Blessed (2008 film)
Encyclopedia
Blessed is a British
drama film released on 24 October 2008 that was written and directed by Mark Aldridge. It's cast included well-known actors James Nesbitt
, Natascha McElhone
and Gary Lewis
, as well as young Lillian Woods
. It is 83 minutes long and was filmed mainly on the Scottish
island of Eilean Iarmain. It was rated "U" by the BBFC.
. His only contact is with a sailor called Howie who brings him food supplies once every few months. It is quickly revealed that until recently he had a well-paid job, and a wife named Lou and two daughters. His family were drowned, however, in a freak storm on a boating holiday that Peter was meant to be on. This causes him to withdraw from society
and he is rendered unable to speak. He sticks to a regular but lonely routine until one day he discovers that a lifeboat containing a little girl of about seven called Charlotte has landed on the island. Charlotte refuses to leave the island until her father comes to pick her up, so she stays with Peter. After just over a week, he finds out from a radio broadcast that she is the only survivor from a sinking ship
, and that the girl's father is dead. It is at this point he becomes able to speak again. During this time the two have formed a bond, and so when Charlotte refuses to leave, he decides that she can stay. This is possible as no-one else knows that she is alive. At the end of the film Peter has to persuade his food supplier to keep quiet about the little girl's presence on the island so she is not taken away by the authorities, he agrees and the film ends showing the viewer several "family snapshots" of an adult Charlotte and an older Peter, thus implying that she remained with him for the rest of her childhood.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drama film released on 24 October 2008 that was written and directed by Mark Aldridge. It's cast included well-known actors James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
, Natascha McElhone
Natascha McElhone
Natascha McElhone is an English actress of stage, screen and television, best known for her roles in Ronin, The Truman Show and Solaris. McElhone also plays a leading role in the Showtime series Californication....
and Gary Lewis
Gary Lewis (actor)
Gary Lewis is a Scottish actor. He has had parts in Billy Elliot, Gangs of New York, Eragon and Three and Out, as well as a major role in the television docudrama, Supervolcano.-Early life:...
, as well as young Lillian Woods
Lil Woods
Lillian 'Lil' Woods is a young actress, appearing in the film Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang as Megsie Green. Woods lives on a farm. Woods's only other film credit is Blessed as Charlotte.-Filmography:*BlessedCharlotte...
. It is 83 minutes long and was filmed mainly on the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
island of Eilean Iarmain. It was rated "U" by the BBFC.
Plot
The film begins with a man named Peter who is living alone on an island as a lighthouse keeperLighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
. His only contact is with a sailor called Howie who brings him food supplies once every few months. It is quickly revealed that until recently he had a well-paid job, and a wife named Lou and two daughters. His family were drowned, however, in a freak storm on a boating holiday that Peter was meant to be on. This causes him to withdraw from society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
and he is rendered unable to speak. He sticks to a regular but lonely routine until one day he discovers that a lifeboat containing a little girl of about seven called Charlotte has landed on the island. Charlotte refuses to leave the island until her father comes to pick her up, so she stays with Peter. After just over a week, he finds out from a radio broadcast that she is the only survivor from a sinking ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
, and that the girl's father is dead. It is at this point he becomes able to speak again. During this time the two have formed a bond, and so when Charlotte refuses to leave, he decides that she can stay. This is possible as no-one else knows that she is alive. At the end of the film Peter has to persuade his food supplier to keep quiet about the little girl's presence on the island so she is not taken away by the authorities, he agrees and the film ends showing the viewer several "family snapshots" of an adult Charlotte and an older Peter, thus implying that she remained with him for the rest of her childhood.
Main cast
- James NesbittJames NesbittJames Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
- Peter - Natascha McElhoneNatascha McElhoneNatascha McElhone is an English actress of stage, screen and television, best known for her roles in Ronin, The Truman Show and Solaris. McElhone also plays a leading role in the Showtime series Californication....
- Lou - Gary LewisGary Lewis (actor)Gary Lewis is a Scottish actor. He has had parts in Billy Elliot, Gangs of New York, Eragon and Three and Out, as well as a major role in the television docudrama, Supervolcano.-Early life:...
- Howie - Lil WoodsLil WoodsLillian 'Lil' Woods is a young actress, appearing in the film Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang as Megsie Green. Woods lives on a farm. Woods's only other film credit is Blessed as Charlotte.-Filmography:*BlessedCharlotte...
- Charlotte
Sources
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430137/
- http://www.film4.com/reviews/2008/blessed
- http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/b/Blessed/index-7451308.html
- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blessed-DVD-James-Nesbitt/dp/B002SVP9IC
- http://www.rollcreditsonline.com/reviews/dvdreviews/827-blessed-james-nesbitt-dvd-review.html
- http://www.stalepopcorn.co.uk/reviews/dvd-reviews-r2/dvd-review-r2-blessed/