Capturing Mary

I watched this for the sake of two actors I admire and they didn't disappoint. The story is confusing, but Maggie & David have terrific screen presence. They only have one short scene together, but it's worth the wait. I'm a fan of David's comedic work and am aware that many may dismiss his talent because of this. In reality he is a dedicated actor, who enjoys learning new material and taking advice from directors/producers/co stars etc. The Making Of on the DVD shows this, as well as explaining some of the complexities of the plot. I look forward to the commentary too. I hadn't watched "Joe's Palace", but this wasn't essential. Maggie is simply magic. I read Greville as being a "vampiric" character - charming & sinister. No wonder she could never get him out of her mind. 8/10

Hard not to argue with all the 1 and 2 star ratings. This is not a Hollywood-type movie. My take is a little different from those who believe the film is about power over others or miss spent youth. In trying to understand why this movie was made, and why many seem to think that there is not plot - I suggest the following.

Greville never existed. He symbolically, was Mary's past, which she never fully escaped from.

Greville was the representation of those times. He understood the horrors of the class system and power, but insisted that elitism is the better choice over the unwashed masses. That much is clear, that is, his attitude. Why did Greville need Mary's help? Because Greville was dying, that is, his power waning, his generation losing influence. That is, he is clearly depicted as representing his times in his unchanging attitude and even his 'symbolic' refusal to dress to the times. He knew many secret things, but no one really knew who or what he did, again symbolic, not really a man, but an incarnation of the theme - the passing of a generation.

But how could have Mary helped this 'symbol'? She was a writer, and could have written/influenced the course of social change. She lost her job, as it was stated, because her 'voice of youth' had already become passe. Mary, again as stated, was born between what was coming of age and what was dying socially. Somewhere along the way she lost her voice, her inspiration. Greville, wanted her to be his partner, he could help her professionally, meaning that by writing favorably of the past, of those mores, beliefs, and class system, those still in power (albeit waning) could support her.

Greville, the symbol, didn't directly have Mary fired. It was a plot device. Mary, as was stated, simply lost favor as the times moved on. Mary was torn between the past and her uncertain future. She dressed the part, again as stated, but she really didn't belong to the changes coming.

I believe, if you see Greville as a plot device, a symbol of Mary being lost between generations, then we see the sad story of a women who was lost. She was at her best when she was young, criticizing the mores of class and status. But then that grew tiresome, and meaningless, being on the leading edge, that type of criticism was soon to be common place.

The Greville, inside of her, wanted her to support what was refined in society, even if the gild often covered over ugliness just beneath the surface. Greville haunted her, when she wrote, she always ended up in the wine cellar, a symbol of the elite.

Why couldn't she surrender to Greville, that is, the voice in her representing, belonging to the past? That is a hard question to answer, and I would think could only be answered subjectively. I can venture to say that she recognized the ugliness of the past, but also could not accept how social change was pushing society towards also becoming ugly, common. Consequently, she was lost between two worlds. One the one hand a world her youth rejected, and the other which she becomes common herself, and wrote about antiques.

Like Shooting the Past and Friends and Crocodiles, Poliakoff creates yet another intriguing dynamic between a man and a woman, and unlike every other television writer, he doesn't fall for the cliché that just because two people of the opposite sex meet that they should then fall in love.

No, his writing is far more interesting, far more subtle, and like his other films the relationship between the two protagonists is captivating. Unlike the other films however, in Capturing Mary it is also very creepy.

I loved the concept of this young woman unable to shake off these horrible stories she has heard, unable to escape from Greville's destructive influence. Yes by the end there are more questions than answers but I think this is a minor flaw in an otherwise brilliant observation of regret, loss, fear and the effect a few moments of your life can have on you forever.

Stunning, haunting, beautiful and eerie, you'll be thinking about this film long after the DVD has stopped.

Please....Please......Please....Someone please help me recapture the wasted time and brain space this terrible movie stole from me.....I have been on IMDb website thousands of times and have never left a review.....this was so bad that I was motivated to sign up solely for the purpose of warning people....if I can save one person from the torture of this atrocity, I will be quite content....Take your remote control.....Close your eyes.....push any buttons.....and you will do better than choosing this train wreck......I think I need a couple hours of South Park to get the taste of this movie out of my mouth.............Peace

It is what it is. If you watched Joe's Palace, you'll get it. For those who called it rubbish, you're absolutely wrong. WWII was a beastly time in history, deep in conjecture. This is a good objective look on the frivolity and incomprehensible behavior and in-observance of that time in history. No different from now, same atrocities, same indifference and justifications of those in power. Inflictions of most civilians were not intended or personal, people were just trying to get through it, confused and thriving on distractions. So watch it, it's a history lesson. 10 for performances. You need to view Joe's Palace first. Great films for WWII history buffs, and promises an entertaining and pensive evening for both genders. It's a different take on the brutality of that time. Not drenched in warfare and genocide, but still moving and painful.