The Falls *** (1980, Colin Cantlie, Hilarie Thompson, Sheila Canfield, Adam Leys, Peter Westley, Aad Wirtz, Michael Murray) – Classic Movie Review 10,651

Writer-director Peter Greenaway’s critically praised first feature-length film The Falls (1980), funded by the British Film Institute (BFI), represents case histories of, or interviews with, 92 characters (played by the director’s friends) taken from an imaginary directory of the 19 million survivors of the Violent Unknown Event (or VUE) that caused bizarre experiences and mutations connected with birds.

The Falls is presented as a film version of an excerpt from the compiled directory of these survivors, corresponding to the 92 entries for people whose surnames begin with the letters FALL-.

‘It’s a catalogue movie, full of apparent red herrings, possible cul-de-sacs, game-playing that could be serious, irritating trivia that might be important, and much dubious profundity,’ said Greenaway.

The Falls (1980) is a challenge as a three-hours-plus fake TV documentary in 92 short parts with no traditional dramatic narrative, but is a success of editing and bizarre imagination. The formal manner of the narration contrasts with the content’s absurdity. It is clever and witty for those who have the stamina.

Michael Nyman provides the memorable soundtrack, partly based, like his later music for Drowning by Numbers, on the slow movement of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra K. 364.

It is Greenaway’s first feature after many years making shorts and includes clips of a number of his early shorts, as well as anticipating some of his later films.

It is followed by The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982), A Zed & Two Noughts (1985), The Belly of an Architect (1987), Drowning by Numbers (1988), The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), Prospero’s Books (1991), The Baby of Mâcon (1993), The Pillow Book (1996) and 8½ Women (1999).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,651

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