Firelight (1998)
In 1838, lovely governess Elisabeth agrees to bear a child of anonymous English landowner, and he will in return pay her father's debt. At birth she, as agreed, gives up the child. Seven years later she is hired as governess to a girl on a remote Sussex estate. The father of the girl, Charles Godwin, turns out to be that anonymous landowner. So Elisabeth has to be her own daughter's governess, and she can't reveal the secret of her tie with little Louisa.
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As Good As It Gets
The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
I have seen this haunting, romantic film many times. It's simply beautiful. Sophie Marceau and Stephen Dillane are a magnificent couple. Character development here is so profound that I have a hard time seeing either of them as anyone else other than their unforgettable characters from this romantic, bittersweet love story.It's especially candlelit, filled with firelight, foggy, and dim... old castle walls... beautiful costumes, bustiers, and the whole nine yards. The storyline is completely believable, sad, and still hopeful.It's JUST the kind of movie to watch on a rainy afternoon. I simply love it. Strong supporting cast and an all-but-perfect screenplay.It starts in 1836 England when a beautiful young unmarried woman from Switzerland arrives. In Switzerland, her father has been imprisoned and her family is destitute. She is answering an ad about a wealthy English landowner who needs an heir, but whose wife is in a vegetative state (and she has been for many years.) The young woman agrees to sleep with the gentleman for several nights in order to get pregnant, stay in England thru her pregnancy, and then give him the baby when it is born. In return, she will receive from him a great sum of money -- a small fortune -- the money she needs to get her father out of prison and get her family back on its feet again. All of this will be done in absolute secrecy and anonymity... they agree not to even learn each others' names, for the sake of his reputation.Doesn't this sound intriguing? It IS! It just gets better and better, too. I LOVE IT! So, rent it or buy it. Unplug the phone and darken the shades. Don't let anyone interrupt you during this unforgettable romance. ENJOY!
I originally watched this on Encore Indie and it touched me in a way only a few movies or stories ever do. The subject matter could have become tawdry if not handled well, which it was. All the characters had their place, even the American who offered Charles an option of a place to go, to be free of all the pretense and obligation of his life, being also a main theme of the story, obligation and responsibility, as well as the desire to break free of them. And watch it several times, the nuances that come out are amazing and also listen to the background talk, some interesting facts come out which help you understand the characters and stories even more. I actually watch it with headphones on to hear all the conversations going on. And Charles, watch his facial expressions, they are absolutely priceless and perfect. My father actually sat and watched it, and trust me he's a ESPN guy, not romance movies. Anyway, it was just amazingly beautiful and passionate.
I woke up to the movie at 7:00 am and was pleasantly surprised. I was captivated by the story. I like historical romance stories. I normally don't seek out movies like historical romance stories. The characters were memorable and left me wanting more. Unfortually I missed the beginning but was captivated by the story and the characters. Trying to watch it again but can't find it on cable or what channel it is on. I have search on cable on demand for the channel encore but can't find it. Any information you could give would be great. thanks...
First, I loved it because I am such a sucker for love stories and Sophie Marceu and Stephen Dillane give superb performances...their love scenes steam up the screen...she is subtle and controlled and he is so sexy, despite his brooding character. I don't want to moralize but what I hated were the values conveyed in the film--"when the lights go out, there are no rules...you can do anything you want..." And that is what the lead actor does in the end--he does something really despicable--while what he does leads to a so-called "happy" ending--it leaves the viewer with a bad taste in the mouth. "The end justifies the means." Ugh. I expected the film to have a tragic ending because of the lead actor's action--bad action leads to bad consequences after all. I just wish the script were revised to make it a truly happy ending...the moral ambiguity certainly does not make it a happy ending! The director could have chosen to end it tragically or happily with slight changes to the script.