Century ** (1993, Charles Dance, Clive Owen, Miranda Richardson, Robert Stephens, Joan Hickson) – Classic Movie Review 9647

Writer-director Stephen Poliakoff ambitiously tries to dig out the roots of the 20th century in the year 1899 (race, religion, feminism) in his 1993 drama film Century, in which young doctor Paul Reisner (Clive Owen) becomes Professor Mandry (Charles Dance)’s star pupil at his research hospital and longs for lab technician Clara (Miranda Richardson).

But then Reisner (Owen) discover the dark side of the research hospital when he finds out that Mandry (Dance) is sterilising the poor without their consent, and he sets out to put a stop to the institution.

This ambitious film is provocative, intelligent and interesting, but not really a winner, and Poliakoff lets his important ideas slip through his grasp. The performances are spot on though, particularly Dance and Richardson, as well as Robert Stephens (in his final cinema feature) as Mr. Reisner and a post-Miss Marple Joan Hickson (in her last film, aged 87) as Mrs. Whitweather.

Also in the cast are Lena Headey, Neil Stuke, Liza Walker, Joseph Bennett, Fiona Walker and Carlton Chance and Mark Strong (as Policeman) in his first cinema feature after four years of TV, starting in EastEnders (as Telephone Engineer) in 1989.

Century is directed by Stephen Poliakoff, runs 112 minutes, is made by BBC, ITC and Beambright, is released by Electric (UK) and I.R.S. Releasing Corporation (1994) (US), is written by Stephen Poliakoff, is shot in Metrocolor by Witold Stok, is produced by Mark Shivas and Therese Pickard, and is scored  by Michael Gibbs.

It was shot in Dorking, Surrey, England, and Liverpool, Merseyside, England, mostly at Croxteth Country Park in Liverpool.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9647

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