Distant Voices, Still Lives

Name: Distant Voices, Still Lives
Genre: Drama, Music
Released: September 11, 1988
Duration: 85 min
Rating: 85
Cast: Angela Walsh, Dean Williams, Freda Dowie, Lorraine Ashbourne, Michael Starke

1988

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Universal acclaim based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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8.0

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8.0	Your Score
8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Distant Voices, Still Lives

Movie Details & Credits

Avenue Pictures | Release Date: September 11, 1988 | PG-13

Starring: Angela Walsh, Dean Williams, Freda Dowie, Lorraine Ashbourne, Michael Starke, Nathan Walsh, Pete Postlethwaite, Sally Davies, Susan Flanagan, Vincent Maguire

Summary: The second film in Terence Davies's autobiographical series ('Trilogy', 'The Long Day Closes') is an impressionistic view of a working-class family in 1940s and 1950s Liverpool, based on Davies's own family. The first part, 'Distant Voices', opens with grown siblings Eileen (Angela Walsh), Maisie (Lorraine Ashbourne) and Tony (DeanThe second film in Terence Davies's autobiographical series ('Trilogy', 'The Long Day Closes') is an impressionistic view of a working-class family in 1940s and 1950s Liverpool, based on Davies's own family. The first part, 'Distant Voices', opens with grown siblings Eileen (Angela Walsh), Maisie (Lorraine Ashbourne) and Tony (Dean Williams), and their mother (Freda Dowie) arranged in mourning clothes before the photograph of their smiling father (Pete Postlethwaite). Soon after, the family poses in a similar tableau, but for a happier occasion - Eileen's wedding. While relatives sing at her reception, Eileen hysterically grieves for her dad, and recalls happy times of her youth. Tony and Maisie's memories, however, are more troubled. Davies intermingles and contrasts scenes like the family peacefully lighting candles in church with the brutal man beating his wife and terrorizing his young children. In 'Still Lives', set (and filmed) two years later, the siblings are settled in life, but not all happily. For Eileen, relief from her drab existence comes only when singing at the pub. With his skillfully composed frames and evocative use of music in place of dialogue, Davies creates a lovely, affecting photo album of a troubled family wrestling with the complexity of love.… Expand

Director: Terence Davies

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 85 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Its austere beauty, artistry and wrenching sadness are undimmed after 30 years, and there is nothing distant or still about it. Read full review

100

Time Out London Dave Calhoun

It’s a heartbreaking work. Its cast are phenomenal; its songs flow through the film like blood; and Davies is unflinching in his hunt for truth and full of nothing but love and understanding for his characters. A masterpiece. Read full review

100

The Guardian Andrew Pulver

Few British film-makers have dared to attempt such a thoroughly poetic treatment of their native land, and Terence Davies is the only one to have succeeded so spectacularly. Read full review

Jay Carr

It's a stunningly stylized, fiercely emotional one-of-a-kind film that seals in amber the horrors of a life the director couldn't wait to escape. [18 Sep 1988, p.96]

David Parkinson

Exposing the bleak reality of a supposedly more innocent time, this inspired blend of musical and melodrama succeeds in being both fond and forlorn, artistic and authentic. Read full review

Hal Lipper

Distant Voices, Still Lives is both a personal and social portrait. It often flows without dialogue, eloquently relating a tragic story that words could not describe. [10 Nov 1989, p.13]

Desson Thomson

For all the When Irish Eyes Are Smiling's and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing's filling the soundtrack, Voices never engages more than your eyes and ears. It leaves you out in the cold and vaguely wondering, Is the entire British nation depressed? Read full review

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