amazon.com Video on Demand preferable to VHS
Added 8/28/2009
I would like to mention an important difference between this VHS tape version of DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES and the "Video on Demand" one available here at amazon.com. Simply put: the VHS one "has been modified from its original version. It has been formatted to fit your screen" (to quote from the VHS box and the actual tape). In other words, rather than respecting the original ratio of the film, they chopped off the left and right sides of the image to make it conform to the old TV format.
The "Video on Demand" version presents the film in its original ratio, and shows that DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES was not only beautifully photographed but beautifully composed as well. Seeing it at last as intended only increases my already high respect for the work of director Eric Styles and cinematographer Jimmy Dibling. An excellent transfer all round, and definitely to be preferred to the VHS tape.
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Where's the dvd
Added 4/4/2008
This is a wonderful love story. It is beautifully shot and has the most heart breaking soundtrack. WHY IS IT NOT YET AVAILABLE ON DVD!?!?!?!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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"Promises are made to keep.Promises will make you weep!"
Added 4/5/2007
1958,Somerset,England:Eva (Samantha Morton) has dreamed since childhood of her second cousin,Joseph Lees (Rupert Graves).It has been years since Eva has seen Joseph, a geologist who has been to Italy and Africa, and has also lost a leg in a quarry accident.She carries his picture with her and often stares at it and daydreams of him.Life,though,is happening all around her.She has been taking care of her widowed father and younger sister,Janie ( a really interesting character aptly portrayed by Lauren Richardson),and she is emerging as a young woman with desires.Harry Flite (Lee Ross),a local farmer is compulsively smitten with Eva and actively pursues her for what he believes is true love.Eva keeps him somewhat at arms length, but for whatever reason succumbs to his advances and moves in to his farmhouse.Eva,though,hears that Joseph has returned home and will be at a family wedding.Her dreams are revived when she at last meets Joseph again.This is where the action really begins!Eva has put herself in a really compromised position.She has now set up house with Harry who we now discover is not so much in love with Eva as much as he is in NEED of her to take care of him.Eva has been taking care of people her entire life and now sees her chance to have the man of her dreams;but the turmoil and the price that she will have to pay will cost her and all of those around her.There is NO easy solution and Eva has put herself in an absolutely NO WIN situation.What is great about this particular screenplay is that there is NO REAL FINAL SOLUTION to everyone's dilemma,which is a genius move on the part of the filmmakers,and the audience is left in an unresolved state!
This is a very interesting film.It can be viewed by some as being a bit on the gloomy side.The scenes shift rather swiftly in places which allow alot of loose ends which hamper character development.Still this film has beautiful camera and lighting effects and a haunting soundtrack by Zbigniew Preisner which make for a truly artistic experience.The use of Eva's sister, Janie, as the catalyst through which Eva's thoughts and actions are conveyed are similar to the "Greek Chorus" of Hellenist writing.Janie's commentary runs throughout the film,and she prophetically states that "Promises are made to keep.Promises will make you weep" while throwing her ball against a wall.Though all of the performances are uniformly good,this is definitely a film that showcases the immense talents of a younger Samantha Morton who has since become one of the finest and most revered actresses in the world.
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This one will haunt you...
Added 9/8/2006
Samantha Morton is a excellent actress and this film shows her at her finest! She breaks your heart. Rupert Graves is one of my favorite actors so when I came across this movie several years ago, I was pleased to find another one of his films. After watching, it became one of my favorites, a terribly irresistable bittersweet tale! You shouldn't miss it.
I want a DVD!!!!! I've worn out the VHS copy I have. Who do you let know you 'need' a DVD????
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Have watched over and over.
Added 11/4/2005
Ever since I saw this movie on TV, I have been fascinated by it.
Of course, it helps that two of my favorite actors are in it. Samantha Morton as usual is marvelous. With every role she plays she is different. Rupert Graves is also as versatile as ever. I am watching this movie right now on TV, again. I know I've seen it at least fifteen times or more. I still found it hard to believe that she would just move in with Harry (who is played marvelously by an actor with whom I'm not familiar). I still wonder about the ending--did she or didn't she go with Lees? This is a movie not to be missed. I'm still hoping it will go to DVD before I purchase it.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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amazon.com Video on Demand preferable to VHS
Added 8/28/2009
I would like to mention an important difference between this VHS tape version of DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES and the "Video on Demand" one available here at amazon.com. Simply put: the VHS one "has been modified from its original version. It has been formatted to fit your screen" (to quote from the VHS box and the actual tape). In other words, rather than respecting the original ratio of the film, they chopped off the left and right sides of the image to make it conform to the old TV format.
The "Video on Demand" version presents the film in its original ratio, and shows that DREAMING OF JOSEPH LEES was not only beautifully photographed but beautifully composed as well. Seeing it at last as intended only increases my already high respect for the work of director Eric Styles and cinematographer Jimmy Dibling. An excellent transfer all round, and definitely to be preferred to the VHS tape.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Where's the dvd
Added 4/4/2008
This is a wonderful love story. It is beautifully shot and has the most heart breaking soundtrack. WHY IS IT NOT YET AVAILABLE ON DVD!?!?!?!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
"Promises are made to keep.Promises will make you weep!"
Added 4/5/2007
1958,Somerset,England:Eva (Samantha Morton) has dreamed since childhood of her second cousin,Joseph Lees (Rupert Graves).It has been years since Eva has seen Joseph, a geologist who has been to Italy and Africa, and has also lost a leg in a quarry accident.She carries his picture with her and often stares at it and daydreams of him.Life,though,is happening all around her.She has been taking care of her widowed father and younger sister,Janie ( a really interesting character aptly portrayed by Lauren Richardson),and she is emerging as a young woman with desires.Harry Flite (Lee Ross),a local farmer is compulsively smitten with Eva and actively pursues her for what he believes is true love.Eva keeps him somewhat at arms length, but for whatever reason succumbs to his advances and moves in to his farmhouse.Eva,though,hears that Joseph has returned home and will be at a family wedding.Her dreams are revived when she at last meets Joseph again.This is where the action really begins!Eva has put herself in a really compromised position.She has now set up house with Harry who we now discover is not so much in love with Eva as much as he is in NEED of her to take care of him.Eva has been taking care of people her entire life and now sees her chance to have the man of her dreams;but the turmoil and the price that she will have to pay will cost her and all of those around her.There is NO easy solution and Eva has put herself in an absolutely NO WIN situation.What is great about this particular screenplay is that there is NO REAL FINAL SOLUTION to everyone's dilemma,which is a genius move on the part of the filmmakers,and the audience is left in an unresolved state!
This is a very interesting film.It can be viewed by some as being a bit on the gloomy side.The scenes shift rather swiftly in places which allow alot of loose ends which hamper character development.Still this film has beautiful camera and lighting effects and a haunting soundtrack by Zbigniew Preisner which make for a truly artistic experience.The use of Eva's sister, Janie, as the catalyst through which Eva's thoughts and actions are conveyed are similar to the "Greek Chorus" of Hellenist writing.Janie's commentary runs throughout the film,and she prophetically states that "Promises are made to keep.Promises will make you weep" while throwing her ball against a wall.Though all of the performances are uniformly good,this is definitely a film that showcases the immense talents of a younger Samantha Morton who has since become one of the finest and most revered actresses in the world.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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