Moviola > Films > Separate Lies

Separate Lies (12)   85 mins

Adapted from Nigel Balchin's novel A Way Through the Wood, this is the directorial debut of actor and writer Julian Fellowes, who wrote Gosford Park.   Tom Wilkinson plays successful lawyer James Manning.  With a house in London, a country retreat in Buckinghamshire and a beautiful younger wife Anne (Emily Watson), James appears to have everything.  But while he works long hours in town clinching important deals, Anne is bored in the country, and upper-class cad William Bule (Rupert Everett) has just returned from America to his ancestral home up the road.  So far, so predictable.  But then there is an accident – one of the villagers is killed by a hit and run driver.  The victim is the husband of Anne’s cleaning lady (the excellent Linda Bassett).  As the police investigate, all the characters are forced to re-examine their moral certainties with surprising results.  Full of first-class performances and astute social observation. 

When you make your first film, there is a hell of a lot to think about, and you've got to have a gut understanding of your material. It's not enough to say, 'I've met people like this.' You've got to know them inside out. So with Separate Lies I placed my characters in a class that I understand, but it doesn't mean that this is a film about class. It's about being trapped, about the consequences of our choices, and about lying."  Julian Fellowes

"A continually surprising film in its ethical and emotional insights, and it rings constantly true."  Philip French

www.foxsearchlight.com/separatelies

Last modified: 20-Jun-2008

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