''Angel'', also known as the ''Real Life of Angel Deverell'', is a 2007 British

romantic drama Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

film directed by

François Ozon François Ozon (; born 15 November 1967) is a French film director and screenwriter. Ozon is considered one of the most important modern French filmmakers. His films are characterized by aesthetic beauty, sharp satirical humor and a free-wheeli ...

. It is based on the 1957 novel of the same name by

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

, about the short life of a passionate young woman in Edwardian England for whom the fake world of the pulpy novels she writes replaces reality. The protagonist was portrayed by

Romola Garai Romola Sadie Garai (; born 6 August 1982) is a British actress and film director. She appeared in ''Amazing Grace'', ''Atonement'', and '' Glorious 39'', and in the BBC series '' Emma'', '' The Hour'' and ''The Crimson Petal and the White''. I ...

; other characters were played by

Sam Neill Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill (born 14 September 1947) is a New Zealand actor. Neill's near-50 year career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one o ...

Michael Fassbender Michael Fassbender (born 2 April 1977) is an Irish actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards, four British Academy Film Award ...

and

Charlotte Rampling Tessa Charlotte Rampling (born 5 February 1946) is an English actress, known for her work in European arthouse films in English, French, and Italian. An icon of the Swinging Sixties, she began her career as a model. She was cast in the role ...

Plot

At age 17 the fatherless Angel Deverell is a misfit, living above her mother's grocery shop and writing overblown novels of impossible romance. A London publisher agrees to take one of her works, which proves a success, and others follow. The money allows her to buy “Paradise”, a grand country house, and play at the life of an aristocrat. At an event she meets Nora, who admires both her and her writing and offers to be her secretary. She also sees there Nora's handsome brother, a would-be painter called Esmé, who she falls for. Though he is not interested, she pursues him and marries him. Her fantasy life at “Paradise” is not to his taste and release comes when the First World War breaks out and he enlists, leaving Nora to look after Angel. War horrifies her, removing the husband she loves, and her novels start advocating pacifism. Not being what the public wants, sales plummet and she runs out of money. She also suffers the loss of the baby she was carrying. Esmé returns to “Paradise”, broken in spirit after losing a leg, and hangs himself. In an interview, Angel continues to deny reality until a letter from a woman falls out of one of Esmé's books. Nora eventually admits that it was from Esmé's mistress Angelica, who lived at “Paradise” until her father had to sell it. Esmé was supporting her and their child in London and spending his leaves from the front with them rather than at “Paradise”. Angel goes to Angelica's house to return the letter, seeing her and her little boy. Returning to “Paradise” and the faithful Nora, she catches cold and dies. Her publisher admits to Nora, who inherits the house, that nobody buys any of Angel's novels anymore.

Cast

as Angel Deverell. *

as Theo Gilbright * Lucy Russell as Nora Howe-Nevinson *

as Esmé Howe-Nevinson *

as Hermione Gilbright *

Jacqueline Tong Jacqueline Tong (born 21 May 1951) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Daisy Peel in the television series '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1973–1975), for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Contin ...

as Mother Deverell *

Janine Duvitski Janine Duvitski (born Christine Janine Drzewicki; 28 June 1952) is a British actress, known for her roles in the BBC television sitcom series '' Waiting for God'', ''One Foot in the Grave'' and ''Benidorm''. Duvitski first came to national atte ...

as Aunt Lottie * Christopher Benjamin as Lord Norley *

Tom Georgeson Tom Georgeson (born 8 August 1937) is an English actor, known for his television and film work. His most notable credits have been supporting parts in '' Between the Lines'' (1992–94) and in three dramas by Alan Bleasdale: ''Boys from the Bl ...

as Marvell *

Simon Woods Simon Woods (born 7 January 1980) is an English actor and playwright best known for his role as Octavian in Season 2 of the British-American television series '' Rome'' and the 2005 '' Pride & Prejudice'' as Charles Bingley. Personal life Wo ...

as Clive Fennelly *

Jemma Powell Jemma Powell (born 25 July 1980) is a British actress. She is known for portraying Barbara Wright in several Doctor Who audio stories. Career Powell made her screen debut in 2001, in '' The Hole''. She is known for her roles in films such as Fr ...

as Angelica * Alison Pargeter as Edwina * Seymour Matthews as Norley Doctor * Una Stubbs as Miss Dawson *

Rosanna Lavelle Sally Rosanna Lavelle (born 8 August 1979) better known simply as Rosanna Lavelle, is an English actress. She attended the National Student Theatre in 1997 and then studied at Cambridge University. Lavelle has won critical praise for her stage ...

as Lady Irania *

Ruth England Ruth England (born 29 March 1970) is a British television presenter and actress. From 2010 to 2012, she starred in the Discovery Channel show '' Man, Woman, Wild'' with her husband Mykel Hawke, a former US Army Special Forces officer. A gradu ...

as neighbour * Geoffrey Streatfield as Sebastian * Roger Morlidge as Journalist * Cinsyla Key as Party guest * Teresa Churcher as Governess * Alexandre Garcia-Hidalgo as Party Guest * Roland Javornik as Party Guest * David Vanholsbeeck as Wounded Soldier in Cafe * Animal handling by Gill Raddings Stunt Dogs * Seamus as Sultan

Production

The director gave an interview about the film, stating that "the character of Angel was inspired by

Marie Corelli Mary Mackay (1 May 185521 April 1924), also called Minnie Mackey, and known by her pseudonym Marie Corelli (, also , ), was an English novelist. From the appearance of her first novel '' A Romance of Two Worlds'' in 1886, she became the bestse ...

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...

's favorite writer. Corelli was one of the first writers to become a star, writing bestsellers for an adoring public. Today she has been totally forgotten, even in England." He also mentioned that he considered

Olivier Martinez Olivier Martinez (born 12 January 1966) is a French actor. He became well known after roles in several French films such as '' Un, deux, trois, soleil'' (1993), which garnered him the César Award for "Most Promising Actor", ''The Horseman on t ...

for the role of Esmé, Angel's love interest, and when talking about Lucy Russell, who played Nora, he stated: "I saw a lot of actresses for the role of Nora. During the screen tests, I realized that many of them actually wanted to be Angel. As soon as they'd finish reading, they'd say to me "I could play Angel too, I am Angel!" They had no desire to play a supporting role, whereas Lucy Russell didn't mind. She showed up for her screen test dressed like an old maid, with thick glasses and her hair in a strict bun. She was actually there to play Nora! Of course the role is far less glamorous than that of Angel, but Lucy was smart enough to know that it is often the person in the shadows who gets noticed, even if she's not the one wearing the beautiful dresses. And like Charlotte, Lucy speaks fluent French, so she was my second crutch on the set!" Reportedly, the outdoor scenes were shot in bitterly cold weather, and the camera would freeze after a few minutes of shooting, and had to be taken inside and warmed up with hot towels before taken outside again. The actors did not mind this as they too got the chance to warm up.

Reception

''Angel'' received mixed reviews, with a 50% Fresh rating on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wan ...

. However, Matthew Turner of View London called it an "Enjoyable, impressively directed melodrama that stays just the right side of kitsch and features a superb performance by Romola Garai." Whilst also stating that "The film's biggest problem is that Angel is such a thoroughly obnoxious character that it's impossible to engage with her on an emotional level", he ended saying that "Ozon's films are always worth watching and Angel is no exception, thanks to great direction and a committed performance from Garai."

References

External links

* {{François Ozon 2007 films 2007 romantic drama films British romantic drama films Films based on British novels Films about writers Romantic period films Films directed by François Ozon Films shot in Belgium 2000s English-language films 2000s British films