Greywater Park

Author: Hugo Manso

Location: Spain

“Greywater Park”

Directed and Written by Richard Loncraine

Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski

Music Score by Danny Elfman

CAST:

Ralph Fiennes … Father Thomas

Angela Lansbury … Sister Mary

Jo Hartley … Sister Anne

Pete Postlethwaite … Edward Brooks

Helen Mirren … Samantha Brooks

Tobias Menzies … Christian

TAGLINE: “The truth isn’t always that good”

SYNOPSIS: England, 1925.

Father Thomas (Ralph Fiennes) is new in Greywater Park. She has earned a good position as the priest of St. Peter’s School. When he arrives at the neighborhood everything seems so beautiful. The houses, the trees, the grass and the gorgeous lake in the middle of the park that names the neighborhood. Father Thomas’ first night goes by in company of the Brooks family. His neighbors. Edward (Pete Postlethwaite tells Father Thomas about the time when he was the gardener of the school. Delicious food and enjoyable conversation make the night memorable.

The first day of school Father Thomas meets his colleges. He goes along very well with Sister Anne (Jo Hartley). They talk and she tells him the history of the institution. St. Peter’s School building is in the park and very near to the lake. Sister Anne urges Thomas to meet Sister Mary (Angela Lansbury) the seventy-something old governess of the school. In his way to her office he sees a man (Tobias Menzies) talking to her. When he comes near them, both stop talking and the man leaves.

Time goes by and Christmas are upon Greywater Park. Father Thomas and Sister Anne decide to do a special party before holidays. When they go to ask Sister Mary for permission, Father Thomas sees the same man talking with Sister Mary. He asks Sister Anne who is that man but Sister Anne refuses to tell him.

Is in the party’s day when Father Thomas asks Sister Anne for the umpteenth time who was that man. But Sister Anne is not disposed to tell him anything. Fed up and with a growing curiosity, Father Thomas sneaks in Sister Mary’s rectory looking for something. Soon he finds some papers but before he can even read them the door closes. It’s Sister Mary. She asks him what is he doing. He tries to make up an excuse but Sister Mary interrupts him and tells him to poke his nose in his own matters. She tells him to go inmidietly and not to make things worse.

The next day Father Thomas tells Sister Anne what happened in the rectory. Sister Anne begs him not to do more investigations. Father Thomas takes a paper from his pocket and tells Sister Anne that if she doesn’t tell him he would find the truth anyway. Sister Anne accepts and tells him who was that man: “He is Christian…, he is…, he is Sister Mary’s son”. She urges him to leave that matter now that he knows everything but he wants to know more.

January is coming to an end and little flakes of snow can be seen through the windows. Sister Mary calls Father Thomas to the rectory. They start to talk and Father Thomas is ready to go as far as he’d need to know all the truth. Sister Mary confirms him that Christian is her child and she gives him some money every month. Father Thomas asks why and Sister Mary answers that Christian had grown up without a family in the orphanage of the town and she feels guilty about that. Father Thomas asks who’s the father, but that’s something Sister Mary is not inclined to tell so Father Thomas threatens her to tell everyone and throw her out of the school if she doesn’t tell him who’s the father. She advises him “I’ve told you everything. I’ve been very pacient with you. Don’t make things worse because at the end of the day you will fall and you won’t drag me down with you”.

Weeks go by and Father Thomas feels that something had changed. The people aren’t the same with him anymore. Even Sister Anne is different. When he asks her what’s happening she reminds him what she told him in the Christmas party “Don’t go any further with this. It will only be bad for you”. Father Thomas still ignores what’s happening until one night Edward Brooks knocks at his door. His expression isn’t friendly. Father Thomas tries to be nice but Edward start to talk about Sister Mary and Christian. Edward tells him that he’s the fahter. He tells him that almost forty years ago Samantha (Helen Mirren) and him were incapable to have a child so his marriage begun to tear apart. He was alone and Sister Mary tried to help him and it happened. Christian went to the orphanage. Edward told Samantha everything. She was going to leave and tell everything but at that moment she was pregnant. She didn’t want her child to grow up without father. “Father, everyone who needs to know this, know it. It’s not very nice right? Every morning I wake up, I look out from my window and I myself think how beautiful this place is until I remember how many secrets lie behind each door. So, Father if you are a good christian leave now, get another job and leave this place and quickly because you never know when you will have secrets lying behind your door.”

What the press would say:

“Greywater Park” is a close portrait of the hypocrisy and decadence of society. It takes place in a fictional place of England called Greywater Park. A beautiful place bravely shown by Dariusz Wolski. The appearently perfect neighborhood is load of hidden secrets. When a new priest (Ralph Fiennes) arrives to the catholic school of St. Peter’s, unconsciously he starts to remove the past. Fiennes gives a subtle performance. He makes his character believable and escapes from melodrama. His transformation through the film is priceless. At the beggining he’s this innocent priest that believes in people but when he comes across with the lack of morality of Greywater Park he starts to question his faith in the world. Angela Lansbury is the strict and feared governess of the school. When Father Thomas burst in her way is when we get to see the real Sister Mary. Lansbury has captured the essence of her character giving her an horrifying expression and still making her vulnerable. The scene when she is in the rectory with Father Thomas is memorable. At 83 she has an incredible strenght and power. Two powerhouse performances that brings the film its true essence. Jo Hartley is the revelation of this film. Her performace is just what it has to be. The deffinition of supporting performances. She’s who introduces Father Thomas and the audience Sister Mary and she does it really well. Hartley and Lansbury were wonderfully connected even though they had few scenes together. Pete Postlethwaite and Helen Mirren are a middle-aged married couple who had its past. We don’t see their true weight in the film until the end when they show their incredible performances. This film is directed and written by Richard Loncraine. His last major film was Richard III. He’s back to period english dramas. The screenplay is the most important element of the film. Each word is perfectly placed. The story flows smoothly and smartly. The final touch is given by the score added by the gifted Danny Elfman. The music captures the real tone of the movie and goes along with the movie efficently. “Greywater Park” will leave you thinking about humanity, religion and life.

FYC:

Best Picture (Drama)

Best Direction

Best Original Screenplay

Best Lead Actor – Ralph Fiennes

Best Lead Actress – Angela Lansbury

Best Supporting Actor – Pete Postlethwaite

Best Supporting Actress – Jo Hartley

Best Supporting Actress – Helen Mirren