Several years back, Woody Allen wrote and directed a film as a send up of the stereotypes in Nordic and Russian literature. Love and Death was tragedy taken to the absurd. In this new film Cassandra’s Dream, it is as if Woody Allen has revisited the dark country of the northern sensibilities in drama, for a serious work, and placed it in a completely English setting. The effect is mesmerizing.
Cassandra’s Dream opens with brothers Ian (Ewan McGregor) and Terry (Colin Farrell) purchasing a sailboat that is above their means. In the few minutes it takes to make the decision and the deal the audience learns everything about these two characters. Ian has the brain and Terry follows where he leads.
Both appear to be good guys that care about each other. We see their home life in a typically dysfunctional family of the 21st century, Dad tries to be heard, but Mum is more aggressive and always holding up the example of her brother who has done so well and saved their family numerous times. There are some laughs, but they are of the rueful type, something just doesn’t feel right.
As the story progresses, the audience is treated to scenes of beauty and elegance, as the boys take their girls sailing, or on picnics, and Ian meets a stranded actress and falls in love. Even though these appear to be idyllic situations, there is an ominous undercurrent. Terry is perfectly happy, gambling and drinking and Ian is constantly scheming to get out and away and move upwards.
These become the boy’s tragic flaws……Mum says that Terry has always been physical, and as a result has been helped out of bad situations by his kindly relatives, while Ian has had the brains, but with all his ambition he has never become a success. When the uncle (Tom Wilkinson) appears, for a moment it seems as though the troubles will be alleviated and the boys will be able to accomplish their dreams.
We can only watch with growing horror as the drama becomes a full blown tragedy worthy of Strindberg, Chekov or Dostoevsky.
Cassandra’s Dream is presented on single disc in widescreen format with a running time of 109 minutes. Spanish and English subtitles are available for the film. It is rated pg-13.
The movement of the story from two working class lads buying a dream sailboat, to the most tragic of circumstances is well handled. There are hints of trouble early on, and the horror builds in such a way, the audience is sucked in to the drama along with the characters.
Cassandra’s Dream is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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