Although this was not without its faults, this drama was a fitting one to be shown around Easter time. It reminded us of our spiritual selves and showed that behind our facades, we often hide our deepest sufferings and experiences. There was so much to enjoy in the drama, not least the rapping teenagers who provided a better musical accompaniment to the drama than the rather poor sound score in the background. The acting was excellent and Timothy Spall was once again superb. The climax was very satisfying, if rather simplistic. Timothy Spall's "letting go" of his long-dead wife's suicide was credible and mirrored well the feelings of despair that were present in the teenage girl who self-harmed. The resolution between the graffiti boy and the Muslim was gratifying but less believable. A wonderful drama which left myself and my husband felling that the evening had been well spent. Congratulations!
11 Reviews
A journey for some, just a trip for others
beau geste 3827 March 2005
A group of teenage schoolchildren go on a school trip to Salisbury Cathedral, and behave like a bunch of school children. Mr Happy / The Incredible Sulk / Mr Harvey, (played by Timothy Spall) is actually revisiting the place where he proposed to his wife, and then went on to visit every Cathedral in England, whilst on their honeymoon. Mr Happy has his wallet stolen by one of the kids, and this becomes fundamental to the plot, because it contains a link to his tragic past with his new wife. This drama, like Carrie's War, and Goodnight Mr Tom, will probably be used for GCSE students, who will no doubt, do it more justice than I am able. It has the usual cross section of kids, most of whom are faithless, selfish, and uninterested in anything slightly educational ( a bit like many of today's kids in England) It is a journey for Mr Harvey and Helen (Natalie Press, who does well with the role of a depressed school kid). However, it's just a day out for Miss Davies (Celia Imrie) and Mr Cole (Ben Miles) and the opinionated bus driver (David Bradley) again doing a great job, as a character actor
This is a very English film, (although some of the religious undertones are a bit wider), and will have its supporters. I can't remember seeing Mr Harvey light his candle, but as I suggested earlier, this is a "made for schools drama," so the title is probably a metaphor. I almost feel like apologising for my lack of English Grammar in trying to comment on this film. However, we watch drama to be entertained, and I'm not sure that I was, even though it was thoughtful, thought provoking even.
This is a very English film, (although some of the religious undertones are a bit wider), and will have its supporters. I can't remember seeing Mr Harvey light his candle, but as I suggested earlier, this is a "made for schools drama," so the title is probably a metaphor. I almost feel like apologising for my lack of English Grammar in trying to comment on this film. However, we watch drama to be entertained, and I'm not sure that I was, even though it was thoughtful, thought provoking even.
very moving, beautifully paced and acted
peter-toth-119 April 2006
if you have a chance of seeing this film do see it. it's quite shocking in parts and really makes you think about so many important issues but it's not didactic. in my opinion it's a piece of art... beautifully filmed, fine music of many styles, the typically impressive level of acting that one has come to expect from BBC Drama. Nathalie Press (billed as 'Natalie' Press) is convincing in her role as depressed teenager exploited by a male classmate. Celia Imrie has that beautifully reassuring quality that gives the sometimes unnerving action stability and the viewer comfort in the knowledge that someone out there is actually 'normal', but the real star as always is Timothy Spall - surely one of the greatest actors of our time!
Fantastic
znsh27 March 2005
Amazing acting, music. A simple and clear plot but it drew me in and kept me captivated all the way through. I don't know why it was so fantastic but it simply was. So many of the characters were so real. It moved me and made me think I would like to watch more like this.
The idea of a school trip as a forum for such an amazing plot was a genius idea and so many of the people were like people were like those encountered every day by teachers in the classroom.
The film tackles issues of religion, prejudice,drugs friendship, memories, difficult experiences and simple the diversity of life itself.
The idea of a school trip as a forum for such an amazing plot was a genius idea and so many of the people were like people were like those encountered every day by teachers in the classroom.
The film tackles issues of religion, prejudice,drugs friendship, memories, difficult experiences and simple the diversity of life itself.
Tremendously Inspiring
sddavis6325 October 2008
"Why did they make them so big? Why didn't they just give the money to the poor?" The question about cathedrals was asked by a student to Mr. Harvey during a school field trip to Salisbury Cathedral. "That's a good question," he replied. "Partly to inspire them - to get them to look up with awe." I'm not sure that cathedrals have that impact on everyone, but this movie certainly had that impact on me. It was awesome!
It didn't start out that way. For a while it seemed to be little more than a depiction of - well - a school field trip to Salisbury Cathedral. If you've ever been on a high school field trip to anywhere this is basically it. You have a group of largely disinterested kids just happy to be out of school for a day, the bus driver who's driven crazy by them and some teachers trying desperately to keep it all under control. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt was my initial reaction. I figured that in the end this was going to be a typical story of a teacher managing to inspire a group of disinterested students. YAWN! But it turns out to be so much more! Timothy Spall was brilliant as Mr. Harvey - a sombre, unsmiling teacher with a strange fascination for cathedrals. Over the course of the movie, his story slowly comes out and becomes the focal point of the story. We also get introduced to some of the troubled students - most notably Helen, also brilliantly played by Nathalie Press, who's into self-mutilation.
This isn't a religious movie, but it includes some powerful reflections on religious themes. When Harvey's colleague Jonathon (played by Ben Miles) says "I don't care what anyone believes as long as they don't try to force it on anyone else" Harvey replies, "that isn't tolerance - it's indifference!" - which is, in fact (in my opinion) what often passes for religious tolerance in our society. There are scenes of reconciliation between various characters, and the final scene of the movie was brilliant. As Harvey climbs back on the bus, director Susanna White has the camera slowly pan upwards, so that the final shot is simply of the sky - hearkening back to Harvey's comment that the purpose of the cathedral is to get people to look up in awe. The cathedral accomplishes its goal. We look up into the universe in awe, seeking something greater than ourselves, however we choose to define it. This is a very powerful and very inspiring movie. 9/10
It didn't start out that way. For a while it seemed to be little more than a depiction of - well - a school field trip to Salisbury Cathedral. If you've ever been on a high school field trip to anywhere this is basically it. You have a group of largely disinterested kids just happy to be out of school for a day, the bus driver who's driven crazy by them and some teachers trying desperately to keep it all under control. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt was my initial reaction. I figured that in the end this was going to be a typical story of a teacher managing to inspire a group of disinterested students. YAWN! But it turns out to be so much more! Timothy Spall was brilliant as Mr. Harvey - a sombre, unsmiling teacher with a strange fascination for cathedrals. Over the course of the movie, his story slowly comes out and becomes the focal point of the story. We also get introduced to some of the troubled students - most notably Helen, also brilliantly played by Nathalie Press, who's into self-mutilation.
This isn't a religious movie, but it includes some powerful reflections on religious themes. When Harvey's colleague Jonathon (played by Ben Miles) says "I don't care what anyone believes as long as they don't try to force it on anyone else" Harvey replies, "that isn't tolerance - it's indifference!" - which is, in fact (in my opinion) what often passes for religious tolerance in our society. There are scenes of reconciliation between various characters, and the final scene of the movie was brilliant. As Harvey climbs back on the bus, director Susanna White has the camera slowly pan upwards, so that the final shot is simply of the sky - hearkening back to Harvey's comment that the purpose of the cathedral is to get people to look up in awe. The cathedral accomplishes its goal. We look up into the universe in awe, seeking something greater than ourselves, however we choose to define it. This is a very powerful and very inspiring movie. 9/10
Spall Shines in a Quiet, Touching Film With Hope
noralee6 January 2006
"Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle" is anchored by a brilliant performance by Timothy Spall.
While we can predict that his titular morose, up tight teacher will have some sort of break down or catharsis based on some deep down secret from his past, how his emotions are unveiled is surprising. Spall's range of feelings conveyed is quite moving and more than he usually gets to portray as part of the Mike Leigh repertory.
While an expected boring school bus trip has only been used for comic purposes, such as on "The Simpsons," this central situation of a visit to Salisbury Cathedral in Rhidian Brook's script is well-contained and structured for dramatic purposes, and is almost formally divided into acts.
We're introduced to the urban British range of racially and religiously diverse kids (with their uniforms I couldn't tell if this is a "private" or "public" school), as they gather the rapping black kids, the serious South Asians and Muslims, the white bullies and mean girls but conveyed quite naturally and individually. The young actors, some of whom I recognized from British TV such as "Shameless," were exuberant in representing the usual range of junior high social pressures. Celia Imrie puts more warmth into the supervisor's role than the martinets she usually has to play.
A break in the trip leads to a transformative crisis for some while others remain amusingly oblivious. We think, like the teacher portrayed by Ben Miles of "Coupling," that we will be spoon fed a didactic lesson about religious tolerance, but it's much more about faith in people as well as God, which is why the BBC showed it in England at Easter time and BBC America showed it in the U.S. over Christmas.
Nathalie Press, who was also so good in "Summer of Love," has a key role in Mr. Harvey's redemption that could have been played for movie-of-the-week preaching, but is touching as they reach out to each other in an unexpected way (unfortunately I saw their intense scene interrupted by commercials).
While it is a bit heavy-handed in several times pointedly calling this road trip "a pilgrimage," this quiet film was the best evocation of "good will towards men" than I've seen in most holiday-themed TV movies.
While we can predict that his titular morose, up tight teacher will have some sort of break down or catharsis based on some deep down secret from his past, how his emotions are unveiled is surprising. Spall's range of feelings conveyed is quite moving and more than he usually gets to portray as part of the Mike Leigh repertory.
While an expected boring school bus trip has only been used for comic purposes, such as on "The Simpsons," this central situation of a visit to Salisbury Cathedral in Rhidian Brook's script is well-contained and structured for dramatic purposes, and is almost formally divided into acts.
We're introduced to the urban British range of racially and religiously diverse kids (with their uniforms I couldn't tell if this is a "private" or "public" school), as they gather the rapping black kids, the serious South Asians and Muslims, the white bullies and mean girls but conveyed quite naturally and individually. The young actors, some of whom I recognized from British TV such as "Shameless," were exuberant in representing the usual range of junior high social pressures. Celia Imrie puts more warmth into the supervisor's role than the martinets she usually has to play.
A break in the trip leads to a transformative crisis for some while others remain amusingly oblivious. We think, like the teacher portrayed by Ben Miles of "Coupling," that we will be spoon fed a didactic lesson about religious tolerance, but it's much more about faith in people as well as God, which is why the BBC showed it in England at Easter time and BBC America showed it in the U.S. over Christmas.
Nathalie Press, who was also so good in "Summer of Love," has a key role in Mr. Harvey's redemption that could have been played for movie-of-the-week preaching, but is touching as they reach out to each other in an unexpected way (unfortunately I saw their intense scene interrupted by commercials).
While it is a bit heavy-handed in several times pointedly calling this road trip "a pilgrimage," this quiet film was the best evocation of "good will towards men" than I've seen in most holiday-themed TV movies.
Perhaps a bit too grim
cwhyel24 December 2005
I wanted to like this more than I did. Timothy Spall is one of my favorite actors.
The story is pretty straight forward as it was in the tagline.
I kept waiting for Mr. Harvey to unburden himself.
Not completely surprised by the way that it played out but and once again I enjoyed Mr. Spall's work.
I think for me the students were too precocious and played out poorly as well as the development of conflict, which bottomed out early on. I would like very much to find the final script because I felt like it was put together with a weak middle.
Whether I am right or not remains to be seen but it became a bit too melodramatic for me and I cannot in good faith recommend it.
I've certainly watched much worse as of late but this had potential to be much better than it was.
The story is pretty straight forward as it was in the tagline.
I kept waiting for Mr. Harvey to unburden himself.
Not completely surprised by the way that it played out but and once again I enjoyed Mr. Spall's work.
I think for me the students were too precocious and played out poorly as well as the development of conflict, which bottomed out early on. I would like very much to find the final script because I felt like it was put together with a weak middle.
Whether I am right or not remains to be seen but it became a bit too melodramatic for me and I cannot in good faith recommend it.
I've certainly watched much worse as of late but this had potential to be much better than it was.
A first rate drama.
Sleepin_Dragon14 June 2021
Mr Happy, aka Mr Harvey has organised a School trip, the destination Salisbury Cathedral, only it isn't long before he's pushed to extremes by an unruly bunch of teenagers.
It's a brave drama, it's incredibly moving and poignant, a huge amount of depth, and some hugely touching scenes. It develops incredibly well as time goes on, the ending is incredible.
Self harm, discrimination, lots of stuff that kids say and mean without thinking about, now of course The BBC imagines such things aren't said.
If you get s chance to visit Salisbury Cathedral do so, it looks great here, nothing will prepare you for the sheer wonder of the place.
I loved David Bradley's character, the grumpy bus driver who watches all events happening with glee, he's like the perfect onlooker.
First rate acting, Spall is incredible as always, Ben Miles and Celia Imrie also. Lots of young talent on show here, including singer Jade Ewan, Nathalie Press, and Jodie Latham, who died perhaps look a little old to be in a Schoolboy's uniform.
First class drama, 10/10.
It's a brave drama, it's incredibly moving and poignant, a huge amount of depth, and some hugely touching scenes. It develops incredibly well as time goes on, the ending is incredible.
Self harm, discrimination, lots of stuff that kids say and mean without thinking about, now of course The BBC imagines such things aren't said.
If you get s chance to visit Salisbury Cathedral do so, it looks great here, nothing will prepare you for the sheer wonder of the place.
I loved David Bradley's character, the grumpy bus driver who watches all events happening with glee, he's like the perfect onlooker.
First rate acting, Spall is incredible as always, Ben Miles and Celia Imrie also. Lots of young talent on show here, including singer Jade Ewan, Nathalie Press, and Jodie Latham, who died perhaps look a little old to be in a Schoolboy's uniform.
First class drama, 10/10.
Deep heart drama
charlotte54200015 May 2007
This tender beautifully crafted production delved deep down bitter sweet into my being. The irreverent pupils, the life embittered bus driver and the teachers personalities present a subliminal debate as the story unveils. The adult characters all seem familiar, my teachers, my bus driver, each one of their opinions so plausible and well known. When a key incident happens on the bus we are sent on a circuit of viewpoints. All the time the babble of teenage energy is only just kept under control by the organisers of the trip. Mr Harvey is experiencing much pain throughout . He reminds me of war damaged teachers I did not understand when I was an irreverent pupil.
Rhidian Brook and the producers deserve much acclaim for this well shaped British film. The acting unblemished, the scenes appropriate, it should be widely available yet does not seem to have been given the right opportunity.
Rhidian Brook and the producers deserve much acclaim for this well shaped British film. The acting unblemished, the scenes appropriate, it should be widely available yet does not seem to have been given the right opportunity.
Great lessons, well taught!
RobMackintosh996 December 2010
Lucky me to have been flipping channels and to find this great movie as it was just starting, and even luckier to view it on a commercial free television network. This perfectly directed and acted film locked me in with the cast, where I felt like I was actually there and a part of the tour. The cast was totally believable as people of every day life you may have met or seen before. I normally watch movies a bit too critically and often see the cast as actors, but not this one.
While being a five year old movie as I viewed it, it's content and issues still stand up well in 2010.
I was totally inspired by the outcome. I whole heartedly recommend it. For me, it helped rearrange many years of preconditioned thinking, and has now given me more to think about.
There needs to be more powerfully written and produced films like this one.
While being a five year old movie as I viewed it, it's content and issues still stand up well in 2010.
I was totally inspired by the outcome. I whole heartedly recommend it. For me, it helped rearrange many years of preconditioned thinking, and has now given me more to think about.
There needs to be more powerfully written and produced films like this one.
Beautiful film with off-beat theme
fresnelite11 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Most original film about a group of London teenagers on an outing to Salisbury Cathedral. Timothy Spall in the lead role is wonderful as a dour and quiet teacher, who is making a pilgrimage to the cathedral in memory of his deceased wife. Sounds grim, but it isn't at all, as the Spall character finds his way after years of being lost to his soul. Fine acting, directing, an excellent script, and very believable young actors as the teenagers. Found it to be a moving, rich experience.
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