Another of the Riverside nights last night and something of a coup, as Woodbridge welcomed an artist described by the Evening Standard as “Britain’s greatest living film director“. The film showing was ‘The Deep Blue Sea‘, based on the 1952 play by Terence Rattigan.
A study of forbidden love, suppressed desire and a fear of loneliness, especially that to be found in what appears to be a safe, secure but passionless accommodation of a relationship, it was clearly boldly ambitious for its time. For me, it was difficult to get beyond the overall narrative, but the film was lovingly crafted and beautifully observed. Perhaps not one for me in the end. I think in essence I had a problem with the pacing of the film.
However, the Q&A with the director was excellent – Davies was fascinating, disarmingly honest and, most importantly of all, extremely passionate about his art and film in general. We could have listened to him all night and the 45 minutes or so disappeared in what seemed like an instant.