A Quiet Passion

Tony Ling
21st Jun 2017

There is something romantic to be said for the traditions of old. The seemingly incredible wealth of vocabulary that the everyday high class used in their English, the amazing integrity to courtesy and attitude, the devout diligence to the almighty Lord upstairs, A Quiet Passion does a remarkable job satirising it all by the mother of all hipsters in their era: the legendary American poet Emily Dickinson.

It is definitely easy to see Dickinson (played here by Cynthia Nixon) as a lady trapped in the wrong time period shackled by the conservative customs of yore. Set in the early 1800s, the writing holds no quarter in giving Emily the bravado  of wanting change and equality for women that many men found mystifying and set them aghast at that time. She is a lady of articulation, and her poetry mirrors it through the many key chapters of her life echoing her thoughts and feelings like a fleeting but opportune consciousness.

This is very much a story about family as well as the biopic of the famed poet where it seeks to display the honesty and appreciation of everyday existence in such a zeitgeist of a young and expanding America. The film’s first half is prominently a humorous satire in the conservative traditions of yore. Only to have the second half be a slew of death, loneliness, more death, family turmoil, and more death. No doubt the theme of death is a great homage to Dickinson’s inner psyche that was often troubled by such loss.

The tone shifts itself remarkably to more darker and sombre escapades; however, its second half does eventually start fumbling in its pace. It emphasises how lonely, frustrated, and existential Emily has become with her infamous reclusiveness later in life throughout her middle age. It is valid and worthy of telling, but it comes forth in repetitive, forceful strokes like a monotonous battering ram that fatigues the viewer and feels redundantly hollow. There is a definite emphasis on showing the incredible love and camaraderie that Dickinson had with her sister Lavinia 'Vinnie' Dickinson (played by Jennifer Ehle). Oh, how it makes you wish you had a sister that loves you so unconditionally even when you act in ridiculously crazy ways. It’s a beautiful thing to behold, but there could have been moderation in that arc to pave the way for more meaningful glimpses of Dickinson’s biography and what is going on inside her poetic head at such a grave, dark and insecure time.

There is a remarkable subtlety in Dickinson’s face portrayed by Cynthia Nixon, showing the chaos and torture inside her soul. Yet there is also a vibrancy, a beauty of purity that Nixon embodies into the conviction of Dickinson’s words through all those microcosms of expression that her innocent yet courageous spirit exhibits.  

The cinematography is a treasure. Especially if you like pans. There is also a fascinating VFX application where the photographs of our characters aged on their own painted portraits in a time lapse. It’s a remarkably acute effect that allowed us, viewers, to see them transition to age within the frames. It certainly says something about how well images can wield in the eyes of the beholder, giving a useful metaphor for the fleeting nature of time.

Time in its scarcity and preciousness definitely becomes friend and foe to Dickinson and her family. Various people come and go, some go quietly, and others not so. As time moves on, new windows of thought arises, and those do sometimes come with questions that are often demoralising to the soul. The life of Emily Dickinson is something that certainly exemplifies its presence on the cinematic screen. From incredible shots of history to splendid performances across the board, A Quiet Passion is a film that rewards repeated viewings. It makes you think and would compliment anyone that is intrigued by the renowned poet or her history. Or a dang sucker for sentimentality.

A Quiet Passion opens in Australian cinemas on Thursday June 22nd.