Another Life

I was interested to see this film as a relative of mine shared a flat with one of the Thompson family and my family remember the case as we came from the same area. Another connection is that I was an extra on the film. The clothes we had to wear weren't Edwardian at all it was definitely twenties. The film seems to have vanished and having searched on Amazon I found it is on DVD so I am looking forward to seeing it at last. As it was made in 2001 I would like to know where it has been hiding all this time. In the court scenes that I was in Natasha Little and Ioan Gruffudd were excellent. It seems a shame that it didn't publicised further because it definitely should have been seen far and wide.

This is an interesting picture for several reasons. It is primarily a tale of jealousy and murder, but there is virtually no blood. English mysteries are like that. The film forces you to follow the story in order to understand it. You will have no choice but to develop conflicting feelings about the protagonist.

Edie is the younger daughter of a typical English family at the turn of the century. Unlike her parents, younger brother, and older sister, she is what we might describe as a free spirit. She is extremely intelligent. She smokes, she drinks, she plays the coquette with boys, and she eventually lures a hapless weakling into marrying her by providing him with outrageous sex before marriage. This marriage sets the scene for the murder mystery to come. She comes to despise her husband Percy after dallying with a family friend. Her affair with Fred becomes obvious to her husband, her Mum and Dad, and her sister Avis (who is also in love with Fred). Edie doesn't care. Free spirits are willing to leave a trail of broken hearts in their paths.

The story is often told in the first person, and it's this introspection that gives us insight into her character and creates the mixed emotions we have about her. Is she just a self centered dreamer with no thought for the pain she causes those around her? Or is she a calculating narcissist who is willing to sacrifice anything or anyone who gets her way. Is Fred the driving force in this tragedy, or is he just a tool she uses to get what she wants? We come away from this movie wondering, and that is what makes it worth watching.

First, a comment. Edith was the eldest sister in the family. Let's start with a truth. So, finally I got around to watching this film and it took me quite by surprise. For I had previously read some reviews which were, perhaps not necessarily positive. However, I had reservations, mostly about the many technical inaccuracies of so many parts of it. (Far too many to go into) However, bringing the immensely sad story of Edith, Percy and Freddy to the big screen was done with sensitivity.

I am pleased to count as one of my friends, Professor Rene Weis, who wrote Criminal Justice, Edith's life history, and our aim is one of justice, to eventually force the government to offer a posthumous pardon to Edith. To this end, we work very hard. Even eighty-five years after her death.

It therefore quite astonished me that Rene was not mentioned or thanked in the end titles. Certain details in the film clearly showed that the writer/director had read his book and that saddened me.

However, I have to thank him for bringing this subject to a wider audience. If you seen, Let him have it or Dance with a Stranger, similar types of British film (an execution at the end) they were done so much better. Better actors I think. And music. And screenplay. Anyway, seen it at last. I think it must be very difficult to write a great screenplay.

Molly Cutpurse

I remember watching a 70's TV film called A Pin To See The Peep Show based on this case, starring Francesca Annis. At least I'm fairly sure they were about the same case. Oddly enough when you look up APTSTPS on IMDb it recommends that you watch a Doctor Who Special. Now as much as I love Doctor Who I can see no comparison!!! Anyway, I would love to watch that again to compare the two productions.

All in all I thought this one was superbly acted by all involved, but especially by Natasha Little. The props and sets seemed authentic enough. I would have preferred if they had included more of the actual trial and less of the build up to it. But all in all well worth watching.

Good performance, good production quality . even Plot is not that new, its same as most typical domestic relationship problems.

there are some drawbacks n little flaws but its ok because its early 2000 movie.

a jolly british girl marries her bf , which she likes him in start but later, the marriage is passionless, (especially sex n feelings). so later wife gets acquaintance her young sister ONE TIME bf, he is handsome also better job than husband. later she falls for him , and she fall hard. Even she sarcastically insulted husband at lunch or dinner about his job. thats really bad example of wife.

the affairs continues , but anyhow , cheating /adultery is bad thing , which this movie shows perfectly in the end.

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As the movie based in true story , i think its kinda little harsh but really good punishment , as Wife cheated and she actually feeds hate n violence in terms of imagination to her lover. so basically she is guilty. she could divorce husband n go for another guy . but early 90s , family dont want divorce so she stuck. british people..pfff.