The Long Day Closes

The Long Day Closes - 2004-06-20. Director: Terence Davies. Britain, 1993, color, 82 minutes. This film is another part of the autobiographical work of director Davies, following 'Distant Voices, Still Lives', and recounts Davies' family life in the working-class neighborhood of Liverpool, Britain, in the mid-1950s. The main character of the film is 'Bud', an 11-year-old boy with dreams who is on the brink of entering the oppressive school system of Britain. The best moments of this imaginative boy's life are spent with his mother and other family members, as well as in the local cinema. This film is considered a turning point in Terence Davies' artistic life. His previous films followed traditional visual patterns and were less flexible. The difference in style and narrative structure between 'The Long Day Closes' and Davies' earlier films is that it breaks away from traditional methods, allowing for a more cohesive visual style, which is particularly significant for conveying memories, psychological states, and sensory impacts. The film's minimalist screenplay is complemented by a soundtrack of famous songs from the 1950s, broadcasts of BBC radio from that era, and nostalgic anthems. From the exquisite images on the walls of Bud's room in the rain's shadow to the film's grand final shot showing the moonlight reflecting on clouds transitioning into darkness, this fluid and majestic film merges graceful camera movements, sound clips, and poetic communications to evoke a connected mental state. While 'The Long Day Closes' is a deeply nostalgic film, it also serves as a dual critique of the phenomenon of 'nostalgia', exploring how much of the imagery etched in people's memories is constructed by contemporary culture. It also investigates the extent to which social entertainments such as songs, tunes, and films are situated within collective experiences and personal fantasies.