Albatross
Albatross
Seventeen year old force-of-nature Emelia starts a new job at The Cliff House, a small hotel on the South Coast of England, run by the dysfunctional Fischer family. Beth Fischer, also seventeen, is cramming for her exams in a desperate bid to escape to University. Dad Jonathan is an author. Emelia is an aspiring writer; believing she is following in the footsteps of her great-grandfather Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Jonathan sees promise in Emelia and begins to tutor her, but their relationship quickly crosses the pupil-teacher line and they embark on a love affair. At the same time, Emelia and Beth strike up a surprise friendship: Emelia’s free-spirit helps Beth learn to let her hair down and Emelia is inspired by Beth’s determination and focus.
2.4 out of 5 based on 9 reviews
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Omniscore:
|
| Certificate |
15 |
| Genre |
Drama |
| Director |
Niall MacCormick |
| Cast |
Jessica Brown Findlay, Felicity Jones, Julia Ormond, Peter Vaughan Sebastian Koch |
| Studio |
Cinemanx |
| Release Date |
October 2011 |
| Running Time |
89 mins |
| |
Seventeen year old force-of-nature Emelia starts a new job at The Cliff House, a small hotel on the South Coast of England, run by the dysfunctional Fischer family. Beth Fischer, also seventeen, is cramming for her exams in a desperate bid to escape to University. Dad Jonathan is an author. Emelia is an aspiring writer; believing she is following in the footsteps of her great-grandfather Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Jonathan sees promise in Emelia and begins to tutor her, but their relationship quickly crosses the pupil-teacher line and they embark on a love affair. At the same time, Emelia and Beth strike up a surprise friendship: Emelia’s free-spirit helps Beth learn to let her hair down and Emelia is inspired by Beth’s determination and focus.
Reviews
The Scotsman
Alistair Harkness
“[This] seems to have been scientifically designed to tap the audience that made An Education a hit. Even though it lacks that film’s clear-headed story telling and unshowy sophistication...”
14/10/2011
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Time Out
Trevor Johnston
“The two young actresses keep us engaged, though the movie as a whole suffers from a certain predictability, while the clunky scene explaining the metaphorical import of the title is a real groaner. ”
13/10/2011
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The Times
Kate Muir
“At times howlingly obvious, in general the low-budget film shows promise and is gently funny. ”
14/10/2011
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Total Film
Kevin Harley
“A bristling breakout turn leavens tired material in Niall MacCormick’s coming-of-anger.”
13/10/2011
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The Sunday Times
Cosmo Landesman
“The film’s one original flourish — Emelia’s hang-up about being a descendant of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — doesn’t even ring true. As if a girl of her generation, growing up in a seaside town, would give a toss about Conan Doyle. And the idea that her connection with him is some sort of burdensome albatross around her neck, from which she must break free to become a writer, is just absurd. ”
16/10/2011
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The Guardian
Peter Bradshaw
“Despite a nice performance from newcomer Jessica Brown Findlay, this Tamara Dreweish coming-of-age drama is not entirely convincing.”
13/10/2011
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The Independent
Anthony Quinn
“MacCormick's debut feature has a puppyish eagerness that doesn't quite deliver. ”
14/10/2011
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The Daily Mail
Chris Tookey
“...the performances are modestly engaging.”
14/10/2011
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The Observer
Philip French
“Heavy-handed and unconvincing, it's Fawlty Towers without the jokes.”
16/10/2011
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