The Falling (2014) – UK Blu-ray – August 24, 2015, Metrodome
UK Blu-ray release date: August 24, 2015. Distributor: Metrodome. Genres: Coming of Age, Drama, Mystery, Period, Psychological Thriller. Director: Carol Morley. Writer: Carol Morley. Stars: Maisie Williams, Florence Pugh, Maxine Peake, Monica Dolan and Greta Scacchi.
Carol Morley's The Falling is beguiling and disturbing, a beautifully made and very subtle affair that combines melodrama, rites of passage and supernatural elements in an utterly intriguing way.
The setting is an English girls' school in 1969. Right at the start of the film, we are treated to beautiful imagery of the autumnal countryside, in particular the ancient oak trees into which the girls carve their initials, as well as fetishistic close-ups of the girls' hair. There is also a bizarre, speeded-up montage sequence, which could have come out of one of Donald Cammell's psychedelic films in which we are plunged forward in time.
Abbie (newcomer Florence Pugh) is a beautiful and rebellious 16-year-old. Her best friend, Lydia (Maisie Williams), is less worldly wise ("As you know, I'm a virgin") but equally defiant. They're very close – they even share each others' chewing gum – and Lydia seems to hero-worship Abbie....
...The soft-focus imagery of the girls roaming round the woods rekindles memories of Picnic at Hanging Rock or of voyeuristic, David Hamilton-style 1970s photography. At the same time, the school is very British. It has just a hint of the sixth form at St Trinian's about it...."