Dreams of a Life

The news of Joyce Vincent's body discovered in a flat in 2006, hit the British waves causing a shock to the system. Joyce died in her apartment just before Christmas 2003, packing presents and watching television, for three years no one noticed her disappearance, no one enquired about her, not even the landlord reacted to the constantly playing TV or the unpaid bills. However terrifying the vision was, it was just a story, as noted by her former friends, lovers and acquaintances that initially failed to connect the death with the Joyce they knew.

The documentary by Carol Morey uncovers the person behind the story and attempts to explain not only the obvious shocking question: How can someone dissolve unnoticed from society? Instead it also fleshes out Joyce Vincent as a person, a human being with dreams and achievements. Probably most surprisingly Joyce Vincent turns out to be somewhat of an extrovert, a beautiful well-versed person of mixed race, who back in the days was loved and adored by many, even having at least two meaningful relationships. Her downfall turns out to be even more shocking given she was once heavily connected with the London musical circles and later on had a well-paid job in the financial sector. Despite these episodes of success, she ultimately spirals into oblivion - detached from her family and friends.

Some may feel unsatisfied at how many questions regarding Joyce Vincent remain unearthed, as there is a large blank period just prior to her death. Not much is known as to why she dropped out of society or why she left her well-paid accountancy post to work as a cleaner. No one knows for whom the presents were being prepared. Not much is said about the abusive Polish boyfriend. But I feel that all these dark parts of Joyce Vincent, mysterious as they must be, would only distract from what is otherwise a sombre eulogy to her life, painting a picture of someone worth remembering, despite her ultimate failure. The sensitive approach with which Carol Morley approaches her story is remarkable, distinctly painting a picture of Joyce, molding her as a person and bringing her something she would have so hoped for: remembrance.

The movie lingers in your memory, invoking questions about the society you live in, where despite being surrounded by warm and caring individuals (as much of Vincent's friends seem to be), she managed to fall through the social net of emotional co-dependence, which binds us all together. The story leaves us contemplating the frailty of our lives and the lucid relevance of who we are. On a personal note also left me all gooey and hugging my significant other - love and acceptance is all we need...

If you are the type of person who is interested in peoples lives this is your film to watch, of course this way is not everyone is but don't let bad reviews put you off.My eyes never left the screen, I found it immensely interesting and quite sad. I feel it is really important for this film to have been made, simply for the fact that because of this film she did not disappear and even though she died alone she didn't live her life in vain. My feeling after watching the film was that in a sense we could all gain perspective - That is how vivid all of our lives are if only we can see it... Joyce may have never known how much people cared but the fact is they had, and what we must remember is there is always someone willing to help, there is always a chance. It seems she had many, for example seeing her old housemate randomly on the street - it could have been a chance to get help - This film is simply a quest to bring back some dignity and life for someone that could have just disappeared off the face of the earth. Now she is in so many peoples memories and I find that quite a noble quest.

I can't remember which poet said it now, but when questioned on why we create art he responded, "to make our living and dying important again, and the living and dying of others." By this measure, Dreams of a Life is an artistic triumph; it does exactly that. If Carol Morley had not re-invented herself as a private detective who would know about Joyce Vincent's story now? The tenacity and iron will it must have taken to get this project off the ground is evident in the care with which this film has been made. Not only in terms of what it draws out of the people who knew Joyce, but also in the skilled reconstructions and outstanding performances from the cast.

The film is fresh and offers something new to the genre with its blurring of documentary and drama. There are moments in the film to make your heart break but as much as anything the film is a celebration and a remembrance of a life lived.

Newspaper headlines are flashed on screen detailing the strange case of a 38 year old woman found dead in her apartment after three years. Joyce Carol Vincent died a lonesome death, without drawing notice. A pathologist could not determine the cause of death due to its decomposition. Dental records were used for identification. The people who discovered her said that the television was on and Christmas presents were partially wrapped. A reenactment shows a team in hazmat suits decontaminating the flat. A picture of a pretty black woman is shown while interviews with friends and co-workers begin.She is described as well spoken and easy going. Her mother wast Indian and father a black Grenadian carpenter and womanizer. Her mother died when she was eleven and she told those around her that her father had also passed away. Later on it is discovered that he passed away a year after her.

Recordings are played from a studio session when Joyce was aspiring to be a professional singer. A boyfriend, Martin, speaks well of her with fond memories. He is white and overweight and was shocked that such a good looking woman would date him. Another boyfriend remembers living with her and the night she tells him how she met Nelson Mandela. They eventually drift apart and she lives a nomadic lifestyle, rooming with different men and possibly being physically abused by one. A beautiful actress(Zawe Ashton) portrays Joyce in the film and she is very good.

Ironically, the most compelling figure of the story turns out to be Martin, who with introspection, regrets the choices he made because he never stops thinking about Joyce, who he loved very much.

Dreams of A Life is a powerful and moving statement on how little we really know about each other and the inner demons within all of us.

At its core this is a story about a very lonely person, one that we all may know, and how she fell through the cracks of life. One character sums it up perfectly: "It's strange really, it's like she never really existed but was just a figment of our imagination. She was a story. Someone that we all just made up; partly because we just let someone disappeared and die. Someone that we all thought we cared about." A few people have mentioned that this documentary is weak because Joyce, and her story, are mundane and not remarkable." They're absolutely correct, but I see this as a strength for the documentary. Joyce, and her "friends", are not remarkable in any way. Instead, they are normal people who lived their life around someone that was almost a ghost.

It's remarkable to watch these people recite, and discover, how little they knew this woman that they considered a friend. And yet these friends, or interviewees, are the best window into Joyce's life. As the title of the film suggests it really is like Joyce only existed in a dream. Her past and future never existed and she was only a shell of a person. I was reminded strongly of the movie Inception while thinking about Joyce. Not to ruin Inception for anyone, but there's a conversation where one character says to another "I can't imagine you with all your complexity, all your perfection and imperfection. You're just a shade..." That's what Joyce was, only a shade of a real person.

If there's a lesson to take from this movie it's that we need to do a better job of keeping in contact with our friends. I don't know what happened in Joyce's life that left her to die alone, but no one should have that fate.