Directed by John Huston, written by Tony Huston and based on the short story of the same name by James Joyce. Gabriel Conroy and wife Gretta attend an early January dinner with friends at the home of his spinster aunts, an evening which results in an epiphany for both of them. Starring: Anjelica Huston, Donal McCann, Dan O’Herlihy, Helena Carroll, Cathleen Delany, Ingrid Craigie, Donal Donnelly and Colm Meaney.
As soon as you dive into the world of The Dead you feel its warmth and courteous charm, the wholesome, humble world that John Huston creates and it’s incredibly inviting. That’s something that the film never loses, instead it continues to add layers and depth, particularly those of sadness and regret. Yet, it has a surprisingly romantic air, its elegant simplicity balances with its melancholy and mortality to perfection.
Interestingly, as they were both released in the same year, there’s hints of Babette’s Feast, in the way that its heart lies in bringing people together, and the simple joy of sharing a meal and good conversation. That atmosphere is paired wonderfully with the eloquence of the script. It’s endearing and engaging to listen to them speak with such thoughtful words, even when some of them are incredibly inebriated. The Dead creates a lovely reflection on life, and death, and all the choices that we make in-between.
All of those qualities are then undoubtedly enhanced by the cast, this is certainly an example of great casting work. Every member of the ensemble has something to add, and they’re all given the chance to do that. Even in such a large cast, and the runtime coming in at under ninety-minutes, they still all get their moment in the spotlight. They create that classic feel of the era, the polite, gentle outer layer hiding secrets and suppressed emotions beneath. Anjelica Huston brings such an effortless and surprisingly light presence despite the weight that lies upon her character.
Donal McCann does a great job of capturing that pressure of pride and public image, while neglecting his wife. Donal Donnelly is a highlight for Freddie’s struggle with alcoholism and how the family are all keenly aware yet try to mostly keep it hushed up, leading him to feel less than and patronised. Helena Carroll and Cathleen Delany are also wonderful as the aunts that bring the family together. They both have a deft hand at communicating the disillusionment and lost dreams, while never openly speaking about it. It’s a quality that a lot of the women in this film achieve., as is utterly appropriate for the era. It’s great that they do also acknowledge that inequality.
The Dead is charming, tender and touching tale of family and facing mortality and disappointment. John Huston disarms you with its charm while slowly peppering in layers of regret and sadness. It features a terrific ensemble, there’s no weak link to be found, and they all have feeling and personality to bring to the table. It holds such a lovely eloquence and humble nature, it’s an excellent piece of period cinema, that has unquestionably benefited from the great restoration work.
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