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''Is Anybody There?'' is a 2008 British
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
starring
Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...
and directed by John Crowley. It was written by
Peter Harness Peter Harness (born 1976) is an English playwright, screenwriter, actor and producer. He was the writer of ''Wallander'', '' Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell'' and ''Constellation'', and has contributed to programmes such as ''Doctor Who'', '' McMa ...
and produced by David Heyman, Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf. The film premiered at the
2008 Toronto International Film Festival The 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This 33rd annual festival was from September 4 to September 13, 2008. The opening night gala was the World War I romantic epic '' Passchendaele'' from Cana ...
under its original title ''Is There Anybody There?'' It garnered a nomination from the
London Film Critics' Circle The London Film Critics' Circle is the name by which the Film Section of The Critics' Circle is known internationally. The word London was added because it was thought the term Critics' Circle Film Awards did not convey the full context of the ...
for Bill Milner as the ''Young British Performer of the Year''.


Plot

In 1987 Edward ( Bill Milner) is a ten-year-old boy who lives at an old people's home run by his parents (
David Morrissey David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. He had numerous small roles in films and television series throughout the 1990s before achieving wider recognition for playing Gordon Brown in '' The Deal'' (2003 ...
and Anne-Marie Duff). Surrounded by death and dying, he becomes obsessed with finding evidence for the afterlife, often using a tape recorder to capture his "encounters". Edward is helped in his search by Clarence (
Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...
), an elderly ex-magician in the early stages of dementia who has recently entered the home. They first meet on the road near the home, when he is nearly hit by his camper van. Clarence had been living in it and is resistant to moving into the home. Frustrated with having all of the residents in his home (he has lost his room, TV control and general privacy and freedom), Edward sets off the fire alarm. While everyone is out in the rain, he wreaks havoc alone inside. The next day, Edward passes Clarence's van on his way to school. Its engine is running, and Edward opens the door to a cloud of carbon monoxide. While Clarence is hospitalised, Edward looks through his possessions. Clarence has lots of show bills of his past magic acts. Edward visits Clarence in the hospital, bringing a few things and apologising. From this point on, the film follows their quest and their friendship, which ultimately allows both Edward and Clarence to come to terms with their respective situations. Edward shows Clarence a peculiar ritual he does, trying to contact the dead. Magic interests both of them, so Edward learns some tricks to show the other children at school. On his birthday Clarence takes them out in the van, but he gets confused at a roundabout, causing a pile up. They cannot get the van started again, so a frustrated Clarence empties it, pushes it into the water, then argues with Edward saying there is no afterlife. Angry, the boy stomps off. Later on, the home throws a party for Edward's birthday. He is not enthused, until Clarence offers to do magic. The card tricks go well, but one where Clarence is meant to pretend to cut off a finger goes wrong. Edward organises a bus trip to Clarence's wife's grave. His dementia begins to show, as does not believe it is her grave. Edwards' parents pick them up. He believes Edward's mum is his dead estranged wife, so she accepts his apology. Clarence quietly dies, but Edward has grown emotionally and, as his parents earlier on had had some problems, they decide to give it another try.


Cast

*
Michael Caine Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...
as Clarence (magician) * Bill Milner as Edward *
David Morrissey David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. He had numerous small roles in films and television series throughout the 1990s before achieving wider recognition for playing Gordon Brown in '' The Deal'' (2003 ...
as Dad * Anne-Marie Duff as Mum *
Leslie Phillips Leslie Samuel Phillips (20 April 1924 – 7 November 2022) was an English actor. He achieved prominence in the 1950s, playing smooth, upper-class comic roles utilising his "Ding dong" and "Hello" catchphrases. He appeared in the '' Carry On'' ...
as Reg *
Sylvia Syms Sylvia May Laura Syms (6 January 1934 – 27 January 2023) was an English stage and screen actress. Her best-known film roles include '' My Teenage Daughter'' (1956), '' Woman in a Dressing Gown'' (1957), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA ...
as Lilian *
Peter Vaughan Peter Ewart Ohm (4 April 1923 – 6 December 2016), known professionally as Peter Vaughan, was an English actor known for many supporting roles in British film and television productions. He also acted extensively on stage. Vaughan played Gr ...
as Bob * Thelma Barlow as Ena *
Rosemary Harris Rosemary Ann Harris (born 19 September 1927) is an English actress. She is the recipient of an Primetime Emmy Award, Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and three Lauren ...
as Elsie *
Elizabeth Spriggs Elizabeth Jean Spriggs (18 September 1929 – 2 July 2008) was an English actress. Spriggs' roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company included Nurse in ''Romeo and Juliet'', Gertrude in ''Hamlet'', and Beatrice in ''Much Ado About Nothing''. I ...
as Prudence (her final performance)


Production

Shot on location in
Hastings Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...
and
Chalfont St Giles Chalfont St Giles is a village and civil parish in southeast Buckinghamshire, England. It is in a group of villages called The Chalfonts, which also includes Chalfont St Peter and Little Chalfont. It lies on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, we ...
. Folkestone Central railway station doubled as a Yorkshire station as Clarence and Edward take a trip on the train for a day out. The sea shelter on Princes Parade in Hythe was used as a bus shelter in Hull. St Peter's Church of England Primary school in
Folkestone Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal res ...
was used as Edward's school in the film. The ethereal music throughout the film was performed by David Coulter on a
musical saw A musical saw, also called a singing saw, is a hand saw used as a musical instrument. Capable of continuous glissando (portamento), the sound creates an ethereal tone, very similar to the theremin. The musical saw is classified as a plaque frict ...
.


Release

The film premiered at the
2008 Toronto International Film Festival The 2008 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This 33rd annual festival was from September 4 to September 13, 2008. The opening night gala was the World War I romantic epic '' Passchendaele'' from Cana ...
under the title ''Is There Anybody There?'' It was released in the United States on 17 April 2009 and in the United Kingdom on 1 May 2009. , the film holds a 65% approval rating on review site
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, based on 117 reviews with an average rating of 6.30 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Though Michael Caine gives an excellent performance, ''Is Anybody There?'' features a cliche-filled story that ultimately falters."


References


External links

* *
Is Anybody There?
' at Big Beach {{John Crowley (director) 2008 films 2008 drama films 2000s British films 2000s English-language films BBC Film films Big Beach (company) films British drama films Films about health care Films directed by John Crowley Films produced by David Heyman Films set in 1987 Films shot at Elstree Film Studios Films with screenplays by Peter Harness Heyday Films films