Susan Granger’s review of “Empire of Light” (Searchlight Pictures)
Oscar-and-BAFTA nominated for Best Cinematography, “Empire of Light” is set in 1981 in Margate, a small seaside town in Britain, where middle-aged Hilary Small (Olivia Colman) is the forlorn second-in-command at the Empire Cinema, a fading movie palace.
As indicated in one of the opening scenes in a doctor’s office, workaholic Hilary has just returned from medical leave and has been taking lithium for depression. But then she befriends a newly-hired theater trainee, Stephen (Micheal Ward), a young Black man who dreams of becoming an architect but must first deal with the racism that was rampant at that time.
Plus, there are the ticket takers, box-office attendant, and Hilary’s sleazy, married boss (Colin Firth), a sexual predator, along with the affable projectionist (Toby Jones) who has a wonderful soliloquy about the persistence of vision and how light can obliterate darkness.
Although this is Sam Mendes’ ninth film as a director, it’s the first time he’s working from his own screenplay. And that’s a problem since this intimate character study/quasi-memoir is far too contrived, alluding to the misguided idea that movies can treat mental illness.
Built in 1923, Margate’s two-screen Art Deco Dreamland cinema doubles for the Empire. Although it closed in 2007, it still stands empty because of its historic past – and the Margate railway station is just 100 yards away.
Accepting his 16th Academy Award nomination, legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins, a two-time winner, explained, “I think this film is about companionship. Hilary has this world with her fellow workers, that sort of friendship beings something more into her life, an existence without a great horizon.”
Coincidentally, Deakins grew up in Torquay, a similar small town on the coast of Southwest England, where there once were five or six cinemas within walking distance: “And now there’s only two, which is a shame.”
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Empire of Light” is a cinematic 7, streaming on HBO Max and Vudu.
