An Angel at My Table

About "An Angel at My Table"

"An Angel at My Table" is a captivating movie, released in 1990, that tells the biographical story of Janet Frame, New Zealand's most distinguished English language writer. The film, adapted from the autobiographies of Frame, delves into her journey, including her early poverty-ridden years, her psychological issues and institutionalization, and her eventual success as an author.

Making / Production

Directed by Jane Campion, this New Zealand drama was initially produced as a television miniseries. The Cinematographer was Stuart Dryburgh. The trilogy was well received by critics and later re-edited for the cinema as a feature film.

Actors

• Kerry Fox played Janet Frame, eloquently conveying a complex character battling social alienation and mental illness.
• Alexia Keogh depicted young Janet Frame, providing a strong foundation for the character in her formative years.
• Karen Fergusson portrayed adolescent Janet, delivering a sensitive performance as the character begins to grapple with her complicated emotional landscape.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is based on the autobiographies, 'To The Is-land' (1982), 'An Angel at My Table' (1984), and 'The Envoy from Mirror City' (1985), all written by Janet Frame.
• The Director Jane Campion was initially reluctant to take on the project, thinking it wasn’t dramatic enough. But she changed her mind after a detailed reading of Frame’s autobiographies.

Awards

The film was acclaimed globally, notably winning the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival and bagging the audience awards at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Quotes

• "I was always trying to make up for what was wrong with me by being perfect."
• "At the age of eight I was an old woman."
• "There is no past or future. Using tenses to divide time is like making chalk marks on water."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film’s haunting and beautiful soundtrack was composed by Don McGlashan.
• Music plays an important part in the movie, reflecting the emotional journey of the protagonist.