Morvern Callaris a 2002psychological dramafilm directed byLynne Ramsayand starringSamantha Mortonas thetitular character.The screenplay, cowritten by Ramsay and Liana Dognini, was based on the1995 novel of the same namebyAlan Warner.The film received positive reviews from critics.
| Morvern Callar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lynne Ramsay |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Morvern Callar byAlan Warner |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Alwin H. Küchler |
| Edited by | Lucia Zucchetti |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
| Countries | United Kingdom Canada |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $729,877 (worldwide) |
Plot
editMorvern Callar is a young woman in a small port town inScotlandwho works at a supermarket. She wakes on Christmas morning to discover that her boyfriend has killed himself, leaving her a suicide note, a mixtape, Christmas presents, money for a funeral and the manuscript of his unpublished novel. His novel is dedicated to Morvern, and she replaces his name with hers in the manuscript before sending it to the publisher recommended in his suicide note. Morvern does not contact authorities and leaves the dead body in place. She tells her best friend and coworker Lanna that her boyfriend has left her and moved abroad.
After several days, Morvern dismembers the body and buries it in the mountains. She cleans the flat to remove all of the blood and invites Lanna to live with her. Morvern receives a letter of interest from the book publisher and calls to tell them that they may reach her while she is on holiday in Spain. Lanna discloses to Morvern that she had slept with her boyfriend. Morvern is upset with Lanna but brings her to Spain, where they enjoy the nightlife.
At the hotel, Morvern meets a man whose mother has recently died, and she has sex with him. The next day, Morvern abruptly tells Lanna that they must leave the hotel. They travel to another town but become lost and must spend the night on a rural road. Lanna becomes exasperated with Morvern's bizarre behaviour, and in the morning, they part ways. Morvern meets with the publishers, who have travelled to Spain hoping to acquire the rights to the manuscript. Morvern continues to pretend that she has written the novel and accepts a £100,000 advance.
Back in Scotland with her £100,000 cheque, Morvern invites Lanna to accompany her back to Spain, but Lanna refuses because her life is in Scotland. Morvern collects her suitcase and proceeds to the railway station. In a nightclub, she listens to "Dedicated to the One I Love"from the mixtape that her boyfriend had left for her.
Cast
edit- Samantha Mortonas Morvern Callar
- Kathleen McDermottas Lanna
Reception
editMorvern Callarreceived positive reviews from critics. It holds a rating of 78/100 onMetacritic[1]and an 84% approval rating onRotten Tomatoesbased on 82 reviews, with an average score of 7.1/10. The critical consensus states: "Morton quietly makes this quirky, Enigma tic mood piece a compelling watch."[2]
At the2002 Cannes Film Festival,the film premiered during the Directors' Fortnight, and it was awarded the Award of the Youth for Best Foreign Film.[3]At the2002 British Independent Film Awards,Morvern Callarreceived seven nominations, including Best Director for Ramsay, Best Screenplay for Ramsay and Dognini, and Most Promising Newcomer for Kathleen McDermott; Samantha Morton won the award for Best Actress.[4]McDermott won the Best Actress Award at the 2002BAFTA Scotland Awards.
The film has been cited as a favorite film by the bandBeach House,who introduced it at the inaugural edition of Baltimore'sNew/Next Film Festival.[5]
Writing for a film club hosted byLiterary Hub,Rachel KushnerpickedMorvern Callaras one of her favorite movies, calling it a "gritty and sublime mood portrait".[6]
Soundtrack
edit- Can– "I Want More"
- Aphex Twin– "Goon Gumpas"
- Boards of Canada– "Everything You Do Is a Balloon"
- Can – "Spoon"
- Stereolab– "Blue Milk" (Edit)
- The Velvet Underground– "I'm Sticking with You"
- Broadcast– "You Can Fall"
- Gamelan– "Drumming"
- Holger Czukay– "Cool in the Pool"
- Lee "Scratch" Perry– "Hold of Death"
- Nancy SinatraandLee Hazlewood– "Some Velvet Morning"
- Ween– "Japanese Cowboy"
- Holger Czukay – "Fragrance"
- Aphex Twin – "Nannou"
- Taraf de Haïdouks– "Cînd eram la '48"
References
edit- ^"Morvern Callar".Metacritic.Retrieved11 February2017.
- ^"Morvern Callar (2002)".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved14 February2017.
- ^"Ecran Noir / Festival de Cannes 2002/ Palmarès".cannes-fest.Retrieved13 February2021.
- ^"Winners Nominations · BIFA · British Independent Film Awards".BIFA · British Independent Film Awards.24 October 2002.Retrieved13 February2021.
- ^Lei, Alex (16 August 2023)."Baltimore's New/Next Film Festival Offers an Eclectic Array of Screenings".Paste.
- ^Temple, Emily (1 July 2024).""Every time I watch it, I'm transfixed anew." Rachel Kushner on her favorite films ".Literary Hub.Retrieved3 July2024.
