LilyWai

A 1979 imagining of the events during an actual absence in Agatha Christie's life. The film portrays Agatha as a rather anxious, publicity shy, unsure woman who is struggling with reconciling her husband's extramarital affair and request for a divorce.

She becomes obsessed by the woman that is the new love in Mr Christie's life and dramatic events ensue as a result.

The cast is wonderful with Vanessa Redgrave doing a superb job portraying the wide eyed, clever but vulnerable Agatha. Dustin Hoffman as the dapper and determined American journalist Wally Stanton is a perfect casting as he seeks to track down the elusive Agatha to nab the story ahead of all others.

Although made many years ago this film holds up and is well worth watching for the interesting characters and the creative plot line and climax . While we will never know what happened to Agatha Christie during this famous absence the events explored in this film make for as likely a explanation as many of the other proposed over the years.

For anyone who has seen & enjoyed the original Polanski's Rosemary's Baby Apartment 7A will appear a little lacking the originality & surprise of the first film. Very hard to compete with such a quality original with a director know for films that challenge & engage the viewer...but nevertheless Apt 7A still holds its own as an entertaining film.

Julia Garner does a fine job in the central role of Terry where she portrays the ambition & desperation that sees her character enter blindly into the ominous clutches of the Castevets. With the exception of Diane Wiest - who's Minnie makes for an almost cartoonish representation - the rest of the cast is good but not great.

One aspect I did appreciate was the overall visual tone of the film - all subdued colours & moodiness in keeping with the period - but as a horror fan I just found it lacked the creeping foreboding is needed for a film to excel in this genre.

It wasn't a horrible plot but the racism delivered in the dialogue & the prejudicial attitudes portrayed by the majority of the central characters was so off putting that it turned what could have been a solid 6 into a 4.

It seemed so normalised in both in their actions & language & made me cringe every time it came up - which was a lot due to the storyline. It made me wonder if this is what attitudes are really like in Denmark? I know it is set in a wealthy area but still, it made for ugly unlikeable characters that you didn't really care about.

As for the overall series it could have been a better offering if they had put a bit more intensity in the pace & incorporated a few more pivotal plot twists. As for the acting it was ok - not amazing but not dreadful either, just ok.