Distant Voices, Still Lives Page #2

Synopsis: The second film in Terence Davies's autobiographical series ('Trilogy', 'The Long Day Closes') is an impressionistic view of a working-class family in 1940s and 1950s Liverpool, based on Davies's own family. The first part, 'Distant Voices', opens with grown siblings Eileen (Angela Walsh), Maisie (Lorraine Ashbourne) and Tony (Dean Williams), and their mother (Freda Dowie) arranged in mourning clothes before the photograph of their smiling father (Pete Postlethwaite). Soon after, the family poses in a similar tableau, but for a happier occasion - Eileen's wedding. While relatives sing at her reception, Eileen hysterically grieves for her dad, and recalls happy times of her youth. Tony and Maisie's memories, however, are more troubled. Davies intermingles and contrasts scenes like the family peacefully lighting candles in church with the brutal man beating his wife and terrorizing his young children. In 'Still Lives', set (and filmed) two years later, the siblings are settled in life, b
Genre: Drama, Music
Director(s): Terence Davies
Production: Film Four International
  10 wins & 7 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.5
Metacritic:
83
Rotten Tomatoes:
79%
PG-13
Year:
1988
85 min
356 Views


We'll have a happy ending now

Taking a chance on love

If anything happens to my mom...

...Ill bleedin' kill you.

Go on, Maisie, give us Barefoot Days

Barefoot days

When we were just a couple of kids

Barefoot days

And all the things we did

We'd go down to a shady nook

Use a bent pin for a hook

And we'd fish all day, we'd fish all night

But the goddamn fish refused to bite

And then we'd slide

Down someone's backyard door

Slide and slide

Till our pants was tore

Then we'd have to go home

We'd have to go to bed

While our mother got busy

with the needle and thread

Oh, boy

What joy we had in barefoot days

Make sure there's room in there.

Tommy, where are the kids?

Where are the kids?

Come in. Come in.

Where the bleedin' hell have you been?

- They're getting closer!

- They're gonna bomb us!

Sing, Eileen.

Sing.

Roll out the barrel

We'll have a barrel of fun

Roll out the barrel

We've got the blues on the run

Zing boom tararrel

We'll have a song of good cheer

Now's the time to roll the barrel

Cos the gang's all here

How are you, Ei?

OK, mom.

What's scarlet fever, mom?

It's scarlatina, love.

Scarlatina.

Where's our Tony, mom?

Why can't I come in, Dad?

There's no place for you here.

Frig off!

- Can I stay here Gran?

- You can have the sofa

If I should die before I wake

pray the Lord my soul to take

God bless Mother, God bless Father,

and keep them safe

If you look into a mirror after midnight...

...you'll see the devil.

Oh, when Irish eyes are smiling

All the world is bright and gay

In the lilt of Irish laughter

When Irish hearts are happy

When Irish hearts are happy

All the world is bright and gay

In the lilt...

...of Irish laughter

When Irish hearts are happy

R- A-G-M-O-P-P-P.

Ragmop!

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight. Ragmop!

God!

Isn't it hot?

I'm sweating past myself.

Oh, here's Red.

Oh, God, that's all I need.

Aw, he's harmless.

Hi, Mick.

Die!

Oh, what you're throwing away.

God help him, the poor gobshite.

Do you remember Formby?

And that tent?

Oh, cor blimey.

- I never

- You did

I never

- You did.

- I never.

You did fart!

Uh...

I never.

- I thought you'd killed her, you know, Micky.

- I know. So did I.

When I think about it,

I was a real cow with that mallet, wasn't I?

- Do you ever see Jingles?

- No.

Not since she married Les.

'S wonderful!

'S marvellous!

Jingles, you came!

They tried to sell us egg foo yung!

- So, how are you, kid?

- Smashing.

- Are you still married?

- Oh, God, yeah.

Two kids and a radiogram to support.

- You haven't altered, Ei. Still not a pick on you.

- Still eight stone soaking wet.

- How do you do it?

- Witchcraft!

- You're hooking with Mick.

- Oh Jingles I'm in a worse state than Russia

- Do you know who I saw in The Swan

last week? - No. - Jackie McGorrie

Remember when...

Cos I love you that's why

Whoa, it's Saturday

That's why.

Yeah, it's Saturday

Cos I love you that's why

Oh, kiss me, you fool

That's why

That's him.

Bet he's come in a taxi.

Well, you know these seamen.

Money's no object.

I've signed myself out of hospital.

I've walked home.

He's gone.

My Tommy's gone.

Won't you say ta-ra, Dad?

I'm only going for the season.

Do you know what?

If I ever get a gun,

I'll blow your bleedin' brains out.

Ta-ra, Mom!

Bye, love!

Don't forget to write, now, will you?

Have a ciggie, kid.

I put a nickel in the telephone

To dial my baby's number

Got a brr-brr-brr-brr busy line

Pwllheli, here we come!

Yes, please.

What would you like to order, sir?

Please come home, Ei

Your dad's really ill.

One?

OK.

East is east and west is west

And the wrong one I have chose

Let's go where they keep on wearin'

Those rings and things and buttons and bows

Flowers and frills and buttons and bows

Don't bury me in this prairie

Take me where the cement grows

Let's get down to some big town

Where they judge a gal

by the cut of her clothes

And you'll stand out in buttons and bows

I love you in buck skin

Or the skirts that you've homespun

But I'll love you longer, stronger

Where your friends don't tote a gun

My bones denounce the buckboard bounce

And the cactus hurts my toes

Let's vamoose where gals keep usin'

Those silks and satins and linen that shows

And you're all mine in buttons and bows

Gimme Eastern trimmin'

where women are women

In high-silk hose and peek-a-boo clothes

And French perfume that rocks the room

And you're all mine

Bows!

Well, Ei...

You're well and truly married now.

Yes.

But I don't feel any different, Maisie.

I don't feel any different.

Don't be worrying.

You'll be all right.

They soon grow up

Maisie is engaged to George Roughley

and I don't think it'll be long

before our Tony marries Rosie Forsyth.

I'll leave the place till morning.

I love the light nights.

But they're starting to draw in now

aren't they Mom?

Yeah

Nellie?

Nellie!

Nell!

- Sorry about the mess Mom

- Go on you're all right I'll see to it

Ah thanks Mom.

See you Mrs. D. Ta-ra.

Enjoy yourselves

You're married now! I'm your husband!

Your duty's to me! Frig everyone else!

Monica. Jingles.

That's all ancient history now.

Come on. Up the dancers

- How much do you love me?

- A pound of sugar!

Hush a bowee, hush a bow

Hush-a-bowee hush-a-bow

Hush-a-bowee hush-a-bow

Hush-a-bowee hush-a-bow

Good night Maisie

Good night, son.

The Sandman is coming.

How much do you love me?

Of one that is so fair and bright

Velut maris stella

Brighter than the day is light

Parens et puella

I cry to thee

Thou see to me

Lady

Pray thy Son for me

Tam pia

That I may come to thee

Maria...

- What do you ask of the Church of God?

- Faith

And what does faith hold out to you?

Life everlasting

- Do you renounce Satan?

- I do renounce him.

- And all his works?

- I do renounce them.

- And all his pomps?

- I do renounce them.

- Are you willing to be baptised?

- I am willing.

Elaine,

ego te baptiso...

...in nomine Patris

et Filii

et Spiritus Sancti.

- Amen.

- Amen.

It's 12 o'clock and for those of you

with friends and relatives in Germany...

...here's Jean Metcalfe on your behalf

taking over for Two-Way Family Favourites

Hello everyone

Someone broke into my heart

And stole a beat or two

The finger of suspicion points at you

Someone took away my sleep

and never left a clue

The finger of suspicion points at you

Just as soon as they can make

the guilty one confess

I know exactly what I'm gonna do

Wakey! Way-kee!

Good afternoon everybody This is Billy Cotton

introducing another Billy Cotton Band Show

Hey you!

You down there with the glasses...

Meanwhile for those who can't read here is

a sort of radio show which is Beyond Our Ken

Among those taking part are

Wheelwright Amberley Grotefield Mrs. Nift

The House of Commons yo-yo team...

...George and Lily Brisket

sisters with a difference...

Coloratura soprano Mildred Gas Stove

Bet she's got a good range!

To continue...

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Terence Davies

Terence Davies (born 10 November 1945) is an English screenwriter, film director, novelist and actor. He is best known as the writer and director of Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) and The Long Day Closes (1992) as well the collage film Of Time and the City (2008). more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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