When Night is Falling Title

Directed by: Patricia Rozema, 1995


When Night is Falling is an engaging love story from the director of I've Heard The Mermaids Singing. In this film she brings a great visual style and depth to the characters. The fact that it was tagged with a NC17 rating shows a lack of understanding by the film board due to the relationship of the main characters who are both female. The love scenes are not overly explicit so the reasons behind this decision become painfully obvious. However, on the positive side, the film company released it unrated to keep the spirit and vision of the film intact. And the fact it was accepted by a large audience is a good sign of things to come.

Camille and Martin The story involves Camille (Pascale Bussi�res), and Martin (Henry Czerny) who are professors at a Protestant college and, from what we can tell, are in a serious relationship. However, when Camille's dog dies, she finds comfort with Petra (Rachael Crawford), a circus performer, who listens to her with kindness. Camille later finds herself very attracted to her and she realizes she has doubts about her relationship with Martin and her own profession.

Camille and Petra When Camille's confesses her grief for her dog to Petra (right) at the laundromat, Petra switches their laundry bag, in the hopes of meeting again. When Camille gets home and realizes she has Petra's laundry and not her own, she tries on Petra's black top and wears it to an interview with the Chaplain. We can begin to see her interest in Petra, and how her meeting with this kind stranger is going to send her life in a new direction.

Camille's interest in Petra is brought out even more when the don of her school suggests that she and Martin might be named co-chaplains of the college if they were to get married. Martin is very much in favor, but Camille's doubts have grown stronger than ever. The story is played out well through to the end as the audience is captivated and eager to see how she will weigh her faith against love, desire, and happiness.

Under Water/Ball of Light It is very easy to enjoy Rozema's use of imagery and her unique approach to storytelling. The memorable scenes in the circus with Petra juggling the ball of light represent another magical world where anything can happen. The vivid dream sequences with Camille under water are examples of her desires wanting to come to the surface, and of her new feelings of freedom in her life; free from the restraints of her church.

I only have a few disagreements about the film. Camille and Petra seem to fall in love extremely quickly, things are usually a little more gradual. And one of the ways in which they depicted Petra as a wild and free spirit is the fact that she is a circus perfomer. Taking the expression of 'running off to join the circus' literally in relation to Camille's desire to be with the person she loves. I think they could have expressed Petra's personality in other ways, although her profession did allow for a nice performance with the ball of light; which was obviously part of the intention to adding that sequence.

Camille and Petra under covers Overall, I found this film to be very enjoyable and filled with likable, well written characters. It's story is one that will likely be the topic of many discussions to come; the acceptance of different lifestyles and the freedom to choose, no matter what faith or background you come from. The underlying message I believe the director is trying to get across is a noble one, which is to follow your heart.


Cast of Characters

Camille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pascale Bussi�res
Petra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachael Crawford
Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Czerny
Reverend DeBoer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Fox
Timothy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don McKellar
Tory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tracy Wright



Alliance

Top of Page  |  Images from Film  |  Main  |  Email