Now, I bet for most, Separate Lies means very little. The UK import had the distinction of opening in limited release, something that can either make a blockbuster (and even an Academy Award winning film) or make it a complete failure. Never mind the fact that the movie is also based on the novel A Way Through the Wood by the late Nigel Balchin, another name that very few people probably now, Separate Lies literally feel through the cracks when it was released in theaters, and is probably destined for the same thing with it’s DVD release.

Set against the backdrop of rural England just outside of London, Separate Lies beings as though it’s going to be a quaint and charming film, happy and pleasant, until that is shattered within the first few minutes as an elderly man is hit out riding his bike. This is what puts the film into motion, though the connection at first isn’t obvious. We are then introduced to James (Tom Wilkinson) and Anne Manning (Emily Watson), a seemingly happy couple, but this soon begins to unravel.

Between the two is Bill Bule (Rupert Everett) a man who James assumes is just a friend. The old man we saw in the beginning happens to be the husband of the Manning’s housekeeper, and soon after he’s admitted into the hospital, he passes away and James has noticed a few odd circumstances. Bill for example has a scratch on his car and after confronting him, he admits that he was the one who hit him, but that’s not the truth. Anne was actually driving the car and to complicate matters, she’s been having an affair with Bill. Now James must decide if he’s going to come out with the truth or hide it, and a police investigation isn’t making matters any simpler.

Separate Lies is really a hard film for me to have a true opinion on either way, and that is for a number of reasons. The premise behind the movie isn’t necessarily a bad one, but it isn’t something that hasn’t been done in the past. The idea of covering up for a crime, especially if it comes down to someone that you love, really has been done far too many times in both dramatic and comedic approaches. Adding in the other elements, such as the affair, also isn’t bad, but in the end, the movie really becomes somewhat predictable.

What is interesting however is the general approach that is found here. Separate Lies isn’t so much about finding out whodunit, and that is really solved relatively quickly, though not by the authorities. Instead, this is a movie that is about keeping up appearances so to speak in this case, and here it is to not seem guilty. James unfortunately finds himself in the middle of this. First he thinks he’s found the person responsible, and then discovers the truth, and then some. He gets drawn into the lie even further when he’s asked to come up with an alibi for Bill, something that isn’t easy since James has discovered that affair that’s been going on behind his back, but he’s willing to do so simply to protect his wife. He even continues this charade when his own marriage falls to pieces.

For some reason however, despite the fact the film does tend to be a little slow, something about the dialog and those British accents just makes the film something that isn’t easy to turn away from. Part of that comes down to the fact that there is some really great acting in the film, and having John Neville play a small role never hurts either (that X-phile that’s still buried in me recognizes his name immediately.) Separate Lies is also shot beautifully and Julian Fellowes really manages to take advantage of the landscape as well as his cast perfectly without having to rely on digital effects in anyway, something that’s really becoming a rarity.

The DVD is very short of special features, and while I had hoped from some interviews of some kind, perhaps a little behind the scenes type of featurette, the only extra feature is commentary from Fellowes. Even the UK release had an inside look, but that’s not to be found here.

Separate Lies isn’t one of the best films that I’ve seen, but certainly isn’t a horrible film either, and if you’re into sexy drama’s, this might be just the thing. I will say that regardless, it’s a film that should be seen at least once by true cinema buffs, but it’s definitely not going to appeal to the average movie fan that is looking for big names, bigger special effects, and very little story.

-mike-

 

Directed By: Julian Fellowes   Written By: Julian Fellowes   Based Upon the Novel by: Nigel Balchin   Cast: Tom Wilkinson Emily Watson Rupert Everett Hermione Norris John Warnaby Richenda Carey Linda Bassett Christine Lohr Alice O'Connell John Neville

DVD Features: Available Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, French & Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround English & Spanish Subtitles Commentary w/Julian Fellowes