Morlang 2001

     This film is inspired by true events.  It is a chilling psychological drama with a secret pact.  Julius Morland is a successful art photographer and painter.  He lives with his wife Ellen in the UK but they have also purchased a large home in Ireland.  Ellen has been seeing a doctor in the UK and he tells her she has a brain tumor.  She has surgery but all of the tumor could not be removed.  She cannot get chemotherapy because of the type of tumor and her prognosis is not good.  Julius and Ellen retreat to Ireland for rest and recovery.  Julius finds a new muse in Ann and his photography and paintings are selling again.  Someone breaks into his studio and throws everything around but nothing seems to be missing?  It is suggested by the police that he install security cameras and he does take this action.  The break-in and other events have set in motion intense paranoia in Julius.  He is constantly on edge and he is at a breaking point.  He is very jealous of a rising young artist, Dutch painter Robert Jansen.  There is beautiful cinematography and the scenery of this area is part of the story. 
     There are some puzzles in this film and I can’t fill in a lot of the details without giving away key plot points that need to unfold as a surprise.  There are two separate time periods in this film.  There is Julius and his manager wife Ellen.  Then there is Ann, his latest muse.  There is some dullness about Julius and that can lead to impatience by viewers.  Even Ellen and Ann become angry about his lack of communication skills and dour demeanor!!  Some of the plot points are not clear until later as well.  This is a very different film!!  I was surprised to learn that the film is based on true events!!  4* (I liked this movie) 
  
94 min, Drama, directed and written by Tjebbo Penning, also written by Matthew Faulk, Ruud Schuurman and Mark Skeet with Paul Freeman, Susan Lynch, Diana Kent, Eric van der Donk, Marcel Faber, Porgy Franssen, Huib Broos, Joe Gallagher, Ann Bourroughs, Freida Hand, Nora Mullens, Masximo Mewl, Paddy O’Conell, Elvira Out, Derek Reid.

Note:  Imdb 6.3 out of 10 with 432 ratings, Amazon 3.2* out of 5* with 510 ratings, Metacritic 60 out of 100 with 9 critics (6 positive 2 mixed and 1 negative), Letterboxd 3.3*.

Special Note:  Filmed at the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare; Duleek, Country Meath, Ireland; Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.  Released by Film Movement.