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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 254871" data-attributes="member: 23">Housewife, 49 (continued)Also era-appropriate is the handling of Nella’s gay son who brings home a “friend” to stay with the family, is pleased when he gets on well with Nella and is devastated when his friend is later killed. To a twenty-first century audience, the situation is easily read. Which means things can mostly be written and played with frugality. There is a coming out scene of sorts when Cliff tries to explain to his mother how important the loss of his friend is to him, and why. It could have gilded the lily, but it’s saved by Nella not quite getting it. Or perhaps she does and doesn’t have the language to say so. Either way, it is perfectly in harmony with the film’s theme of isolation and unshared burdens. Cliff is a generation younger than Nella and Will, but is little more free of his repression than his parents. And his tragedies and losses are as profound as theirs. Each unspoken truth widening the gaps between the frustrated characters. The writing is as strong as you would expect from Victoria. The sharp lines are there, but are utilised to drive the drama forwards. While the lighter touches are there, the “punchlines” here - those memorable lines - are the ones that touch the heart rather than tickle the funny bone. Some do both at the same time. Towards the film’s end, Nella’s son tries to reconnect with her during a walk on the beach by drawing in the sand an image of Nella inside a heart and telling her she will always be in his heart. Nella gives a melancholy smile and says “Till the tide comes in”. It’s a beautiful moment, full of love and fragility. Clifford moved to Australia and became a noted sculptor, though tantalisingly little can be found about the man himself from some quick searches online. The film captures much of how I imagine the day-to-day business during the war to have been. It’s rather ordinary, with life events squeezed into the windows of time when people are allowed to be people. The stakes may be high, but the more pressing issues for Nella to deal with are the snobbery which almost prevents her from entering the cliquey upper middle class committee of the WVS, and the strained relationships once she does as more established members resent Nella’s proactive approach, fearing it will affect their own status. In one such scene, Nella gets the WVS operating again after an air raid which has distracted Mrs Waite from being able to give it her attention. In the days before telephones were commonplace Nella, with Mrs Waite’s approval, rallies support by placing an announcement in the paper) Most of the women appreciate Nella’s action, but Mrs Lord (played brilliantly by Marcia Warren, whom I watched most recently as one of the best things in the tacky sitcom Vicious) questions Nella’s authority to place the announcement, suggests that Nella hadn’t spoken to Mrs Waite because the telephones were down after an air raid. Then, on realising that Nella had physically scrambled to Mrs Waite’s to see if she was all right, Mrs Lord simply takes over and thanks the ladies for turning up. It’s just one example of the battle for territory that goes on in these situations. There’s an irony to it taking place as a more bloody territorial battle is taking place in the greater world, and it perfectly encapsulates the pettiness and pointlessness of such soul-destroying battles which continue to pervade in some way in most people’s working or social lives, no matter how harmonious things may seem. There’s a great deal of loss, with deaths, life-changing injuries, damaged properties and trauma. But it’s part of the fabric of life. The air raids are a nice example of this. There’s a moment where Nella and Will hear crashing in the house from their bunker, and Nella comments that it’s the plates she had on display in the hall, saying how silly it was of her to neglect to take them down and wrap them, with much the same air of someone realising they’d forgotten to take the bin out for collection.If Victoria’s aim with the film was to bring Nella’s voice to light - and I have to assume that was at least a large part of this film’s purpose - she’s been entirely successful. I’ve already been looking on shopping sites at the books based on Nella’s diaries, and won’t feel I have the full picture until I’ve read some more. The film’s BAFTA awards were thoroughly deserved. It’s taken me long enough, but I’m glad to say this film is finally part of my world. </blockquote>

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