 |
| Fig 1 - Film Poster |
Raymond Briggs' Ethel and Ernest (2016), directed by Roger
Mainwood, is the hand drawn animated film adaptation of his novel of the same
name, which tells the story of his parents' lives from his perspective and
understanding from when they first met in 1928 to the year of their deaths in
1971. Briggs himself names it a tribute to the memory of his parents and his
way of giving back to them and remembering their lives.
The animation begins in 1928 at the point of his parents
first meeting, his mother is introduced as a young lady's maid and his father a
joyful and slightly lower class milk boy. Their relationship blossoms and they
are soon married, Ethel retires to become a housewife, a house is bought and
worked upon, and their only son, Raymond is born by the time Britain is at war.
Raymond aged 5 is evacuated to live with family in the country, leaving Ethel
and Ernest in war torn London, where Ernest becomes a fireman and we see him
struggle to cope with the horrors of air raids, comforted by Ethel. All the
while we become familiar with the quirks of Ethel and Ernest, and the familiar
setting of their small terraced London home. Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw
describes it as "a tender story about the lost world of what we now call
the “white working class”" (Bradshaw, 2016).
Raymond grows older and the relationship of Ethel and Ernest
remains sweet as ever, however the world around them is changing and they are
from a generation that is quickly becoming outdated, we see them struggle to
deal with raymond growing his hair out and attending art school, fretting he'll
never be successful. And then it seems all at once the film takes a turn, and
the ubndeniable ending you know has been coming but which you didnt want to
happen is upon you. As reviewer for The Telegraph Tim Robey writes "The
slide into old age (and dementia, in Ethel’s case) happens without
foreshadowing, and before you’re ready for it, like an hourglass jolted and
suddenly unclogged. By his mum’s bedside, a sad-eyed Raymond can only summon a
quintessentially British brand of small talk: “The A23 was a bit choked
up?”(Robey, 2016). This jarring transition is hauntingly true to life, making
the ending minutes of the film evermore touching as you're constantly reminded
this is a true telling of the lives of people you have come to know, understand
and love.
Ethel and Ernest is an honestly and unmistakably British
film, not just for the contents of the film, from the settings of industrial
age London and rolling British countryside, the little idioms of Ethel and
Ernest many will undoubtedly recognise in older relatives of their own, but
also its tone. Its an oxymoronic happy/sad animation, the obvious truth to the
story portrayed making it evermore touching, and its simplicity, paired with
Brigg's unmistakable hand drawn illustrative style, make the finished product thoroughly
charming. Briggs' aim for this animation was to pay tribute to his parents
lives by telling their story to a wider audience than his book would reach, and
ensure their memory was not forgotten.
I found myself quite effected by this film in
particular from the selection of World Animation films as it hit very close to
home regarding my own grandparents. I very much related to this film, as it
echoed certain things I know about my own family's history. However despite
almost being hard to watch at points, the film in a way helped me with some of
my own personal issues Ive been dealing with surrounding family matters, so
could call it quite a helpful or even cathartic film for myself and quite
possibly someone in a similar position to myself, or at least that's my own
take on the film. In summary, this Ethel and Ernest is hauntingly touching.
References
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/oct/27/ethel-ernest-review-moving-adaptation-of-raymond-briggss-graphic-novel
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/ethel--ernest-review-raymond-briggs-honors-his-parents-with-slow/
Illustrations
Fig 1 - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u0l6FzQfZlUgVrxOgMoOHQmK1UUiK9Q48P68sbj8O1bjArzVm_NVvt3Ii_BBuGD5aQiPRYg0GG5gPeyeY6n7f_6-DPXZT4o3ZTed8op_cY3O_veH3yk1IkFqBK22tGjP73Aujh_z4Wc/s1600/ethel7ernest.png
Fig 2 - https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640x360/p04l7722.jpg
Fig 3 - http://www.radiotimes.com/uploads/images/original/125409.jpg
Fig 4 - http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/05/13/3A0986D200000578-3907080-Ernest_goes_on_living_alone_at_the_house_his_only_companion_is_S-a-9_1478351211786.jpg
The animation begins in 1928 at the point of his parents
first meeting, his mother is introduced as a young lady's maid and his father a
joyful and slightly lower class milk boy. Their relationship blossoms and they
are soon married, Ethel retires to become a housewife, a house is bought and
worked upon, and their only son, Raymond is born by the time Britain is at war.
Raymond aged 5 is evacuated to live with family in the country, leaving Ethel
and Ernest in war torn London, where Ernest becomes a fireman and we see him
struggle to cope with the horrors of air raids, comforted by Ethel. All the
while we become familiar with the quirks of Ethel and Ernest, and the familiar
setting of their small terraced London home. Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw
describes it as "a tender story about the lost world of what we now call
the “white working class”" (Bradshaw, 2016).
No comments:
Post a Comment