Short Plot Summary:
England; the early 1980s. Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne), a privileged, quiet, shy, and young film student, tries to break out of her own little bubble realizing a film project about social problems in a largely working-class city. At a party, she meets the mysterious, older, and more distinguished Anthony (Tom Burke), who supposedly works for the Foreign Office. Within days, the two begin a serious, codependent love relationship. Still Anthony has a dark secret, which Julie eventually uncovers, which dramatically changes everything…
The Souvenir is an intense and profound movie about relationships, art, and life itself. Furthermore – it is continually commenting on the nature of truth and artifice in cinema. “The Souvenir” is also the name of a painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, from which the film takes not only its title but draws on for inspiration. From the very beginning of their relationship, the two main characters, Julie and Anthony, are fascinated by this portrait of a young girl, which repeatedly turns up in the film, and which both of them interpret as destiny – in love and melancholic at the same time.
Joanna Hogg’s semi-autobiographical new film is both a personal take on upper-class Britain and an incisive exploration of spaces, landscapes, codependent relationships and, not least, the medium of film.
My Personal Rating: ★★★★★
(3,5 /5 stars).
The Souvenir, Hogg’s fourth feature length film, is a sensitive film with a sterling cast, which on the one hand addresses many emotional and human chasms and on the other hand, takes you back to 80’s London with the costumes, soundtrack and tense political climate during the Thatcher era. At heart, the film, which contains many autobiographical elements, is also a film about a youthful but toxic romance, about growing up, and above all a drama about drug abuse, relationships, self-deception, social constraints, and conventions regarding the long and challenging road trying to find yourself. Especially remarkable is the acting of Honor Swinton Byrne as “Julie”.
THE SOUVENIR
Country: UK / USA
UK release date: 30. August 2019
Directed by: Joanna Hogg
Written by: Joanna Hogg
Cast: Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, Tilda Swinton, and Richard Ayoade i.a.
Genre: Drama
Running time: 119 mins.
Language: English
Language format: OmU (Original language with German subtitles)
Currently, the film is being shown in Germany exclusively by the Filmhaus here in Nuremberg. https://www.parkcircus.com/film/119355-The-Souvenir
In cooperation with the Filmhaus cinema, ENGLISH POST are giving away 2 cinema tickets for “The Souvenir”.
How to get hold of them?
From all the correct answers a winner will be selected on Sunday, 30th August, live on our Facebook site using “Randomizer”. The winner will be notified on Sunday evening.
Session Times of The Souvenir: Thursday, August 27th to Saturday, 5th September:
Thu. / 27.08.2020 / 21:15 p.m.
Sat. / 29.08.2020 / 17:15 p.m.
Sun. / 30.08.2020 / 17:15 p.m.
Mon. / 31.08.2020 / 21:00 p.m.
Tue. / 01.09.2020 / 21:00 p.m.
Wed./ 02.09.2020 / 21:00 p.m.
Sa. / 05.09.2020 / 17:15 p.m.
Filmhaus im KunstKulturQuartier – Filmhauskino
Adresse: Königstr. 93, 90402 Nuremberg (near the main train station “Hauptbahnhof Nürnberg”)
Phone: +49 911 231 7340
Website: http://www.filmhaus.nuernberg.de
2 screens
152 Seats
Ticket prices: €4,50 - €7/ €12* (*for silent films with live music)
Concessions: Filmhaus café
Please note that, due to the restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic it is highly recommended purchasing tickets in advance online (via https://booking.cinetixx.de) or during regular opening hours (Mon. – Fr.: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at the ticket counter of the Kultur Information im KunstKulturQuartier, Nuremberg.
© Park Circus
