Review of Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) by Jason B — 29 Nov 2011

This has moments of brilliance but it also has moments of indulgence. There is far too much singing in the film; I know the tagline is "In memory, everything happens to music"; Terence Davies may love the various songs; and he may remember them vividly from his own childhood, but I think their overuse in a way distracts from the rest of the film itself.

I think people do recall music with memories, but I'm not sure they picture the past with themselves and all around them singing CONSTANTLY. Some of the visuals and a lot of the dialogue was great, but within seconds of a memorable shot a character seemed to be spoiling the mood by singing again.