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Sir Winston Churchill was such a
towering figure of mid-20th century history that it is easy (for those of a certain age)
to forget that a couple of generations have grown up since his death with no direct
experience of the Churchillian presence in their day-to-day lives. Churchill's leadership
during World War II--his unwavering confidence, his inspirational eloquence--places him in
the forefront of statesmen not only of his century, but of all time. (He makes his
successors on both sides of the Atlantic look like the pygmies they are.)
HBO's new film, The Gathering Storm, takes its title from the
first volume of the history of the war that Churchill wrote. The fictionalized screenplay
by Hugh Whitemore (Utz, Jane Eyre) is a character study of Churchill (Albert Finney) and
his relationship with his wife Clementine (Vanessa Redgrave) during the lull in
Churchill's career in the late 1930's. Of course, Whitemore also draws on the history of
the time, much of it delivered through the dialogue, which is compromised in a few
instances by the nonconversational tone of a history lecture. But considering the
complexity of the story told, those moments are sufficiently rare that they do not
significantly hamper the proceedings.
The political plotline focuses on the conflict between Churchill's
outspoken and initially unpopular views on the threat of the Hitler regime in Germany, and
the preferred policy of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin's government to bury their heads in
the sand as Germany rebuilds its air force and rearms, even while pursuing policies of
"racial purity." The factual data that Churchill needs to make his case is
provided surreptitiously by a sympathetic high ranking bureaucrat in the Foreign Office
(Linus Roache) who puts his career at risk by passing on classified information.
On the home scene, wife "Clemmie" is tested by
Churchill's spendthrift ways, learning from their accountant that they are near
bankruptcy. Churchill is imperious, impatient, and implacable; Clemmie encourages
him to continue in his work because she "could not survive his bad temper in
retirement." When she decides she needs a break and tells him she is going with
friends on a four month journey to the Philippines, he accuses her of being selfish. His
own clumsiness earns him the worst: she recoils violently, goes off anyway, and presumably
has an affair.
There's a great deal of telling detail in the film. Churchill suffered
from clinical depression for which, at a time when it was still called
"melancholia," there were no pills for quick relief. Churchill's painting was
one of his ways of fighting it off and he even did bricklaying as a therapy. (The
filmmakers had access to the Churchill estate, Chartwell, a location which itself almost
becomes a character in the story.) He loved the house for its view of the English
countryside which he called a "ravishing landscape." He dreamed of his ancestor,
the Duke of Marlborough, who led a coalition of European nations against the French.at the
beginning of the 18th century; that he saw his rise to leadership as Destiny seems at once
audacious and fully understandable.
The Gathering Storm operates in Masterpiece Theatre
territory--with the same intelligence, literacy, and high production values expected in
that other venue. HBO enhances that with a lavishly cast production. Albert Finney is
hands down for an Emmy for his portrayal of Churchill. Aside from capturing the essence of
voice and carriage, he inhabits the persona of this brilliant and principled statesman,
convincing in his public power, sympathetic in his private weaknesses.
Redgrave seems incapable these days of giving a bad performance. Her
Clementine doesn't get as much to do as might be hoped for, but this actress doesn't
even need lines; her facial expressions and body language speak volumes. Linus Roach (Pandaemonium, Hart's War) stands out as
Churchill's mole, sensitive, troubled, and brave. As his wife, Lena Headey is charming and
gives a performance in marked contrast to her equally fine, but very different work in Aberdeen. The depth of casting has Sir
Derek Jacobi, Jim Broadbent, and Hugh Bonneville all in supporting roles.
- Arthur Lazere
