Review of Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) by Manny C — 20 Nov 2012

In Woody Allen's Radio Days, Allen deftly drew upon his own childhood growing up in Queens, New York in the 1940's, a time when families all over gathered around a box to listen to music, comedy and the news. In this magnificently moving memory piece, British writer and director Terence Davies uses radio to make a statement on his Liverpool upbringing in the 40's and 50's. Davies' film is a Dickensian portrait of a working-class family raised under the harsh ways of a cold and distant father (the late great Peter Postlethwaite). For this family, radio, specifically, the music blaring from it, was a necessity in addition to a diversion. Through the songs they could express feelings they couldn't articulate in words.

The film opens in the fifties, after the father has passed away, and his wife (Freda Dowie) and their grown children (Dean Williams, Angela Walsh and Lorraine Ashbourne) recall the effects he had on all of them. In flashback we see first hand his cruel acts, but the rage has receded with the passage of time. The music remain as immediate as ever, sung by folks who sing them every chance they get. The songs, mostly romantic pop like 'I Wanna Be Around To Pick Up The Pieces' and 'Love Is A Many Splendored Thing' all relate stories of passion found and unfortunately lost. Davies captures all of that in the faces of his actors. It's a devastating effect. Davies delivers on a warm, wonderful mix of humor and heartbreak.