Empire of Light anybody? SPOILERS

[BaconAndAvocado]

Loved this film.
I’m a local so enjoyed spotting and placing of the various locations.
Really had no idea what the film was about. If anything, I thought it was a light love story.
Olivia Colman was sensational in her portrayal of someone with schizophrenia - raging, bitter, fragile, vulnerable. A truly award-worthy performance.
The part where she makes a speech at the premier broke my heart. The lipstick on her teeth and her dress undone, tiny details yet so powerful.
Ultimately, for me, it was a film about hope, compassion and kindness. Cried buckets at the end.

Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. I felt it was about belonging - about how and where we belong and don’t belong. And about kindness as you say, human connection as the points of light in the darkness.

There were some extraordinary moments - the detail of her speech at the premier yes and also her final moments before being taken away. And the look Michael Ward gave OC before he kissed her, oh my goodness the desire in his face was breathtaking.

I loved all the detail from 1981, the cinema sweets and drinks, the clothing and music and cars.

Only thing that annoyed me slightly is as I understand it lithium is a mood stabiliser prescribed alongside antipsychotics for schizophrenia, it’s not usually prescribed on its own. Lithium is usually used for bipolar. But I don’t know whether the drugs of choice were different then. I thought her portrayal was more consistent with bipolar so was surprised when sleazy Colin Firth outed her as having schizophrenia.

@BaconAndAvocado Aside from all the great views of Margate, where did you think the big beach they went to was? Camber Sands? Also the scene where she is on a bench and he walks past with his girlfriend: Broadstairs?

EyesOnThePies Yes I think it was Cambersands and the bench scene is definitely Broadstairs. I’ve sat on that bench many times 🙂

I enjoyed it as a gentle kind of film, but both the race issues and schizophrenia weren't really with to my mind and could have been developed much more.

The film was slow to get going and too light touch IMO. Perfectly watchable but could have been so much better.