BALANCING ACT

When you finish seeing The Remains of the Day (1993), you will realize that it is worth seeing it even twice or three times. It was directed by James Ivory and it is a screen adaptation of a Kazuo Ishiguro´s novel. If this were not a guarantee yet, you have a wonderful cast: the male lead is played by Anthony Hopkins -one of his best roles- and the female lead is for Emma Thompson; we can recognize Hugh Grant who plays the part of Mr. Darlington´s grandson, Christopher Reeve as the American Congressman and James Fox as Mr. Darlington.

The action is set in Oxfordshire, in Darlington Hall, in the interwar period. The subtitle is “Love and Loyalty” because, in fact, we have two stories in one. The most important characters are a butler –Mr. Stevens- (A. Hopkins) - and a housekeeper -Miss Keaton (E. Thompson)- who, without expecting it, will live the European political upheavals during a particularly difficult period when gentlemen are living their last days of influence.

Their lord –Lord Darlington- is an honourable, well-meaning gentleman who, for personal reasons, makes the decision of offering his mansion naively as a discreet venue where meetings and speeches about foreign policy are going to take place. We can see ambassadors, foreign secretaries and even the Prime Minister in his mansion. Traditions and a disciplined staff are put at the service of, in fact, a dubious aim: the recovery of Germany´s military power; ensuring the peace is only a ruse.

Nevertheless, all this is, apparently, the background of a more intimate story. The butler –Mr. Stevens-, in pursuit of professional dignity, devotes his life to Lord Darlington without agreeing or disagreeing; –“It´s not my place to be curious about these matters”. We can guess his personal problems, but however much he is pressed, he is unable to react. His father and Miss Keaton´s arrival will suppose an evident change; his only reaction is “I see” or “A little tired, perhaps”. His obsolete job “helps” him live out of reality. He does not want to get involved in politics or, above all, in love even though these matters will touch him very closely. It is a story of loneliness and powerlessness which turn his life into a continual loss. At the end, although he feels nostalgic, he regrets not acting in a different way, but the time is over.

Mr. Stevens and Lord Darlington both fail although they have made opposite decisions: abstention and commitment. Our life is a balancing act; standing on a rope is a very difficult task; we risk falling off.

As was to be expected, A. Hopkins´ acting is praiseworthy; we will remember his impassive face –sometimes almost a mask- fighting his emotions. E. Thompson is able to rise to the occasion; she gives a good performance. It is difficult to assess the scriptwriter´s work without having read the novel. Anyway, the audience should be attentive. First, because the story is told from the ending, after the war, in 1956, and when we begin, some statements, some gestures may be overlooked. It would be advisable to see it twice; only then do we appreciate the details. Second, because he uses many symbols, not only the dove in the closing scene but also (for instance) mirrors, windowpanes, keyholes to express his fear of reality. Last, because it is woven by parallelisms and contrasts which keep us active. As regards the photography, it is especially good; the photographer has paid attention to the details as well; we can remember two scenes; the first one when Mr. Stevens, through the window in the door, watches Miss Keaton coming up along the corridor; the second one when, in the foreground, they hold each other´s hand, but they cannot help letting them go. The technique is at the service of the plot. As far as the soundtrack is concerned, Richard Robbins makes a good choice: he uses the same melody in the most important parts of the film. Notwithstanding, at the beginning, the music may be misleading: when Mr. Stevens Sr. goes upstairs after having left the dust-pan on the landing, any person might think of a thriller and nothing could be further from reality; if it has been a deliberate effect, it has been in vain. In any case, it is just a detail. To sum up, I strongly recommend it. In spite of being a film shot in the 90s, it will survive in the audience´s memory. Seeing it is a pleasure.

-Reviewed by Luz