bobbobwhite
Truly moving and compassionate story of a quiet, lonely, and friendless public servant in London, daily laboring diligently in a thankless job that few would want, but he did it so well that his efforts might be called almost "heavenly". To him, his job was important to the point of critical accuracy in documentation, and was much more to him than mere service, it was a passion approaching art. It was his life to sort what remained to be done for those who had died without friends, relatives or anyone who might want or care to know. In that chore he was a Rembrandt, as he was just like those forgotten, meaningless people for whom he tried so hard to give at least some final care. To him, even if not to others, they were worthy.Whether out and about trying to connect the dots of a deceased person's past, or compiling the found details of same in a little storeroom office, cloistered away every day he carried on, trying to give some level of final dignity to those who may never have had any in life. A proper church funeral, with only him attending, was his way of sending them off with someone looking on, someone knowing and caring that they had lived but were now gone.This story was very small, as it had to be, and it was perfectly told and acted, with the great Eddie Marsan as the public servant and Joanne Froggatt in a small role as a deceased man's daughter. An excellent and fitting musical score accompanied. The ending was surprising, but as rewarding as an ending could be for a man such as he. Although unrealized to fruition, he did finally find a friend who cared to know him. And, there were others. You will not have a dry eye when you leave the theatre, but I trust that you will have a better heart for it.
Gary Run (ipswichtown)
Wow! for me this is the best film for many a year in this genre.it's slow in pace,but realistically this is the point (for me anyway) of the movie..when talking in the themes mentioned here...loneliness and lack of love...life can often feel still.. The music as always by Rachel portman is incredible,she always manages to deliver with her score.Eddie Marsan is perfectly cast as a man lonely and wanting to do something caring and worthwhile in his still life...And the chemistry between his character and Joanne Froggatt is excellent and realistically pulled off...better than anything nominated for an Oscar of that year...it really is beautifully done and with a lovely uplifting ending...it's a perfect emotional British film.
Tom Dooley
Eddie Marsan plays Mr. May who worked for London Borough of Kennington as the man who traces the relatives of people who have died alone. He then arranges for their 'send offs' often being the only person in attendance. He has no family and struggles to understand those that have what he does not have and yet readily shun it. Then his obnoxious boss tells him they are 'downsizing' the department and merging with a neighbouring council. He is told to close the case on his last assignment and clear out. He decides he will find out who this lonely man was and he sets out on a journey to discover this man's past and in so doing he starts to live himself.This is just a wonderful film – full of hope, loneliness, pathos and even love. Marsan is always excellent and here he carries the film, but is supported by a cast who are all excellent too – Joanne Froggatt as Kelly Stoke brings real warmth and humanity to a role which sees her with limited screen time – so is all the more noticeable for it. This is a film for people who think, who care and who want to understand more about life and death – absolutely recommended.
paul_3-960-896774
Still Life is a surprising little film brought to us by writer- Directer Uberto Pasolini, it was shot in 2013 and finally made its way to me and I'm glad that I decide to see it. The film depicts the life and work of John May (Eddie Marsan) a council worker looking for the living relatives of those found dead and alone. I know, it sounds fun, but trust me this film is much more than what it seem.At the first, it looks like it's about death and funerals, which it is, but it's in no way depressing, it's more a tale of life, love, and the afterlife. Still Life is quirky and exotic in its unusualness. John May is a bit weird, socially awkward, and very much feel out of touch with the modern world but he's also a sweet and caring man, who is meticulous at his job easily making the people he interacts with seem even sweater, or worse depending on how they behave around him.Despite its heavy themes Still Life has moments of relief, it's funny at times and gets uplifting. It's a movie that sneaks up on you to reach into your heart. Eddie Marsan gives a quiet but poignant performance in this film, I was drawn to his authentic portrayal of John May, a compassionate character you can't help but love. Uberto Pasolini delivered a thought-provoking film with limited camera, letting the story take a life of its own.Still Life is a thoughtful little film shining a light on a peculiar job but also on human relationships, the people we knew and lost touch with, those who sometimes are forgotten and need to be remembered. @wornoutspines
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