CRACKS (2009)
Eva Green, Juno Temple and María Valverde star in Cracks, an engrossing coming-of-age drama set in a British boarding school for girls in the 1930s. The school seems to be somewhat of a depository for abandoned girls whose parents are either dead or too busy gallivanting around the world to raise them. Resigned to their new home, the girls develop close ties with each other, even going so far as to consider one of their teachers, Miss G (played by Green), sort of a surrogate mother. But Miss G has no intention of being looked upon as an authority figure. Rather, she wants to be friends with the girls. When well-traveled Spanish ingénue Fiamma (Valverde) transfers to the school, she unwittingly causes waves between the girls and their untouchable Miss G, who becomes instantly fixated on the exotic newcomer. Cracks is riveting and atmospheric, with some great performances from Juno Temple and Eva Green. I was surprised at the dark tone of the film, which I had not expected at all. The story was really interesting and one that I don’t believe has been told before in such sweeping fashion.
The film has a brooding ambiance that mirrors the isolation the girls feel as they are trapped in the school. Although they are free to roam about the lush surrounding countryside and participate in excursions amid the picturesque lakes and forests, audiences can sense a cold, wistful feeling of being in a bubble, completely removed from the world. I loved the way the drama of the period married really well with the complicated material. I also thought that there was just enough mystery surrounding the events that occur in the film that sated the audience’s interest without necessarily spelling everything out. It was also a pleasure to see an all-female cast, all of whom performed admirably.
Eva Green, who channeled her inner master manipulator in Starz’s short-lived Camelot, is no stranger to dark and edgy roles. Cracks is no exception. Green is simply captivating as the miserable but magnetic instructor who captures the girls’ attentions and imaginations with her wild stories of adventures in far-off lands and her random outbursts of excitement. Unlike the stuffy instructors at the school, Green’s Miss G dresses in eye-catching outfits and makes an effort to integrate herself as a friend rather than a teacher. I loved her character and the way she was written. The film seduces audiences through Miss G’s charms the same way she lures the girls into her clutches. The story was also extremely well-paced, which made the shocking revelation all the more jarring.
Cracks is a really fascinating film that is deeply unsettling once you’ve finished watching it. Juno Temple impressed in a role that required a lot of nuance and fire, both attributes that the young actress seemed to master quite effortlessly. Eva Green was, as always, enigmatic and alluring, and I love that she chooses roles that are bold and daring. There is plenty to absorb in this film and it certainly leaves a strong impression even after the credits have rolled.
“The most important thing in life is desire. You can achieve anything you want. The world is yours for the taking. Nothing is impossible for you, my girls. All you need is to desire it.”
— Miss G, Cracks
Cracks, 2009
A set of stills taken from the film, to show the beautiful costumes.
A focus on headwear, turbans, silk scarves tied around curls, swimming hats, straw hats, & strings of flowers for a midnight feast.
Beautiful dresses, all silk & lace chemise’s, wide leg pants worn with long jackets, a womanly androgyny of masculine style all nipped in at tiny waists. Trimmed kimonos, all in one shorts swimsuits, Everything is free, floaty, flowing & beautiful. Nothing is practical, it is all purely for beauty. For lazing around, bored in the confines of the school grounds, making fun where there is none to be had.
A brief synopsis of the film;Set in the 1930’s, the film looks at the lives among the girls in a British boarding school, seemingly confined to an island away from the mainland. Settling on the relationships between the girls themselves & with a particularly charismatic & influential swimming instructor, Miss G, (Eva Green), who has all the girls under her spell.Miss G adores & encourages the idolization & adoration from her pupils, until one day a new spanish pupil arrives from overseas, she is beautiful & fascinating, exotic, with real stories to tell from the outside world, another world. The girl, Fiamma, (María Valverde), instantly feels suffocated & rejects the attention relished on her by Miss G, while her classmates resent her & turn on her for stealing all of Miss G’s attention away, in particular, Di, (Juno Temple). When Fiamma disappears, the tension builds up, ultimately ending Fiamma’s life.
Images taken from google images
Cracks
I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘film-lover’, however, when I really enjoy a film I am able to watch it time and time again. One that I have recently watched is an all time favourite of mine and inspired me to do this post.
I like to be inspired by films and I think it’s the mixture of the beautiful 1930s costumes and the setting of an elite British all girls boarding school that has me captured.
The film is based on the novel ‘Cracks’ written by Sheila Kohler and is directed by Jordan Scott. The film stars the talented and elegant Eva Green who plays the amazing ‘Miss G’ (pictured above)
and Juno Temple, who this year won the Rising Star BAFTA, voted for by the public.
The film follows a clique of girls at the boarding school whom are all bewitched by their diving instructor, Miss G. A Spanish girl named Fiamma transfers to the boarding school, telling all the girls about her adventures and travels. Miss G soon becomes fixated on Fiamma, but everything takes a turn for the worse as the other girls realise their beloved Miss G has a favourite.
A truly enchanting film, and worth a watch.
RED. The color of Blood and fire. Is assertive, daring, determined, powerful, enthusiastic, impulsive, and aggressive. An intense color that is packed with emotion ranging from passionate, intense love to anger and violence. Representing both cupid and the devil.
Set in a strict elite British boarding school in the 1930s, the story centers on a clique of girls who idolize their enigmatic divinginstructor, Miss G (Green) (in the film, we learn that Miss G had been a student at the same school where she now works and, in fact, may have even continued on at the school after she graduated). Di Radfield (Temple) has a crush on Miss G, and is the firm favourite and ringleader of her group. When a beautiful Spanish girl named Fiamma Coronna (Valverde) arrives at the school, Miss G’s focus is shifted away from the other girls.
- love this film!
Cracks (2009)
1st scene is my favourite.
100 Favorite Movies (in no order)
13. Cracks
