I feel a bit silly. I've heard of Merchant Ivory films. I've a notion of what they are, in short, period dramas. I had no clue they were films made by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory. An ampersand would have really helped. I had no idea those were two surnames. Anyway, this is their story. Of the independent production house and the films it created. Another point I'd missed is that it wasn't just Merchant and Ivory at the helm. As producer and director I guess they steal the limelight, but there was screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins too. I guess that might've been too much of a mouthful for the masthead. I'm also shocked to clock how recently they worked. The 80s sure, but well into the 90s and beyond, which is where a lot of the present day talking heads come from, with Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, Rupert Graves, Hugh Grant... you'll spot the theme. British. Very British, even if this tries to deny that a little. It's a fascinating story, low budget productions made to look a million dollars on screen, through sheer dogged determination. Volatile characters pushing through everyday boundaries. Creating tight knit groups on set with DIY Productions. We learn of 60s Indian film origins that gave them their start and the secret love affair between Jim & Ismail. In fact there's a lot of secret or not so relationships that weave through the Merchant Ivory story. The 80s is where the story really gathers pace. "The Merchant Ivory style was fully formed. Beautiful music. Worldly sensibility. Lush settings and complex characters" Stephen Soucy our director narrates. That's a perfect summary really. Ismail, no longer with us, sounds like quite a character. Wheeling and dealing, a smoke and mirrors approach to producing. James, who prefers Jim, still with us talks openly about being gay, how it was never an issue. He understood that certain people in their lives wouldn't approve, but keeping things private, all was fine. He's calm, polite, pleasant, his quiet charm drifts effortlessly from the screen. He's someone you'd want sit down and talk with. He's someone you'd want to make films with. It's made clear just how influential Ruth was too, she's a fascinating subject in her own right. Multicultural, an outsider, able to see beyond the restrictions of the source material they worked with, to open up unforeseen possibilities in stories like Howard's End that hauled in the awards. The detail of this doc is as deep as the films they made. From costume design, scriptwriters, novelists that inspire screenwriters, actors, editors, hair and make up, casting. I don't think I've ever seen so many contributors in a documentary. The best thing about docs like this is the films it introduces you too. I now have. A Room With a View, Maurice, Howard's End, The Remains of the Day to enjoy. This is a wonderful retrospective of a beautifully eccentric and gifted group of people and I feel well schooled.
