Actress Emily Mortimer makes her TV directorial debut in THE PURSUIT OF LOVE. See this first look from the Series!
Synopsis:
Based on Nancy Mitford’s classic novel, The Pursuit of Love is unlike many other period dramas (e.g. Jane Austen romances). Witty, sexy and quirky—steeped in a rich historical setting, it explores the complex realities of finding purpose as a woman in 1930s England. By satirizing classic British tropes and modernizing a period drama, this series is the antidote to Downton Abbey. At the heart of the tale we see Fanny and Linda, two young women on a lifelong pursuit of love and marriage, but what’s really left are the bonds of intimacy and friendship—and the love between these women. As pre-war political divisions split the nation, these women’s diverging choices raise intimate personal questions that are relevant today – about freedom, love, sex, politics and the mystery of the human heart. Like other successful period dramas, we will see beautiful sets and costumes, and the lifestyles of the very posh and privileged juxtaposed with the confined societal realities for the characters, especially the women, as told through a woman’s lens. Beyond the themes and historical setting of Pursuit of Love, Prestige Romantics will be drawn to the noteworthy, attractive celebrity cast, particularly as it is Emily Mortimer’s TV directorial debut.
Cast: Lily James (“Linda Radlett”), Emily Beecham (“Fanny Logan”), Dominic West (“Uncle Matthew Radlett”), Dolly Wells (“Aunt Sadie Radlett”), Andrew Scott (“Lord Merlin”), Emily Mortimer (“The Bolter”), Beattie Edmondson (“Louisa Radlett”), Assaad Bouab (“Fabrice de Sauveterre”), Shazad Latif (“Alfred Wincham”), Freddie Fox (“Tony Kroesig”).
THE PURSUIT OF LOVE is coming to Amazon Prime Video July 30, 2021.
(Photo credit: Amazon Prime Video)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When Edna (Robyn Nevin) vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) go to their family’s decaying country home and find clues about her increasing Dementia.
The Horror genre is at its best when it has something to say and not just to scare. And that’s what Relic does. It forces the audience to question how we treat our loved ones once they get old and ill. Will we be frustrated or calm in their moments of memory loss? First-time feature Director-Writer Natalie Erika James poses this question and more all while frightening the audience long after the credits roll. She has also rounded up a stellar cast of women who display every emotion from empathy to fright.
Relic screens at Sundance on Sat, Jan. 25th at 11:59 PM at The Ray, Mon, Jan. 27th at 9 PM at Park Avenue, Wed, Jan. 29th at 9:15 PM at Redstone Cinema 7, Fri, Jan. 31st at 11:59 PM at Broadway Centre Cinema 6, and Sat, Feb. 1st at Library Centre Theatre.
Officially holding the record for longest gap for a sequel at 54 years, Mary Poppins Returns and is poised to do it in a huge way. The Rob Marshall-directed Musical starring Emily Blunt in the iconic titular role, is fresh-off four Golden Globe nominations including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Emily Blunt), Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Best Original Score.
In town to promote the Film is English Actress Emily Mortimer, who plays the adult version of central Mary Poppins character Jane Banks. Mortimer has drawn acclaim for her performances in a duo of Martin Scorsese films Hugo and Shutter Island, Woody Allen‘s Match Point, plus roles in HBO’s The Newsroom. Oxford-trained Mortimer returns to the City, her first visit in a while, having starred in 2007’s Toronto-made Lars and the Real Girl alongside Ryan Gosling. Joining her is best friend Dolly Wells, with whom she created Comedy Series Dolly & Em. Wells starred in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Lee Israel’s (Melissa McCarthy) love interest, Anna.
See the Trailer:
Gracing the Blue Carpet at Scotiabank Theatre were a bevy of familiar Canadian names who showed their pure excitement for the Film including the likes and families of Ben Mulroney, Carlos Bustamente, Morgan Hoffman, Lauren Orlando and Sarah Fisher.
We ask Mortimer about how she came to be involved with Mary Poppins Returns.
“I met Rob (Marshall) at his apartment. Someone told me that he and his producing partner John (DeLuca) saw me on a morning chat show and thought I’d be a good for Jane Banks. I don’t know if that’s true, but I met him and he was so inspiring why we needed Mary Poppins to return to our lives at this particular moment in time where life feels confusing, painful and strange. I walked out of the meeting convinced we needed to make this Movie.” .
We asked her the most daunting thing about becoming Jane Banks.
“As a child, she’s one of the most famous children in cinematic history played so brilliantly by Karen Dotrice. How do you begin to step into those tiny little shoes? I think with everyone involved with the Movie, it comes from a place of love. Everybody approached this Film loving the original and not wanting to let it down, wanting to give it their all and make it special, yet also different in its own light. There was no cynicism. It was a special experience.” .
We ask Dolly Wells what the legacy of Mary Poppins means to her.
“It means my childhood. I wish I could remember the first time I saw it. It reminds me of Christmas, my family and the fire roaring. The excitement of being a child and that anything is possible – that a nanny can have a never-ending bag of magic, can click her heels and burst into song. It has an appealing sense of joy and hope.” .
We congratulate her on Can You Ever Forgive Me?‘s two Golden Globe nominations.
“I had such nice times. Marielle Heller (Director) should have been nominated. We had a really great times. Melissa is a dream – everything you’d imagine. The performance by the incredible Richard E. Grant is charming and brilliant. Marielle has a delicate touch and this is only her second film.” .
We ask Wells about her childhood best friend, Mortimer and at what point they realized they could be collaborative partners.
“20 years ago, it was kind of her idea. She said, ‘Why don’t we write something together?’. Before that, I’d always be leaving things in a drawer that I’d written. I was too shy. It took about ten years to make a movie and now we are writing something else.” .
See some Snaps of the night:
Emily Mortimer
Dolly Wells
Sarah Fisher
Ben, John, Brian and Isabel Mulroney
Morgan and Sydney Hoffman
Carlos Bustamente and Family
The Reklaws
See some highlights from the Blue Carpet:
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release MARY POPPINS RETURNS Wednesday, December 19, 2018.
Photos taken on the NIKON D3400
Video taken on the Samsung S7 Plus
(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada/Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)
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