Elsinore, BFI London Film festival
I knew before I entered the cinema that it would be a cry-fest, since I’d seen the trailers and knew a little about Ian Charleson’s life, but I wasn’t ready for just how much Elsinore would wreck me.
It’s both a movie about following your biggest dream, letting nothing stop you, and about how hard, sad and unfair life can be.
I’m surprised by how much love the movie contains. It warms my heart, and I have a smile on my face for most of it. I’m also surprised by how little of the film revolves around the stigma surrounding AIDS (and the gay community) at the time being. But I’m happy we get a queer movie containing so much love and happiness during a time, and in circumstances, I can’t even begin to imagine living through myself.
Andrew Scott is just brilliant as Ian Charleson. I’ll happily join the chorus of people saying he should win every award going for this role in Elsinore.
He gives us the whole range: sadness, strength, joy, compassion, a touch of anger and so, so much love. Love for his amazing group of friends and love for his family. For the theatre. And for Hamlet. A love that leads to doing what your heart tells you to do, regardless of what you have to sacrifice.
I wish we could have had more time with Luke Thompson as Georgie. I want to know more about them.
And Olivia Colman! I don’t know where to begin. The strength! And the very soft heart you discover underneath all that strength of her. The dry humour. Her acting is flawless (of course) as we see her portray Doctor Margaret Johnson. And what a gift to humanity Margaret is!
Ian’s best friend and manager, Patsy, portrayed by Billie Piper, gives a performance worthy of a hurricane of love. Not a boring second when she’s on screen. And imagine having a friendship like that!
I wanna give a shout-out to Linda Tolhurst, the National Theatre’s stage-door supervisor, played by Monica Dolan. You can feel her caring nature, friendliness and love for the actors. Her witty greetings and the way she’s a safe harbour for everyone who enters through the stage doors.
Her response when Patsy calls in sick on Ian’s behalf is one of the funniest moments, even though it shouldn’t be. But that’s part of what makes this film so amazing: the love and laughter never disappear, even during the really shitty, hard times.
Joe Locke once again shows us a new range to his acting by playing Nicholas, in my opinion. His character seems really tired and worn out. He’s more subdued, perhaps trying to hide behind a mask of forced cheerfulness and bravery?
And still, in the happy moments, he helps shower us with love and happiness that stay with us long after Elsinore’s well-earned, seemingly never-ending applause is over.
Elsinore brings surprisingly many laughs for a movie dealing with so many lives cut far too short. We as audience both giggled and roared with laughter.
But what touches me the most is the tears. I’ve never been to a screening with so many people silently sobbing, sniffling and trying to stay quiet. Women, men, young and old, all of us with tears streaming down our faces.
When I leave the cinema with my red, puffy, tear-filled eyes (just an inch away from Ian’s beloved National Theatre), I feel like I can safely say that Elsinore touched us all.