The Dead
John Huston’s final film was family affair. Back in 1987, The Dead was released to critical acclaim and starred his daughter Anjelica Huston and was written by his son, Tony Huston. It is a loving adaption of a short story in James Joyce’s book, "The Dubliners."
The Dead is a small film that takes place in 1907 on Christmas Eve in the home of two spinster sisters and their niece. A handful of friends and relatives arrive to share the evening, singing songs, reciting poetry, and dancing. The politics of the day are discussed as well as the idiosyncrasies of some of the quirkier guests. There’s a bit of tension between a woman who has gone Republican but who has eyes for the married Gabriel Conroy (Donal McCann), some family strife between drunkard Freddy (the spot-on Donal Donnelly) and his mother, and a love that blossoms between crooner Bartell D’Arcy (Frank Patterson) and a female guest.
But throughout the evening, there is a sense of loss and memory that permeates the group which includes both young and old. And it is when Gretta Conroy (Anjelica Huston) stops to listen to Mr. D’Arcy sing a familiar song, that the feelings of "auld times" come back in waves. That night as they prepare for bed, her husband asks her what is troubling her, and that is when the true meaning of the film is revealed. And our hearts break.
The beautifully filmed and transferred The Dead captures this party with a glow and delight that draws us into a time and place we rarely see. While it may appear that nothing much happens, it is in the last fifteen minutes that the viewer is affected, not only by Anjelica Huston’s monologue, but in the voice-over of her husband. A man who learns in one night what living and loving are really all about.
It’s interesting to note that a few years later, the T.V. series thirtysomething used The Dead as the basis for a classic episode involving a New Year’s Eve party and a revelation by one of the show’s lead characters.
The DVD has no special features except for trailers of upcoming Lions Gate films.
