Tagline: The only thing more dangerous than war… is love.
A beautifully-drawn love story, the film revolves around two feisty, free-spirited women, Caitlin Thomas (Sienna Miller) and Vera Killick (Keira Knightley); Vera’s husband, William Killick (Murphy); and the brilliant, charismatic poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys) who loves both women. Broken promises, passion, betrayal, the shadow of war and the constant threat of imminent death push the protagonists to “The Edge of Love.” The story explores the bohemian underworld of war-torn London and the intimate complexities of two young couples whose lives and loves become dangerously intertwined.
The story is based loosely on real events and people. During World War II, Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley) runs into her first love, charismatic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys), and their feelings for each other are renewed, despite that Dylan is now married to the spirited Caitlin MacNamara (Sienna Miller). Despite their rivalry, the two women become friends and the trio have happy times together.
When Vera marries soldier William Killick (Cillian Murphy), Dylan becomes jealous at the addition of him to the group, and Caitlin notices. But William is soon deployed abroad, and the remaining trio moves to the Welsh countryside, where Vera’s feelings for Dylan intensify. When William comes home from the war, his jealousy compounded by his traumatic experiences explodes and he shoots up the house Dylan is staying in.
About the Story
During the London blitz of World War II, nightclub singer Vera Phillips (Keira Knightley) runs into her first love, the charismatic Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys). Their feelings for each other are rekindled, despite the fact that Dylan is now married to and has a child with the spirited Caitlin Macnamara (Sienna Miller). In spite of their initial rivalry, the two women become best friends and, drinking heavily in wartime London, the three get along well.
At this time, William Killick (Cillian Murphy), a British Army officer smitten with Vera, pursues her; both Vera and Caitlin are intrigued by his steadfast, gallant personality, although it contrasts with Vera’s rebelliousness. William notices her closeness with Dylan, but doesn’t seem particularly concerned by it; he and Vera even lend the struggling poet some of their savings. He and Vera fall in love and marry, but soon afterwards William is called up to join the fight against the German invasion of Greece.
Vera discovers shortly after he leaves that she is pregnant; she’s upset that motherhood will lose her independence, but cannot bring herself to abort William’s child. She later gives birth to their son, and she and the Thomases move to the Welsh seashore to raise their children in two small neighbouring cottages, where Vera and Caitlin’s friendship grows ever closer. One day, however, Dylan draws Vera into an affair. Dylan and Caitlin’s marriage has long been distorted by their multiple infidelities, but Dylan- recalling a sexual encounter he and Vera had at age 17- sees her as his soulmate.
William (now a Captain), scarred by the horrors of the war, eventually returns home where Vera notices his emotional distance and instability. In his disquiet, William comes to suspect his wife’s infidelity and confronts her about it; Vera also confesses the truth to Caitlin, who is furious with her for lying to her. Severely drunk one evening, and angry with Dylan’s friends and their ignorant remarks on the war, William wanders out at night and fires multiple shots into the Thomases’ house, though he hits no one; Vera manages to talk him down, and the next morning he seems to return to his former self. However, he is soon arrested and taken to trial.
During the trial, Dylan testifies against William by exaggerating the facts, stating he believed Killick was not only sober, but also that Killick intended to kill him, his wife, and his child. The jury finds William innocent of intent to murder, and he returns home. He accepts his new role as a father, and he and Vera forgive each other, rekindling their relationship. Soon afterwards, the Thomases move out of their cottage. During the farewell, Vera restores her friendship with Caitlin, but never speaks with Dylan again, unable to forgive him for testifying against her husband.
The Edge of Love (2009)
Directed by: John Maybury
Starring: Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, Matthew Rhys, Richard Dillane, Joel Dommett, Rachel Bell, Craig Gallivan, Simon Kassianides, Anne Lambton, Paul Brooke, Richard Clifford
Screenplay by: Sharman McDonald
Production Design by: Alan MacDonald
Cinematography by: Jonathan Freeman
Film Editing by: Emma E. Hickox
Set Decoration by: Tina Jones
Art Direction by: Grant Armstrong, Mark Raggett
Music by: Angelo Badalamenti
MPAA Rating: R for some sexuality, language and disturbing war images.
Distributed by: Capitol Films
Release Date: March 20, 2009
Visits: 84
