Caregiver-takes-on-crotchety-old-ailing-knight is a movie formula which works

REVIEW: Had this been an original plot, this heartening British-Hungarian comedy-drama might have been worth an illustrious five stars, yes, almost up there in The Revenant stratosphere.

For devotees of Cinema Gold who can cope with clever, hilarious dialogue and old folksy foibles, it is a must-see.

The Carer bears much resemblance to the magnifique French film, The Intouchables, from 2011. In both, a new caregiver is taken on to tend to a crotchety, irascible old guy and his personal functions.

In The Carer, a once-great stage actor Sir Michael (played by Scottish actor Brian Cox) is not always wheelchair bound, but he is suffering from Parkinson's disease, is foul-mouthed and none of the caregivers have lasted the distance.

Enter Hungarian Dorottya (newcomer Coco Konig), as his latest carer, a young girl from Budapest with acting ambitions who must somehow quell the outbursts and incontinence of the cranky old knight.

The film was directed by Hungarian Janos Edelenyi who was himself a refugee when his country was behind the Iron Curtain. Konig obviously got into England before Brexit.

Many critics have given Cox's acting all the credit for the excellence of the film, but for me Konig with her endearing continental accent deserves equal credit. She must cleverly fend off rages and volleys of eff bombs from Sir Michael in the rooms of his English estate.

It is all about crossing the generations and helping that for both is their love of Shakespeare.

Drama takes over from the funny stuff when Sir Michael's control-freak of a daughter (Emilia Fox) and his former lover-cum-housekeeper, Milly (Anna Chancellor) poke their British noses in.

There was room for even more drama in the closing scenes, but we got the message. The Carer and its script are of such quality a second viewing would be just as rib-tickling.

 - Stuff

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/82565280/caregivertakesoncrotchetyoldailingknight-is-a-movie-formula-which-works

 

Award for Brian Cox as The Carer opens Stony Brook Festival

Photo: Rebecca Uliasz

Photo: Rebecca Uliasz

July 22, 2016, Stony Brook, NY-- Scottish actor, Olivier and Emmy Award star of The Carer, Brian Cox, was presented with the Stony Brook Film Festival Career Achievement Award for his work in over 200 films and television programs and even more stage productions in the UK, the U.S. and around the world. In The Carer, Brian Cox soars in his role as an aging lion of the theater who has isolated himself and bullied his care givers. Director János Edelényi was presented with the coveted Opening Night trophy as The Carer was selected from over 2,000 entries to open the 21st Annual Stony Brook Film Festival presented by Island Federal Credit Union. The screening on Thursday evening, July 21 had 800 film festival patrons attending.

You can watch the Q&A with Brian and János here.

Cinefile takes UK rights to Brian Cox drama 'The Carer'

EXCLUSIVE: Edinburgh-based Cinefile has taken UK and Irish rights to Brian Cox-starring The Carer from sales company Yellow Affair.

Hungary’s János Edelényi directs the story of a retired Shakesperean actor (Brian Cox) who hires a Hungarian carer (Coco König) with her own dreams of stardom.

The film, which premiered at Palm Springs and played last week at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, will have its London premiere on Aug 5 at the Regent Street Cinema in the presence of co-stars Emilia Fox, Anna Chancellor, Edelényi and König with Cox appearing via Skype from New York.

The film’s UK cinema run will include bookings at Manchester Home, Edinburgh Filmhouse and Glasgow Film Theatre.

“We’re convinced that the subject and Cox’s presence in an impressive cast will prove attractive to audiences. And the so-called silver screen patrons are an increasingly important part of the fabric of cinema-going although the film crosses generations,” said Ilona Morison, Cinéfile’s head of acquistions.

http://www.screendaily.com/territories/uk-ireland/cinefile-takes-uk-rights-to-brian-cox-drama-the-carer/5106299.article?blocktitle=LATEST-FILM-NEWS-HEADLINES&contentID=44435

 

EIFF 2016: The Carer Review

Suffering from Parkinson’s disease and being cooped up in his country estate, has left retired Shakespearean actor Sir Michael Gifford (Brian Cox) rather crabby and frustrated. Having ejected all previous would be carers, his daughter spearheads an intervention that sees Dorottya(Coco König) – a young Hungarian home help with acting aspirations of her own, tasked with the job of tending to this aging thespian grump. What blossom’s between these two kindred spirits is a funny and heart-warming tale on the acceptance of one’s own mortality.

While the narrative is certainly a simple one (akin toScent of a Woman), the key to the film’s success here lays in its rich dialogue and beautifully realised central characters. Putting the central duo at the heart of the narrative throughout its entirety, is an inspired move byEdelényi, as it allows the chemistry and friendship between Michael and Dorottya to feel gradual and more importantly, real.

Written by three gifted scribes – including the film’s director János Edelényi and the late Gilbert Adair, gives the acting prowess of Brian Cox something to really get his teeth into and play around with. The dialogue is smart, punchy and incredibly funny, enabling Cox to deliver one of his most enigmatic screen performances in recent memory, in a role that feels almost written for him. Alongside Cox is Hungarian newcomer Coco König. She delivers a warm and confident performance as Dorottya, offering a hidden vulnerability that plays extremely well against Cox’smore gravitas delivery.

It could be argued that some of the minor supporting roles do suffer from being rather one dimensional, but so good is the chemistry between the two central characters, that any missteps the film may have along the way, are indeed minor footnotes in what is otherwise one of the most enjoyable cinematic treats at this year’s 70th Edinburgh International Film Festival.

http://www.moviereviewworld.com/movie-review/eiff-2016-carer-review/

 

The List TV review: Gasping

Frankie Boyle excels in Greg Hemphill’s funny short film about addiction and its perils

Harvey Higgins used to be a regular sort who liked nothing better than going out for a bevvy with his mates. But before he knew it, his booze-sodden behaviour had become intolerable for those pals and the ever-increasingly late nights developed a strain upon his marriage. When he loses his job and starts to get the shakes, things go seriously awry especially when he is too busy racing towards the reported site of a lorry that has shed its lager-laden load instead of picking up his young daughter from school.

Interventions are one thing, ultimatums are another. Harvey has had both but little seems to penetrate his skull: the warnings are all just gin off a drunk’s back. But when he finally sees the light, there is one big challenge left to face when he’s invited back to work for a business trip to … a distillery. Should he return home with a single smell of whisky on his breath, then his wedded life is over.

Given that Frankie Boyle has had his own difficult relationship with alcohol in the distant past, this short movie (an entrant in the 2014 LA Comedy Festival which now makes its small-screen debut) could be seen as a brave decision. Though perhaps no more courageous than allowing himself to grow the largest beard since Moses threw away his last disposable razor.

Greg Hemphill has created the piece and insisted that he had Boyle in mind for Harvey during the writing process. He relies mostly on the stand-up’s physicality throughout the film, given that Boyle says just a single sentence: is the message that addiction leaves you without a proper voice? Or is it simply an amusing idea to see someone who makes a living from talking to people being largely denied that function?

In its brief time with us, Gasping is continuously amusing work with at least two (maybe three) laugh-out-loud moments. Give that many sitcoms can barely engender that kind of reaction throughout entire series shows that Hemphill and Boyle were certainly on to something.

Gasping, BBC One Scotland, Mon 30 May, 10.25pm. Available on the BBC iPlayer shortly afterwards.

Watch on BBC iPlayer http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07ds2l1/gasping

https://www.list.co.uk/article/80992-tv-review-gasping/