Written and Directed by: Sam Mendes
Cast: Michael Ward, Olivia Colman, Colin Firth
Before I begin my review, I will say it is a shame Empire of Light has not received more Academy Award nominations. I believe the screenplay and both the leads deserved at least a nomination. At its core Empire of Light is a film about love but also a love for films and cinema. It is surprising that a film about love for films isn’t getting much love, but I digress.
Empire of Light is set in a small British town along the coast. Set in the 1980s, the film’s two main characters face struggles based on unchangeable aspects of themselves. Olivia Colman plays Hilary a woman who is bipolar and of an older age. Her character often seems to shut people out but also seems to be underappreciated because of her situation.
The film’s other lead is Stephen played by Michael Ward. Stephen is a young black British man with hopes of continuing to a college education. Both characters meet while working a the Empire Cinema in Margate. Furthermore, these two begin to bond over their mutual appreciation for cinema and media.
While the film seems to be about a love for film, it comes off as a story about the love for the cinema experience. As the film progresses, the two leads begin to fall for each other but worry about their differences. These differences are primarily showcased in Stephen’s life.
During the era Empire of Light takes place, Stephen must worry daily about his walk to work as local skinheads continue to harass him. Additionally, Hilary faces the struggles of dealing with her mental illness while being alone and not cared for by others. Both these characters seem to be loners/outsiders.
When these two connect they find each other’s company comforting. However, with their age gap, the couple decides to keep any connection secret. It’s no surprise that eventually the two share a kiss and when that does happen I will admit I was happy to see Stephen and Hilary experience a moment of true happiness. This moment was well executed both by the story’s pacing and the actors’ performances.
Empire of Light also has a highly enjoyable supporting cast. Colin Firth plays the Cinema Owner, Donald. His character appears to be the film’s antagonist; but, it is really just life that causes any real issues for Empire of Light’s main cast.
Additional cast members include Toby Jones and Tom Brooke. Both play fellow cinema workers and deliver genuinely heartfelt performances. While some film’s supporting cast can feel like distractions from the main story this was not the case in Empire of Light.
Each time Toby and Tom are on screen, I felt like they really earned their storyline and even kept me invested. 2022 and 2023 seem like the years of monologue appreciation in films and Toby Jones delivers a stellar one in this film. Tanya Moodie plays Delia who is Stephen’s mother. Her character doesn’t appear often in the film, but Tanya makes each of her scenes count.
With strong performances and a consistent story Empire of Light solidifies itself as a wonderful slice-of-life film. Neither mundane nor too over complicated. For this reason, I would give Empire of light 4 out of 5 stars.
