Movie spotlight
Soliloquy
Featuring Joan Adler (who also appears in Chinese Checkers), Soliloquy is one of the four early Stephen Dwoskin films that were awarded the Solvey prize at the EXPRMNTL festival in Knokke, Belgium in 1967. “In Soliloquy a girl broods uncertainly over a failed love affair, while the camera roves over her fingers, her cigarette, her knuckles, her lips and the hand mirror in which she peers. In its dark reflection one isolated eye seems a dead thing, twitching; the split between her body and her spoken thoughts becomes a strange bilocation of consciousness; towards the end, an aeroplane drones overhead” (Raymond Durgnat)
Insights
Plot Summary
A lonely, middle-aged woman named Mrs. Cartwright lives a reclusive life, haunted by the memory of her deceased son. Her monotonous existence is disrupted when a young man, who bears a striking resemblance to her son, enters her life. As she becomes increasingly obsessed with him, the lines between reality and delusion begin to blur, leading to a disturbing and tragic conclusion.
Critical Reception
Soliloquy is a lesser-known but critically appreciated psychological thriller that delves into themes of grief, obsession, and the fragility of the human psyche. While it did not achieve widespread commercial success, its intense atmosphere and strong performance from Rachel Kempson have garnered it a cult following among fans of unsettling cinema.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth.
Rachel Kempson's performance is often cited as a standout element.
Noted for its exploration of a mother's complex grief and obsession.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews and ratings for 'Soliloquy (1967)' is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film was originally made for television as part of the BBC's 'The Wednesday Play' series before being given a theatrical release.
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