Cracks is a film set in a girls' boarding school in the 1930s. It's a psychological thriller which I'd never heard of before, but the fact that it starred Eva Green, Imogen Poots, Juno Temple, and Sinead Cusack - four high-calibre performers - suggested to me that it was well worth a watch. And so it was, despite various flaws. The director is Jordan Scott, director of Ridley Scott, and she does a good job. In visual terms, it's a very appealing film.
Green plays Miss G, a charismatic young teacher who is adored by a group of her pupils. She's unconventional, with an apparently exotic past, and she is particularly close to Di, played by Temple, whose performance I feel is the best in the film. The status quo is disturbed when an attractive but enigmatic young Spanish aristocrat (played by Maria Valverde) arrives at at the school.
The other girls take a dislike to the newcomer, but Miss G is charmed by her. Inevitably, Di becomes jealous. Our impression that Miss G is not really the exciting charmer she seems to be is confirmed and before long, relationships within the group become febrile.
The main problem is that the pace is too slow, and that the script isn't as tight as it might have been. One has only to think of that brilliantly sinister school film Unman, Wittering and Zigo to realise that the potential of the situation isn't as fully realised as it might have been. The ironic finale isn't bad, but I felt slightly frustrated that a movie that might have been really gripping didn't work as well as I'd hoped. One of Miss G's girls is called Fuzzy and the storyline of Cracks itself is also rather fuzzy.
4 comments:
I'd never heard of either film, Martin, but your review has made me track down 'Unman, Wittering and Zigo' on Amazon Prime! Many moons ago, I used to collect crime fiction which was set in schools (I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day exploring why), so it will be interesting to see what this film is like. Martyn
Thanks, Martyn. I've seen Unman... twice, many years apart, and was impressed each time. Let us know what you make of it.
Watched 'Unman ...' tonight, Martin. Definite shades of 'Lord of the Flies' and (the later) 'The Wicker Man'. As a boarding school survivor, I found much of it uncomfortably believable. My wife said it was 'creepy'. Make of that what you will. But a bargain night's viewing for less than £2.50! Martyn
Yes, Martyn, I think it is both uncomfortably believable and creepy! A very under-rated film by a very talented writer.
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