Written and directed by Sam Mendes, Empire of Light stars an ensemble cast that includes Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, Toby Jones and Colin Firth. The film takes place in 1980s Margate, focusing on two cinema workers Hilary (Colman) and Stephen (Ward).
Empire of Light mostly takes place in a beachfront cinema, which restricts the number of characters and shapes the film into a close-knit drama that has subtle effects on the ensemble. The anchor character, Hilary, is a quiet soul who goes about her day and lives a lonely life. When young Stephen joins the team, she finds an unexpected shoulder to cry on and an unlikely kindred spirit that steadily blossoms into romance. But this is the only plot line that seems to be consistent in the film – given the film is set in the 1980s, there is promise to further explore certain elements that defined this era of British history. Unfortunately, this promise is left unfulfilled.
Mendes’ script makes light use of various issues such as racism, mental illness, and workplace sexual harassment to define certain characters yet the lack of logic and development prevent them from fully conveying the ignorant truths of the social norms of the 1980s. Although they are referred to throughout the film, they are only explored momentarily so they come across as ‘necessary’ inclusions that ultimately fail to lift this story to a reasonably cohesive level. Even the focal plot – the relationship between Hillary and Stephen – is marred by underdevelopment and insufficient logic. The narrative doesn’t allow any passion to mature between them so there is no explanation as to how or even why their friendship takes a romantic turn, besides the fact that they can talk to each other. As a result, their relationship becomes extraneous and occasionally strained.
It is a shame as there is an eclectic cast that ranges from the complex Colman and the endearing Michael Ward, to the underused Toby Jones and Colin Firth. All of the cast try and stabilise the narrative through light humour and tender moments (especially Colman) but the narrative ultimately drags down the calibre of its cast, Roger Deakins‘ lovely cinematography and Mendes’ subtle ode to the beauty of cinema. Needless to say, Empire of Light‘s poorly developed narrative causes the film to lose focus and rely on its talented cast to support it – but there is only so much that they can do.
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Director: Sam Mendes
Stars: Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, Tom Brooke, Colin Firth, Toby Jones
Runtime: 113 minutes
Country: UK, USA
