Edith Piaf and Ella Fitzgerald, all cheeky and romantic and soft.
Overall, I'd give the film a 8.5/10 rating for its script, cinematic grandeur, in-depth portrayal of characters' minds and its broad range of theme that everyone can respond to even in this day and age. From the film, I just get to know more about Dylan Thomas and how great a poet he is.
One of my favourite quotes:
"First love's alright as far as it goes, but last love, that's what I'm interested in."
-William Killick
It's become something of a motto for me. Some people can't get over their first love like Vera Phillips, but come to think of it, when you have gone through the feverish period of having a first love, you'll always be on the search of someone that you can hold on to forever, no matter how many breakups you have gone through, and that's the essence of the line.
