"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
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Director: David Mackenzie Screenplay: David Mackenzie Novel: Peter Jinks Genre: Drama - Romance Country: UK Certification: 18 Language: English Released: 4th February, 2008 (DVD)
MAIN CAST: Jamie Bell (Hallam Foe) Sophia Myles (Kate Breck) Ciarán Hinds (Julius Foe) Claire Forlani (Verity Foe) Jamie Sives (Alasdair) Maurice Roëves (Raymond) Ewen Bremner (Andy)
Hallam Foe is an extremely disturbed 17 year old who has never gotten over the death of his beautiful mother. After his wealthy father's re-marriage to his secretary, Hallam's anger and resentment become increasingly self-destructive. Distancing himself from those who love him, Hallam creates a world for himself that revolves around his mother, a world that is dark and depressing - and his extremely fragile state of mind, while driving him to hide from the real world, also opens the door to obsessions... a deeply disturbed obsession with his step-mother.
Convinced that his step-mother, Verity, murdered his mother, Hallam is extremely aggressive towards her, and during a confrontation he nearly strangles her. The consequences of their confrontation will push Hallam that much more over the edge, and he will do the only thing that he can do... he will run.
Arriving in the city, Hallam attempts to withdraw money from his bank account, but his bank account is as empty as his wallet. Not knowing what else to do, he does what comes naturally to him; he climbs to the rooftops of the city and watches life pass him by - until one day he sees a woman who looks exactly like his mother. Obsessed with her, he begins to follow her around, and when, one day, she sees him at her work, he convinces her to hire him in the hotel's kitchen. When their relationship develops into something far more intimate than even Hallam had ever imagined, or even wanted, reality begins to set in - and he will be forced to not only confront his obsession with his mother's look-alike, but he will have to settle old grievances with his step-mother and find a way out of the mess he's gotten himself into.
'Hallam Foe' is an extremely disturbing movie. The subject matter is gloomy and the atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife - not to mention the fact that the viewer is forever questioning the state of mind of the main character, and towards the end, none can be unaffected by a scenario that is bizarre and troubling, and the viewer can't help but wonder where it's all heading.
The acting is brilliant, realistic, and extremely compelling. The story, although tending to be snail-paced, is never boring - probably because of the main character's strange behaviour, obsessions and voyeurism. Too, there is always that niggling question in the back of the viewer's mind; "How can this possibly end well for Hallam?"
'Hallam Foe' is heavily laced with drama; however, it is above all, a glimpse into the mind of a character who is not equipped to deal with life and heartache. Hallam's mental state is visual agony for the viewer who is forced to analyze the human mind, and to attempt to make sense of it.
This is not a movie to be taken lightly - it is disturbing, and attempting to make sense of Hallam's self-destructive nature is almost pure agony. The truth is, Hallam is not a likeable character because of his fragile state of mind and odd behaviour. His obsessions are disturbing, and although the viewer will feel sympathy for Hallam and attempt to justify his behaviour and subsequent actions, there simply is no justifying his voyeurism, and his relationship with his mother's look-alike - to do so is simply insane.
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Hallam Foe is a darkly funny bittersweet coming of age story about a 17-year-old misfit ... more
who likes to watch the world from a tree house in the grounds of his father's house in the Scottish Borders. Hallam is almost over the sudden death of his mother...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Feb 19th, 2008
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