Dancing in the Dark (1986 film)

Dancing in the Dark is a 1986 Canadian drama film directed and written by Leon Marr, based on the 1982 novel Dancing in the Dark by Joan Barfoot. It was produced by Anthony Kramreither, Don Haig and co-produced by John Ryan. The film is about a housewife, Edna (Martha Henry), whose life revolves around her husband Henry (Neil Munro). Edna spends her days cleaning the house making sure that it looks spotless and fulfilling her husband's every need in the process. After Henry betrays Edna's trust she murders him and then finds herself in a psychiatric hospital where she relives her old life by writing in her journal.

Dancing in the Dark
Promotional film poster
Directed byLeon Marr
Screenplay byLeon Marr
Based onDancing in the Dark
by Joan Barfoot
Produced byAnthony Kramreither
Don Haig (executive producer)
John Ryan (co-producer)
StarringMartha Henry
Neil Munro
CinematographyVic Sarin
Edited byThomas Berner
Music byErik Satie
Production
companies
Distributed byNew World Pictures
Shapiro Entertainment
Release date
  • October 17, 1986 (1986-10-17)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$800,000[1]

Dancing in the Dark is considered a feminist film. The story shows the legal system wavering in favour of Edna as she is placed in a psychiatric hospital instead of a prison after her crime.[2]

Dancing in the Dark premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1986. It was then shown in September 1986 as part of the Perspectives Canada programme of the Toronto Festival of Festivals, now known as the Toronto International Film Festival.[3] It was shown later that month at the New York Film Festival.[4]

Plot

The story begins as the present unfolds along with scenes from the past about Edna, a woman in a hospital who each day writes down her memories. She is a devoted housewife, an excellent cook, and in love with her husband Harry who often compliments her on her cooking, fills their conversations with his life at work, and they seem quite normal if perhaps a little boring. Edna's attitude towards herself suddenly changes resulting in her ending her 20-year marriage by stabbing Harry with a kitchen knife. Edna cannot (or will not) talk to her doctor, and nurses have to take care of her basic needs. Edna's hospital surroundings give way to the bright colours of her home life as her memories of her past life surface as she writes.

Cast
  • Martha Henry as Edna
  • Neil Munro as Henry
  • Anne Butler as Beautician
  • Vince Metcalfe as Accountant and Party Guest
  • Janet Bailey as Night Nurse
  • Carole Galloway as Dottie Franklin
  • Marshall Margolis as Lawyer
  • Florence Catalatio-Carenza as Cleaning Lady
  • Barbara McMullen as Neighbour
  • Olwyn Chipman as Policewoman
  • Alan Rose as Policeman

Release

Dancing in the Dark was first shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1986 in Cannes, France. It was premiered in the most prestigious category within the festival.[5]

The film was shown at the 1986 Festival of Festivals in Toronto on September 5, 1986.[6] Martha Henry received a Special Jury Citation from the Best Canadian Film jury.

Dancing in the Dark was shown at Alice Tully Hall in New York City at the New York Film Festival on September 25 and September 27, 1986.[7]

Reaction

Before Dancing in the Dark, Anthony Kramreither was not considered to be a prestigious producer and many critics would avoid going to see his work. After the release of Dancing in the Dark at the Cannes Film Festival in August 1986 critics sought out his work and were writing generous reviews about his films.[8]

The film got mixed reviews. In Canada reviews were generally positive, and the film helped jumpstart Leon Marr's directorial career. The French newspaper L'Humanité, which at the time was a communist newspaper, wrote that the film was "fabulous" and "highly original".[9]

The American and the English generally did not appreciate the film. English film critic Derek Malcolm said that the film was "Terrible, embarrassingly sincere, and also embarrassingly inept".[10] American film critic Dave Kehr said the film was "like a second-rate film of the seventies".[11]

Awards

References
  1. Base, Ron (October 11, 1986). "Leon Marr's a word-of-mouth success story". Toronto Star.
  2. Shaw, Ted (February 12, 1987). "Dancing in the Dark to be seen and savored". The Windsor Star.
  3. Scott, Jay (July 24, 1986). "Dancing in the Dark to open festival series". The Globe and Mail.
  4. Canby, Vincent (September 25, 1986). "Too-Perfect Housewife in 'Dancing in the Dark'". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  5. Adilman, Sid (August 31, 1986). "Low-budget film maker a dark horse". Toronto Star.
  6. Scott, Jay (July 24, 1986). "Dancing in the Dark to open festival series". The Globe and Mail.
  7. Canby, Vincent (September 25, 1986). "Too-Perfect Housewife in 'Dancing in the Dark'". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. Adilman, Sid (August 31, 1986). "Low-budget film-maker a dark horse". Toronto Star.
  9. Base, Ron (May 19, 1986). "Canes successes bolster Canadian movie industry". Toronto Star.
  10. Base, Ron (May 19, 1986). "Canes successes bolster Canadian movie industry". Toronto Star.
  11. Base, Ron (May 19, 1986). "Canes successes bolster Canadian movie industry". Toronto Star.
  12. "IFFMH Chronicle, 1986". iffmh.de. International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
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