Hallam Foe (DVD)

Hallam Foe is a film co-written (adapted from the novel by Peter Jinks ) and directed by Scottish filmmaker David Mackenzie. It stars Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell as Hallam, a young man coming to terms with the suicide of his mother and his father's rapid re-marriage to a younger, social climbing type whom he detests. His elder sister is leaving home and he is left in the world he has created to cope with his grief. Seemingly shut off from the outside ...
...London working for an acquaintance. Hallam is not best pleased with this, and draws a line in the sand, declaring he will be sticking around to torment his father and his unsuitable bride. The stepmother, played by Claire Forlani, makes it her mission to get rid of the young upstart, finds some of his journals documenting his peeping tom proclivities and blackmails him. Their confrontation is ugly and has sinister overtones, with Hallam convinced ... more

Hallam Foe is a film co-written (adapted from the novel by Peter Jinks ) and directed by Scottish filmmaker David Mackenzie. It stars Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell as Hallam, a young man coming to terms with the suicide of his mother and his father's rapid re-marriage to a younger, social climbing type whom he detests. His elder sister is leaving home and he is left in the world he has created to cope with his grief. Seemingly shut off from the outside world, he has found passing his time as a peeping tom his constant companion. He lives in a tree house on the family estate, filmed and set in the Scottish Borders (looking unlike the Borders I have seen however with its dramatic hills and thick forests). At any rate, his habit of dressing up in his mother's old clothes, donning a badger hat and war paint, is clearly earmarking him for the troubled youth that he is. His father, a well to do architect (played by the divine Ciaran Hinds), tells him he is to spend a gap year in London working for an acquaintance. Hallam is not best pleased with this, and draws a line in the sand, declaring he will be sticking around to torment his father and his unsuitable bride. The stepmother, played by Claire Forlani, makes it her mission to get rid of the young upstart, finds some of his journals documenting his peeping tom proclivities and blackmails him. Their confrontation is ugly and has sinister overtones, with Hallam convinced she had something to do with his mother's death (she drowned in their lake), and she doing everything she can to drive him further away. Without giving too much away, they cross a line and Hallam flees in horror and shame to Edinburgh.

If this all sounds terribly dark, well I can only say that mixed in with all of this from the start there is a mixture of whimsy and humour that lightens it enormously. And despite Hallam's bizarre behaviour, Jamie Bell infuses the character with so much authenticity from the first frame that you just believe him. It doesn't come off contrived as it might sound, I presume this might have to do with the book giving the filmmaker a lot to work with. Not having read the book (but now planning on it), you do get the sense it must have come from a very rich text. You get the impression early on that there is a lot going on you don't know about, and that for me is a good thing. Hallam heads to Edinburgh, where his scrappiness really comes to the fore. At first he wanders a bit aimlessly, but then he finds a consuming focus when he sees a girl who bears a staggering resemblance to his late mother. He follows her to her place of work, a hotel, and blags himself a job as a kitchen porter to be near her. He is driven to find out everything he can about her, which does lead him to spying on her at every opportunity. She is called Kate, and is played with great charm by Sophia Myles. None of it seems perverse, however. Even though he does watch things he shouldn't do, he is not getting any pleasure out of it as she leads a bit of a sad life and has an unhealthy relationship with a married co-worker. His yearning for her is complex, wrapped up in his maternal longing as well as loneliness.

His enthusiasm for his gruelling job is scorned by his gruff co-worker, played with dry wit by veteran actor Maurice Roves. He quickly makes the leap from kitchen porter to front house porter, where again his co-worker played by Ewan Bremner provides much comic support. This is not to say it's Fawlty towers, but it does mix the dark and the light (or the sweet and the sour, to quote the Kate character) with a nice balance. It did remind me in this respect of other great coming of age tales like Harold and Maude or Rushmore, especially with its excellent soundtrack, but that said it is entirely unique.

The director, David Mackenzie, has made his mark in recent years as a British filmmaker committed to bringing a vision to the screen that is rooted in home and not some Hollywood version of Britain. Previous films of his like Young Adam and The Last Great Wilderness are completely different genres, yet again filmed and lovingly re-creating Scotland in a way that only a native could. Edinburgh is filmed beautifully, it is recognisable in numerous shots without going for the obvious landmarks. It is hardly chocolate box, which could easily be the temptation with such a pretty city. There are rats and grime, and yet the camera also caresses the curved streets, steep dark alleys and unique architecture with affection.

Hallam gets to know Kate, on his birthday they go for after work drinks and really hit it off. After much booze they end up back at her flat, where mutual loneliness seems to be their shared feeling. Hallam is a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of his confused fantasy woman being a reality, and again the film restrains itself from having the obvious outcome. They do eventually become involved in a touchingly sweet relationship, which is all thrown into upheaval by her vindictive married lover and the arrival of Hallam's parents. Kate realises Hallam's interest in her is far more complicated than she knew. She does not shy away from him, but instead challenges him to confront his own troubles. I'd rather not give too much away, but suffice to say there is a dramatic confrontation and a bit of heartbreak. In a sense, a lot happens, in another sense, this film is a fairly simple coming of age tale made enormously enjoyable by intelligent dialogue, excellent acting and moving directing. Does it require suspension of disbelief, as I have read a few criticisms imply? Well, if you're not used to using your imagination perhaps it does. It's not a traditionally satisfying film, and yet the three people I saw this with all came away immensely satisfied and with that feelgood factor only a really truthful, charming film like this can give.

Jamie Bell really is a revelation, this is the first film I have seen him in since Billy Elliott, and I have to say he has retained his youthful integrity and commitment to character better than many child actors I can think of. He brings to the part real depth of emotion and his performance definitely hinges the film together. The acting all around is impressive, Sophia Myles has gravitas as well as good looks, she has an earthiness that is similar to Kate Winslet, although perhaps a bit more delicate. Her character is believably drawn to Hallam as despite outward appearances they both are a bit lost. Ciaran Hinds doesn't have much to do but is always impeccable, and lends the father a sympathetic quality despite his weaknesses. Claire Forlani was the only casting I found a bit odd. She is better than anything else I have seen here in here, and yet she still stands out as not quite as believable as the other characters. She is not in the film an awful lot though so it wasn't too much of a distraction thankfully. Jamie Sives, as Kate's creep of a boyfriend, lends suitable smarm to the part. And the minor characters are played by quality actors that give the whole film artistic credibility.

It is a small film in its scope; not a whole lot really happens, and yet it felt like another world, a real place, and I was sorry when it ended. It is pleasantly dark, unique and challenging in its treatment of human relationships. It's not glossy, people have flaws and it's all very refreshing. It is hard to do it justice, I just hope people make an effort to go and see a proper British film that is far more satisfying than any Hollywood blockbuster if you ask me. 

...less