The Lost Language of Cranes
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DVD details
Actor: Angus Macfayden, Brian Cox, Corey Parker, Eileen AtkinsBrand: WHV
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-05-29
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: E2674
Studio: BBC Worldwide
Product features:
- The damage caused by long-kept secrets is at the heart of this moving drama adapted from David Leavitt's acclaimed novel. Confronted with his son's confession that he is gay, Owen (Brian Cox) realizes that he can no longer live a lie. Although he still loves his wife Rose (Eileen Atkins), he abandons the safe world of the heterosexual for the difficult but rewarding journey of "coming out." But as
DVD Reviews of The Lost Language of Cranes
DVD Review: Very Well Done Indeed, And Long Overdue on DVD
Summary: 4 Stars
The film version of the Lost Language of Cranes is a triumph for its main stars, Brian Cox and Eileen Atkins. It was my first exposure to the work of either, and this film is the root of my immense admiration of their talents.
There has always been some confusion concerning the allegory of the title. In the David Leavitt novel, the narrative is supported by an involved subplot, a tale concerning an "abandoned" child. I agree with the reviewer who complained that the allegory is unfortunately not explained very well in the film, and I had to re-read the book to refresh my understanding of the meaning of the title. In the book, far more detail is devoted to the story of this child, who has been neglected by his drug addicted mother and left to fend for himself in a playpen, without the comfort of human bonding or affection. After spending his first year in the shadow of a giant crane on a construction site outside his window, he compensates for his lack of human companionship by "bonding" with the giant crane, and eventually constructs his own "language" based on its movements, mimicking the crane to express joy, love or affection. However, since he is unable to communicate his feelings outside of the invented language, its exact details and meaning are lost forever.
The story of the Crane Child parallels the failed relationship of Owen and Rose (Cox and Atkins), who long ago have lost the ability to communicate their needs and wants to each other, each sharing only those domestic details that they deem important. The allegory of the child "communicating" with his crane-language is much more fully threshed out in the novel, and the lack of detail in the film makes this portion of the story confusing; the overall effect is that the details concerning the "Crane Child" seem rather forced, and weaken rather than strengthen the narrative.
However, understanding the title is not essential to the main drama. The acting is very good on the part of each of the cast members, and the story is strong enough to survive without a clearer explanation of the title. Although Eileen Atkins has been deservedly praised as the strongest performer, Brian Cox gives a particularly nuanced reading as the closeted father, guarding the secret of his sexuality throughout a troubled marriage, until he fairly explodes in frustration and loneliness. A key scene depicting Owen's reaction to his son's coming out is particularly heartfelt, and a highly effective piece of acting. The film suffers not at all from the change of venue from New York to London; I recall that the American telecast was prefaced by a commentary by Mr. Leavitt, who stated that the location was changed to England simply because it was produced and financed by the BBC.
The DVD release of Lost Language of Cranes is long overdue, and a welcome addition to my video library. I only wish that CBS Fox would just see fit to release a DVD edition of the Boys in the Band, another gay classic they've been sitting on for way too many years.
Description of The Lost Language of Cranes
Synopsis:Item Type: Unknown Type
Item Rating: NR
Street Date: 05/29/07
Wide Screen: no
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
LanguageENGLISH
Foreign Film: no
Subtitlesno
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve Please note: This supplier will be closed on 11/24, 11/25, 12/26, 1/2 for the holidays. The shipping cut off is 12/10 to try and have the products delivered by Christmas.
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