ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

SCOTS FILMMAKER David Mackenzie is fascinated by people who are trapped by their emotional vulnerability or psychological fragility.

In ‘Young Adam’, Ewan McGregor was a victim of his disillusion with the world. In his latest film, ‘Asylum’, Natasha Richardson is crushed by the social conventions and rigid class system of England in the 1950s.

Adapted from Patrick McGrath’s novel, this is another brooding literally adaptation that illustrates the painful price of individuality. An icy beauty, Stella (Richardson), is married to Dr Max Raphael (Hugh Bonneville). Together with their young son Charlie (Guy Lewis), they begin a new life at a remote mental asylum where Max has been appointed as deputy superintendent.

Stella is soon bored and restless. She finds herself drawn to one of the inmates who works in her garden. Edgar Stark (Marton Csokas) is an artist who murdered his wife in a fit of jealousy. Under the watchful eye of Dr Peter Cleave (Ian McKellen), the attraction between Stella and Edgar ignites into an affair that has tragic consequences.

Photographed by Giles Nuttgens, ‘Asylum’ is a film that surrounds Stella with dark, oppressive buildings and disapproving pillars of the community. Ian McKellen’s urbane Cleave may appear to have the best interests of everyone at heart, but he ultimately emerges as more dangerous and manipulative than any of his patients.

Richardson’s gaunt beauty and wounded eyes are perfectly matched to the role of a woman who becomes a slave to love. Asylum tells her story with a chilly, haunting elegance.

General release, selected cinemas
Director: David Mackenzie
Stars: Natasha Richardson, Ian McKellen, Marton Csokas, Hugh Bonneville
Screenwriter: Patrick Marber based on the novel by Patrick McGrath
Certificate: 15
Running time: 98 mins
Country: UK/Ireland
Year: 2004

© Allan Hunter, 2005