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{{short description|1981 film}}
{{short description|1981 film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
Line 7: Line 7:
| caption = DVD cover
| caption = DVD cover
| director = [[David Gladwell]]
| director = [[David Gladwell]]
| producer = [[Penny Clark]]<br>[[Michael Medwin]]
| producer = [[Penny Clark]]<br />[[Michael Medwin]]
| writer = David Gladwell<br>[[Kerry Crabbe]]<br>[[Doris Lessing]]
| writer = David Gladwell<br />Kerry Crabbe<br />[[Doris Lessing]]
| based_on = ''[[The Memoirs of a Survivor]]'' by Doris Lessing
| starring = [[Julie Christie]]
| starring = [[Julie Christie]]
| music =
| music =
| cinematography = Walter Lassally
| cinematography = Walter Lassally
| editing = Bill Shapter
| editing = Bill Shapter
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]]-[[Warner Bros.|Warner Distributors]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Memoirs of a Survivor (1981)|work=[[BBFC]]|access-date=29 March 2021|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/memoirs-of-a-survivor-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmdywnza}}</ref>
| distributor =
|budget=£800,000<ref name="moody">{{Cite book|title=EMI Films and the Limits of British Cinema|first=Paul|last=Moody|year=2018|publisher=Palgrave MacMillan|page=184}}</ref><ref name="money">Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 336</ref>
| released = {{film date|1981|9}}
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1981|9}}
| runtime = 115 minutes
| runtime = 115 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| country = United Kingdom
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}}
}}


'''''Memoirs of a Survivor''''' is a 1981 British [[science fiction film]] directed by [[David Gladwell]], with some scenes filmed at the location of [[Argyle Street, Norwich]]. It was screened in the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[1981 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1766/year/1981.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Memoirs of a Survivor |accessdate=6 June 2009|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> It is based on the [[Memoirs of a Survivor|novel of the same name]] by [[Doris Lessing]]. The film was scheduled to be released on DVD in June 2014 by [[Network Distributing]].<ref name="DVD">{{cite web |url=http://networkonair.com/shop/1924-memoirs-of-a-survivor.html |title=Memoirs of a Survivor |accessdate=28 April 2014|work=Network Distributing}}</ref>
'''''Memoirs of a Survivor''''' is a 1981 British [[science fiction film]] directed by [[David Gladwell]], with some scenes filmed at the location of [[Argyle Street, Norwich]]. It was screened in the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[1981 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |title=Festival de Cannes: Memoirs of a Survivor |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1766/year/1981.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930220550/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1766/year/1981.html |archive-date=30 September 2012 |access-date=6 June 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> It is based on the 1974 [[Memoirs of a Survivor|novel of the same name]] by [[Doris Lessing]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
After a near future economic collapse, England lies in ruins. Middle aged D (Julie Christie) struggles to survive in the failing city, where electricity is infrequent, water delivery scarce and trash pick up non-existent. As she rarely leaves her apartment, D takes in teenager Emily, allowing her to share D's apartment, in exchange for the girl's help.
After a near future economic collapse, England lies in ruins. Middle aged D (Julie Christie) struggles to survive in the failing city, where electricity is infrequent, water delivery scarce and trash pick up non-existent. As she rarely leaves her apartment, D is required to take in teenager Emily, allowing her to share D's apartment, in exchange for the girl's help.


Emily soon begins to fall for Gerald (Christopher Guard) and leaves D to move in with Gerald. Gerald operates a makeshift refugee camp for the orphan and homeless children of the city. D is able to see Gerald's failing whereas Emily can not.
Emily soon begins to fall for Gerald (Christopher Guard) and leaves D to move in with Gerald. Gerald operates a makeshift refugee camp for the orphan and homeless children of the city. D is able to see Gerald's failing whereas Emily can not.


In addition. D's grasp on reality is questioned as she can also travel back in time and observe a Victorian age family that resided in the same apartment. D may be witnessing the distorted history of the young woman currently in her care, as the child in the Victorian age is also named Emily, although whether these trips to the past are actually occurring or they are a fantasy is the mind of D a question left unanswered.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefiction/memoirs-of-a-survivor-1981.htm|title=Memoirs of a Survivor (1981)|date=4 January 2003}}</ref>
In addition. D's grasp on reality is questioned as she can also travel back in time and observe a Victorian age family that resided in the same apartment. D may be witnessing the distorted history of the young woman currently in her care, as the child in the Victorian age is also named Emily, although whether these trips to the past are actually occurring or they are a fantasy in D's mind is a question left unanswered.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefiction/memoirs-of-a-survivor-1981.htm|title=Memoirs of a Survivor (1981)|date=4 January 2003|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828033213/http://www.moriareviews.com/sciencefiction/memoirs-of-a-survivor-1981.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Julie Christie]] – D
* [[Julie Christie]] as D
* [[Christopher Guard]] – Gerald
* [[Christopher Guard]] as Gerald
* [[Leonie Mellinger]] – Emily Mary Cartwright
* [[Leonie Mellinger]] as Emily Mary Cartwright
* [[Debbie Hutchings]] – June
* [[Debbie Hutchings]] as June
* [[Nigel Hawthorne]] – Victorian Father
* [[Nigel Hawthorne]] as Victorian Father
* [[Pat Keen]] – Victorian Mother
* [[Pat Keen]] as Victorian Mother
* [[Georgina Griffiths]] – Victorian Emily
* [[Georgina Griffiths]] as Victorian Emily
* [[Christopher Tsangarides]] – Victorian Son
* [[Christopher Tsangarides]] as Victorian Son
* [[Mark Dignam]] – Newsvendor
* [[Mark Dignam]] as Newsvendor
* [[Alison Dowling]] – Janet White
* [[Alison Dowling]] as Janet White
* [[John Franklyn-Robbins]] – Prof. White
* [[John Franklyn-Robbins]] as Prof. White
* [[Rowena Cooper]] – Mrs. White
* [[Rowena Cooper]] as Mrs. White
* [[Barbara Hicks]] – Woman on Waste Ground
* [[Barbara Hicks]] as Woman on Waste Ground
* [[John Comer]] – Man Delivering Emily
* [[John Comer]] as Man Delivering Emily
* [[Adrienne Byrne]] – Maureen
* [[Adrienne Byrne]] as Maureen


==Reception==
==Reception==
[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] praised the performance of Christie, but stated that the low budget hampered the portrayal of the degenerating city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1980/film/reviews/memoirs-of-a-survivor-1200424945/|title=Memoirs of a Survivor|work=Variety|date=1 January 1981}}</ref> Christie won a Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award for Best Actress for her performance. Experiential Conversations states that the movie takes an impressionistic approach to the material of the novel, stating that Christie is able to carry this curious and haunting film. However, they state that the viewer must abandon trying to comprehend the literal meaning of the Victorian sequences, and instead accept the film on the whole as an immensely atmospheric mood piece.<ref>http://www.experimentalconversations.com/review/6/</ref> Moira state that this was what "one might kindly call a flawed film " It praised the visuals of the film as well as the ending and a brooding scene.<ref name="auto"/>
''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised the performance of Christie, but stated that the low budget hampered the portrayal of the degenerating city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1980/film/reviews/memoirs-of-a-survivor-1200424945/|title=Memoirs of a Survivor|work=Variety|date=1 January 1981|access-date=28 August 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828033211/https://variety.com/1980/film/reviews/memoirs-of-a-survivor-1200424945/|url-status=live}}</ref> Christie won a [[Fantasporto|Fantasporto International Fantasy Film]] Award for Best Actress for her performance. The website Experiential Conversations states that the movie "takes an impressionistic approach" to the material of the novel, while mentioning that Christie is able to carry this curious and haunting film; however, they state that the viewer must abandon trying to comprehend the literal meaning of the Victorian sequences, and instead accept the film on the whole as an immensely atmospheric mood piece.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Memoirs of a Survivor (1981) |url=http://www.experimentalconversations.com/review/6/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527053038/http://www.experimentalconversations.com/review/6/ |archive-date=2019-05-27 |access-date= |website=www.experimentalconversations.com}}</ref> Moria Reviews states that the film is "what one might kindly call a flawed film", although it also praised the visuals of the film, as well as the ending and a brooding scene.<ref name="auto"/>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0082733|title=Memoirs of a Survivor}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0082733|title=Memoirs of a Survivor}}


[[Category:1981 films]]
[[Category:1981 films]]
[[Category:1980s science fiction films]]
[[Category:1981 science fiction films]]
⚫
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:British science fiction films]]
[[Category:British science fiction films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by David Gladwell]]
[[Category:Films directed by David Gladwell]]
[[Category:Films based on British novels]]
[[Category:Films based on British novels]]
⚫
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1980s British films]]
[[Category:British dystopian films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction films]]

Latest revision as of 14:22, 15 September 2024

Memoirs of a Survivor
DVD cover
Directed byDavid Gladwell
Written byDavid Gladwell
Kerry Crabbe
Doris Lessing
Based onThe Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing
Produced byPenny Clark
Michael Medwin
StarringJulie Christie
CinematographyWalter Lassally
Edited byBill Shapter
Distributed byColumbia-Warner Distributors[1]
Release date
  • September 1981 (1981-09)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£800,000[2][3]

Memoirs of a Survivor is a 1981 British science fiction film directed by David Gladwell, with some scenes filmed at the location of Argyle Street, Norwich. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.[4] It is based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Doris Lessing.

Plot

[edit]

After a near future economic collapse, England lies in ruins. Middle aged D (Julie Christie) struggles to survive in the failing city, where electricity is infrequent, water delivery scarce and trash pick up non-existent. As she rarely leaves her apartment, D is required to take in teenager Emily, allowing her to share D's apartment, in exchange for the girl's help.

Emily soon begins to fall for Gerald (Christopher Guard) and leaves D to move in with Gerald. Gerald operates a makeshift refugee camp for the orphan and homeless children of the city. D is able to see Gerald's failing whereas Emily can not.

In addition. D's grasp on reality is questioned as she can also travel back in time and observe a Victorian age family that resided in the same apartment. D may be witnessing the distorted history of the young woman currently in her care, as the child in the Victorian age is also named Emily, although whether these trips to the past are actually occurring or they are a fantasy in D's mind is a question left unanswered.[5]

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Variety praised the performance of Christie, but stated that the low budget hampered the portrayal of the degenerating city.[6] Christie won a Fantasporto International Fantasy Film Award for Best Actress for her performance. The website Experiential Conversations states that the movie "takes an impressionistic approach" to the material of the novel, while mentioning that Christie is able to carry this curious and haunting film; however, they state that the viewer must abandon trying to comprehend the literal meaning of the Victorian sequences, and instead accept the film on the whole as an immensely atmospheric mood piece.[7] Moria Reviews states that the film is "what one might kindly call a flawed film", although it also praised the visuals of the film, as well as the ending and a brooding scene.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Memoirs of a Survivor (1981)". BBFC. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  2. ^ Moody, Paul (2018). EMI Films and the Limits of British Cinema. Palgrave MacMillan. p. 184.
  3. ^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 336
  4. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Memoirs of a Survivor". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Memoirs of a Survivor (1981)". 4 January 2003. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Memoirs of a Survivor". Variety. 1 January 1981. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Memoirs of a Survivor (1981)". www.experimentalconversations.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019.
[edit]
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