WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

brchthethird THE FALLING is another film that I heard about courtesy of Mark Kermode, who quite liked it if I recall. Too bad I can't say the same myself. I'm all for ambiguous stories as long as the filmmakers provide some key as to what they're trying to say. This felt like they didn't try at all in that regard, so I was left confused as to why things were happening most of the time. The basic plot is that a girl, Abby (Florence Pugh) meets a tragic end at a British boarding school for girls, and then other girls at the school start having these fainting spells. From what I gather, the filmmakers may have been trying to comment on the sexually repressive atmosphere of 1960's England, as seen through the eyes of girls just entering puberty at that time. However, nothing is really explained and I can't quite forgive the film for that, as I feel my time was slightly wasted. There was also a really weird incestuous relationship between a girl and her brother, which was rather off-putting. Still, despite the weakness of the writing, the performances were really good and the film looked gorgeous. I was particularly impressed with Maisie Williams (who some will know from GAME OF THRONES), who brought depth and a youthful angst to her character. Overall, I can't see the average moviegoer getting much out of this one. Even for me, who normally jumps at the opportunity to watch a film that makes me think, I felt a little cheated. I wouldn't go so far to say this is a bad film, per se, but quite possibly the only falling that happens will be when you fall asleep.

jax-37159 This film evoked many memories from school days in an all girls grammar school, especially as I was watching it as part of a reunion with my old school friends. I was fascinated from the first scene... at times disturbing and at others strangely amusing, I both laughed and screamed out loud! A dark tale about teenage girls, single sex education, family conflict and the importance and impact of teenage peer groups. The film successfully recreated the sixties era with a fantastic cast led by Maisie Williams and Maxine Peake, who are both spectacular in complex and compelling roles. The film is beautifully directed by the talented Carol Morley in a departure from her usual gritty realism. Not at all what I was expecting but intriguing and well worth watching.

ryan-883-76096 Loved everything about this film; the music, cinematography and imagery; it really did conjure another world. The attention to detail captured the era perfectly and completely transported me back to those hormonal and angsty teenage years. I don't think I've ever known the subject of mass hysteria tackled before, but this film really captures the essence of it and made it at once believable yet subject to scepticism. Loved the setting: the kitchen hairdresser, overalls and crockery; the outward elegance of the school hiding the severe regime within; all evocative of the time. What goes unsaid, self denial and restraint hiding a myriad of secrets and emotions. The ending really moved me, and I think provided explanations if you needed them. The teachers are typical of a strict religious education with their stiff etiquette and austere asexuality. Not a 'Mrs' among them with their odd ways and antiquated rules. Greta Scacchi was a complete tour de force. I couldn't decide if I wanted to hit her or hug her! And Maxine Peake was, well, as wonderful as she always is. Her expressions/non-expressions conveying her entrapment in her own kitchen and her undisclosed past.

Leofwine_draca THE FALLING is a film detailing an outbreak of fainting at an all-girl school in 1969. Such events are well-documented in real life and often have the authorities and various specialists puzzled, although it's widely acknowledged that they're psychosomatic in nature. So there's potential here for an interesting storyline.Unfortunately, the storyline of THE FALLING is all over the place. For the first half hour it's a typical tale of teenage angst and friendship. Things take a darker turn with the introduction of incestuous sub-plots and the like, but then they become ridiculous with the well-choreographed fainting spells. Subliminal imagery abounds, alongside some hinted-at supernatural aspects, but it all adds up to far less than the sum of its components. What's the message here, anyway? What's it all about? I previously saw director Carol Morley's docu-drama DREAMS OF A LIFE and that was a similar film in that it had an interesting premise but sub-standard execution. Plus, Morley doesn't seem to be very assured at getting good performances out of her actors, and the acting is of a distinctly wishy-washy standard here. I love Maisie Williams in GAME OF THRONES, but she seems unsure of herself here and sometimes just feels like Arya in a school uniform.