Albatross (2011 film)

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Albatross
Directed byNiall MacCormick
Screenplay byTamzin Rafn
Produced byAdrian Sturges
Steve Christian
Marc Samuelson
StarringJessica Brown-Findlay
Sebastian Koch
Julia Ormond
Felicity Jones
CinematographyJan Jonaeus
Edited byMark Eckersley
Music byJack C. Arnold
Production
companies
CinemaNX
Isle of Man Film
Distributed byCinemaNX
WestEnd Films
Release dates
  • June 21, 2011 (2011-06-21) (EIFF)
  • October 14, 2011 (2011-10-14) (United Kingdom)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film UK
LanguageEnglish

Albatross is a 2011 British coming-of-age comedy drama film directed by Niall MacCormick and written by Tamzin Rafn. It stars Sebastian Koch, Julia Ormond, Felicity Jones and Jessica Brown-Findlay. The film's premise revolves around a teenage aspiring writer entering the lives of a dysfunctional family living in the south coast of England. "Albatross" is a metaphor used to describe a constant and inescapable burden.[1]

The film was shot entirely on the Isle of Man with the support of the Island's government. It is MacCormick's feature film debut, having previously made his name in television. Also making her debut is screenwriter Tamzin Rafn. Rafn based the script on her own experiences as a rebellious teenager.

Albatross premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2011 to positive reviews. Brown-Findlay has received near-universal praise for her performance. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2011.

Plot

Aspiring writer Emelia (Jessica Brown-Findlay) takes a job as a cleaner in a seaside hotel owned by Jonathan (Sebastian Koch), a middle-aged author with writer's block. His wife, Joa (Julia Ormond), has given up her acting career to run the hotel, while his daughter, Beth (Felicity Jones), plans to study medicine at Oxford.[2][3] Emelia becomes friends with Beth but also begins an affair with Beth's father after they connect over a love of books.[4]

Cast

Production

Albatross is BAFTA-nominated director Niall MacCormick's debut feature film and the first screenplay by Tamzin Rafn.[4][5][6] According to Rafn, the script was optioned by producer Marc Samuelson and CinemaNX about three weeks after her agent sent it out.[7] It was then sent out to directors, some of whom Rafn met. She said MacCormick was one of her favourites and was "really glad" when the script was offered to him.[7]

Writing

Tamzin Rafn wrote the screenplay of Albatross on weekends over the course of three months while working full time during the weekdays.[8]

The film's recurring theme, one's desire to escape from something holding her back, is derived from Rafn's personal experiences. Rafn grew up in the quiet town of Worthing on the south coast of England and spent her teenage years wanting to leave.[9] According to her, "pushing the boundaries came as a result of that being an actuality in my teens. It just so turns out that being a nightmare comes naturally to me. And writing Emilia was like writing a version of myself but adding characteristics to make it filmic and that meant giving her some tragedy and heart to explain her behaviour."[7]

Rafn credited Diablo Cody as inspiration for her to write about her own experiences.[7] Cody began her foray into writing by penning a memoir about her career as a stripper. She later won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film Juno. Rafn said, "What I did know about though was naughty girls in seaside towns. I knew that because I’d been one and I always loved movies about people who misbehaved... So I sat down and I thought about everything I loved in movies. That list ran to: naughty girls, seaside towns, writers and scandalous behaviour. I then watched every movie that fitted that for me – The Wonder Boys, The Squid and the Whale, Wish You Were Here, The Door in the Floor, Thirteen."[7]

Casting

Casting director Shaheen Baig reportedly resisted pressure to include major stars.[2]

The film marks Jessica Brown-Findlay's first starring role in a major production.[2] She was reportedly cast before she began filming in the successful television series Downton Abbey.[2] While auditioning for Alice in Wonderland, Brown-Findlay found an agent who led her to the script of Albatross.[10] MacCormick wanted "a girl who could tell someone to f*** off and die and for the audience to still feel they were actually quite charming" for the film's central role, Emelia.[10] Brown-Findlay said she adored the role and "decided to be Emelia both inside and outside the audition room."[10] MacCormick was shocked to find out that she was actually nothing like the character when the cast began filming in 2009.[10] Brown-Findlay said Emilia and Lady Sybil, her role in Downtown Abbey, are "both going to grow into strong women. They're finding out who they are and what they're going to be."[10] She admitted the characters are "very different," and that Emilia has "got that same guts that Sybil has - just in a much more overtly obvious way, she's ballsy. She doesn't have a filter system - if she thinks something, she says it. She doesn't have that restraint that Sybil has."[11]

Brown-Findlay is close friends with co-star Felicity Jones, whom she met at auditions.[10] Jones was cast as the introverted Beth. "I should probably say I was very different to her aged 17. I would sound a lot cooler. But I like the way Beth is an observer," she said.[10]

Sebastian Koch's part as Jonathan is only the second English-speaking role of the German actor's career, which spans more than two decades.[12] Of Brown-Findlay, Koch said "She started with this film, and did it wonderfully – just to see these first steps was wonderful for me, and perhaps to help and support her a bit. She’s really brilliant in the film; she’s Emelia, exactly what the script wanted."[12]

Filming

Albatross was filmed entirely on the Isle of Man, which was used to portray the film's small coastal town setting.[13] Among the locations used in the film were historic house Ravencliffe near Douglas Head and Port St Mary harbour.[14]

The Isle's Minister for Economic Development Allan Bell said the film showcases "the beauty and diversity of locations that the Island has to offer film-makers... One of the many considerations that come into play when we are considering involvement in a film project is how well the script fits the natural locations of the Island and in how many ways the Island can benefit from any possible collaboration. Albatross ticked all the boxes and we are thrilled to be associated with a film of such quality and appeal."[13]

The film was shot in 2009 and took six weeks to complete.[11][14]

Promotion and release

Albatross premiered at the 2011 Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2011.[3] The trailer debuted on guardian.co.uk's film section on 2 August 2011.[5][15] The film was released in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2011.[10]

Reception

Critical response

Albatross was well-received by critics at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.[4] Ross Miller said the film was "cute without being schmaltzy, sweet without being sickly, insightful without being preachy" and "destined to be one of the most talked about and beloved British films of the year."[3] Variety's Charles Gant praised the performances of Brown-Findlay, Koch and Ormond and described director MacCormick's debut effort as "amiable."[2] Adele Brunnhofer of Celluloid Heroes Radio said Albatross had the usual hallmarks from coming-of-age movies, but "its dialogue and the acting are quick-witted enough to keep the plot from becoming too predictable."[16] Adam Whyte agreed that the plot is nothing original, "so it comes down to the scripting, direction and acting, and all three are surprisingly engaging."[6] Jamie Neish praised the film's visuals, music and acting, saying "[t]he performances across the board are sublime."[17] The Film Pilgrim's David Whitehead praised Brown-Findlay, Jones and Ormond, but said Koch was "disappointingly unengaged." He said the film had "moments of great humour" but is "ultimately unsatisfying."[9]

Upon release in the UK, the film has received less enthusiastic reviews. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave the film 2/5 stars; he praised Brown-Findlay's star-power, but called the film's premise "sentimental and unreal."[18] Philip French said, "Heavy-handed and unconvincing, it's Fawlty Towers without the jokes."[19] The Independent's Anthony Quinn criticised the film's lack of believability, saying it "has a puppyish eagerness that doesn't quite deliver."[20] Chris Tookey from the Daily Mail said the script was "is predictable and too much like Wish You Were Here, My Summer of Love and An Education," and gave it 2/5 stars.[21] Jasper Rees of The Arts Desk said the story "teeters swiftly into the realms of the implausible... In the mean time it gives one no pleasure to report that a film about the burning desire to write could have done a lot more time in the oven."[22] It was given 3/5 stars by Empire, with a verdict: "A startling performace from Findlay doesn't quite make up for a disappointing third act."[23]

References

  1. ^ "albatross". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e Gant, Charles (20 June 2011). "Albatross". Variety. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Template:Cite article
  4. ^ a b c Dean, Sarah (3 August 2011). "'Albatross' Trailer Starring 'Downton Abbey's' Lady Sybil In Raunchy Role". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Albatross: Watch the world exclusive trailer - video". guardian.co.uk. 2 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  6. ^ a b Whyte, Adam (20 June 2011). "Edinburgh Film Festival 2011 Review: Albatross". What Culture!. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e Nelsh, Jamie (11 October 2011). "Exclusive Interview – Writer Tamzin Rafn Talks Albatross". HeyUGuys.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  8. ^ Smith, Nat (12 October 2011). "Review – Albatross (2011, Niall MacCormick)". Fron Row Reviews. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  9. ^ a b Whitehead, David (19 August 2011). "Albatross Review". The Film Pilgrim. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Nathanson, Hannah (19 August 2011). "Fly girls: Felicity Jones and Jessica Brown-Findlay". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Downton Abbey's Lady Sybil Shows Wild Side". Sky News. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  12. ^ a b Gallagher, Paul (16 September 2011). "Profile - Sebastian Koch". The List. Retrieved 5 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ a b Dale, Bill (3 August 2011). "Latest Manx film finds favour with critics". isleofman.com. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Isle of Man-made film Albatross released on Friday". BBC News. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  15. ^ Miller, Ross (2 August 2011). "First trailer for Niall MacCormick's debut feature Albatross". Twitch Film. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  16. ^ Bunnhofer, Adele (7 July 2011). "Review- Albatross". Celluloid Heroes Radio. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  17. ^ Neish, Jamie (18 June 2011). "EIFF 2011 – Albatross Review". Hey U Guys. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  18. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (13 October 2011). "Albatross – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  19. ^ French, Philip (16 October 2011). "Albatross – review". The Observer. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  20. ^ Quinn, Anthony (14 October 2011). "Albatross (15)". The Independent. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  21. ^ Tookey, Chris (14 October 2011). "Lady Sybil's most unladylike affair flirting with novelist". Daily Mail. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  22. ^ Rees, Jasper (14 October 2011). "Albatross". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Albatross". Empire. Retrieved 16 October 2011.

External links

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