Firelight (1997)

Director:

William Nicholson

Writer (WGA):

William Nicholson (written by)

Release Date:

4 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Tagline:

Passion has no limits

Plot:

In 1838, lovely governess Elisabeth agrees to bear a child of anonymous English landowner, and he will in return pay her father's debt...

Plot Keywords:

Melodrama | Period Piece | Lovers Reunited | Love Affair | Nanny

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Sophie Marceau	...	Elisabeth Laurier
Stephen Dillane	...	Charles Godwin
Dominique Belcourt	...	Louisa Godwin
Kevin Anderson	...	John Taylor
Lia Williams	...	Constance
Joss Ackland	...	Lord Clare
Sally Dexter	...	Molly Holland
Emma Amos	...	Ellen
Maggie McCarthy	...	Mrs. Jago
Wolf Kahler	...	Sussman
Annabel Giles	...	Amy Godwin
John Flanagan	...	Robert Ames
Valerie Minifie	...	Hannah
Diana Payan	...	Mrs. Maidment
John Hodgkinson	...	Carlo

Also Known As:

A la luz del fuego (Spain) [es]
Firelight - Le lien secret (France) [fr]
Legatura secreta (Romania) [ro]
Lueur magique (Canada: French title) (TV title) [fr]
Vaiettu suhde (Finland) [fi]
Verborgenes Feuer (Germany) [de]

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Belgium:KT | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) (uncut) | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Calvados, France

Company:

Carnival Films

Quotes:

Elisabeth: Do you know about Firelight?
Louisa: What about it?
Elisabeth: It's a kind of magic. Firelight makes time stand still. When you put out the lamps and sit in the firelight's glow there aren't any rules any more.
[blows out lamp]
Elisabeth: You can do what you want, say what you want, be what you want, and when the lamps are lit again, time starts again, and everything you said or did is forgotten. More than forgotten it never happened.

A memorable masterpiece.

The title led me to expect "Firelight" would be a "chick flick", yet the inclusion of the beautiful Sophie Marceau made viewing imperative. The astonishing credibility of the actors' performances was aided by an impeccable script coupled with masterful direction. Add to that award-winning cinematography and achingly beautiful music reminiscent of gypsy violins and the result is an extremely moving love story. How this film came to be ignored by the US public is one of the great mysteries of our time.

Every word, every sigh, every gesture and every scene appears uncontrived yet at the same time is testament to breathtaking genius. If only director William Nicholson would bring his ensemble together again for more of the same! Just thinking about "Firelight" brings tears to my eyes. No other movie has had such an effect on me.

File this one under "U" for "Unforgettable" in the illustrated dictionary.