Passion (1999) - DaaVeeDee

Passion (1999) (DVD) (*)

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Screened, competed or awarded at:
Australian Film Institute
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
Moscow International Film Festival

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
German ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
99 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1999 and produced in:
Australia ( Australia, New Zealand )

Directed By:
Peter Duncan

Written By:
John Bird
Rob George

Actors:
Richard Roxburgh ..... Percy Grainger
Barbara Hershey ..... Rose Grainger
Emily Woof ..... Karen Holten
Claudia Karvan ..... Alfhild de Luce
Simon Burke ..... Herman Sandby
Linda Cropper ..... Mrs. Lowery
Julia Blake ..... Queen Alexandra
Bille Brown ..... John Grainger
Martin Jacobs ..... Doctor
Fiona Press ..... Jenny the Maid
Genevieve Mooy ..... Ada Crossley
Peter Whitford ..... Tour Manager
Jamie Croft ..... Barrow Boy
Claire Paradine ..... Prostitute
Rebecca Croft ..... Teenage Girl

Synopsis:

Pianist, composer and archivist Percy Grainger was publicly known for a brief concert career, several interesting contemporary classical compositions, and researching and documenting a wealth of English folk music. Privately, Grainger's life was tumultuous and unconventional, as chronicled in the film Passion. Set in London in 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, Percy Grainger (Richard Roxburgh) is making a name for himself as a pianist; his recitals are known for his fiery performing style and fondness for dropping non-traditional pieces into his repertoire. Percy's career is guided by his mother, Rose (Barbara Hershey). Their relationship goes far beyond the normal bounds of family or business; Percy and Rose are also lovers, with Percy satisfying Rose's sado-masochistic impulses (which are aggravated by the fact she's contacted syphilis). Percy is also attracted to Alfhild (Claudia Karvan), who is uncooperatively married to his best friend, Herman (Simon Burke). Karen (Emily Woof), a lovely piano student, is interested in being tutored by Percy; Alfhild and Herman think this is a fine idea, and surprisingly so does Rose. However, Karen soon becomes Percy's lover as well as his student, and when Rose discovers Karen is willing to satisfy Percy's erotic appetites for pain, she no longer approves of Karen's presence. The film follows Grainger's life until he moves to New York City, where he spent most of his life until committing suicide in 1961.

This handsome but stylistically generic biopic of Percy Grainger, based on a stage play Percy and Rose and John Bird's biography of the composer, deals with the early years of his career and sticks to a familiar depiction of an artist - wayward genius, bohemian mores, eccentric behaviour and so on, all set against aesthetically-pleasing back-drops (in this case, lots of English bucolicism and Edwardian interiors). The unfortunately-named Percy was also sex-mad, keen on flagellation (earning the film an excessive R rating) and had a questionable relationship with his equally eccentric mother (played by Barbara Hershey). Richard Roxborough as Grainger handles all this with puckish savoir faire (and often in, I assume, historically-accurate terry-towelling outfits) although sounding and looking a lot like Geoffrey Rush and Barbara Hershey, if an inexplicable casting choice, dutifully alternates between self-controlled elegance and mad disarray. Director Duncan packages proceedings tastefully with considerable help from the careful efforts of the art and costume departments (although in an early scene Claudia Karvan is reading a book with blank pages) suggesting at least in these respects, Visconti's Death in Venice. In the supporting roles Emily Woof is strong as Grainger's erstwhile love interest. Karvan, whilst good-looking, is unconvincing particularly thanks to her attempt at a Scandinavian accent, something which is rather obviously cut around, whilst Simon Burke is equally decorative. Everyone gets a turn of their respective instruments and this aspect is well-handled and the overall effect is a credibly informative insight into the personality of Australia's best-known classical composer.

A story of intense relationships and disturbing ideas, Passion embraces an unconventional life to the full, exploring the pleasures and the pain of the dark side self-flagellation.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 13 February, 2014.

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