»Alice, Darling»
Alice, played by Anna Kendrick, is a woman on the edge. In her thirties, Alice lives a situation of psychological abuse perpetuated by her boyfriend, Simon, who has trapped her in a state of paralysis. During a vacation in the countryside with her two best friends, Alice will rediscover the essence of herself and finally gain the perspective she so desperately needs. However, Simon’s revenge for her partner’s unexpected elopement is as inevitable as it is devastating and, once unleashed, will test Alice’s resilience, her courage, and the strength of her bond with her friends.
Still from »Alice, Darling»
»The film »Alice, Darling» is about coercion and control through a subtle and nuanced story. As a director, I couldn’t have asked for a better team of performers and professionals to bring this tremendous story to the big screen,» says Nighy. »The chemistry between Anna Kendrick, Wunmi Mosaku and Kaniehtiio Horn is wonderful. This group of friends is very enjoyable,» says Mary Nighy, director of the feature film.
Anna Kendrick in her performance in »Alice, Darling»
Tapscott, producer of the film, is very clear that the film deals with universal issues that need to be given a voice »Some films deal with the issue of abuse itself from a somewhat morbid and sensationalist point of view. That was not the case in this film, and that’s what interested us about the project. It’s easy to identify with the characters and their journey both emotionally and literally, and unfortunately, Alice and her partner’s situation, and how complicated it is for her to justify this situation to herself and her lifelong friends, is a theme that, unfortunately, is universal. We have all been in a similar situation or have known someone who has. When we read the script, Katie and I really connected with the story and knew that this sensitivity would resonate with the audience. In fact, it has been the case with all the women who have read the script. Hence the reasoning behind bringing the story to the screen.
Anna Kendrick stars in »Alice, Darling»
Nighy worked closely with Alanna Francis, the screenwriter, to get inside the head of Alice, a seemingly self-assured woman professionally and personally, with a boyfriend who loves her and good friends.
Abuse, manipulation and friendship are the themes of the feature film
But little by little these enigmatic and self-destructive fissures are appearing, although Alice refuses to accept or talk about her mysterious nosedive. No one understands the cause, neither she nor the audience. We can’t trust her as a narrator. Nighy faced a dilemma: how to present Alice’s terrible suffering if it arose from something so subliminal and horrific that even she herself dared not admit it or face it.
Still from »Alice, Darling»
The director has also spoken about the addition of Kendrick »When Anna 4 Kendrick joined the project she encouraged us to explore that more authentic and subtle approach. This kind of abuse at first isn’t as visible as physical abuse, but it’s just as toxic and just as pervasive, however much it’s not talked about or admitted or openly acknowledged that it’s happening,» says Nighy, sharing that the entire team was heavily immersed in the story.
»Alice, Darling» is Mary Nighy’s first feature film
The hidden nature of Alice’s relationship with her boyfriend, Simon, his controlling and manipulative behavior, and Alice’s tendency to accept blame that is not hers so as not to get in a fight connected with Kendrick.
The film is a dramatic thriller
The actress said of her character, »I think everyone knows this kind of abuse as confusing as it is insidious, whether it’s been in the first person or someone you know. You’ve seen how that person has started to put themselves down and you’ve sensed or seen how overwhelmed they were without being able to explain exactly what was going on. It’s a very disconcerting feeling, and you don’t know what to say, what to do, or how to help.
Abuse, manipulation and friendship are the themes of the feature film
Kendrick describes the film as a balancing act that required him to manage the different pretexts and manipulations that his character accepts in order to create a «reality» that is, to say the least, inconsistent.
Mary Nighy on the set of »Alice, Darling»
All of these details have been taken care of down to the millimeter to serve the story and the character, right up to Alice’s release. «Ultimately, I think this film is as much about the friendship as it is about the relationship of abuse and bullying. I hope audiences enjoy and celebrate the bond between these three friends,» concludes Nighy.
