The Souvenir

About The Souvenir

The Souvenir is a 2019 British-American drama film written and directed by Joanna Hogg. The story revolves around Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne), a young woman studying filmmaking, who falls in love with a mysterious and secretive man named Anthony (Tom Burke). Set in the 1980s London, it is an introspective exploration of first love, memory, and the formative experiences that shape us.

Making/Production

Director Joanna Hogg wrote the screenplay for the film based on her life experiences as a young filmmaker. The film was produced by Luke Schiller and was filmed in Norfolk and London. The crew focused on maintaining authentic 1980s decor and lingo, spending extensive time on researching the era.

Actors

• Honor Swinton Byrne as Julie: She skillfully portrayed her character's innocence, vulnerability, and growth over the film's runtime. The film also marked her breakout role.
• Tom Burke as Anthony: Burke played the cryptically charming, yet troubled lover to perfection, capturing the complexities of his character in nuanced performances.
• Tilda Swinton as Julie's Mother: In a supporting role, Tilda Swinton (who is Byrne's real-life mother), effectively played the anxious, yet supportive mother.

Trivia/Interesting Facts

• The film's titled is borrowed from the painting 'Souvenir' by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, which features in the film.
• The Souvenir was originally intended as a standalone film but was later extended into a two-part series. 'The Souvenir Part II' was released in 2021.

Awards

The Souvenir gathered praise for its artistic and introspective storytelling at various film festivals, winning the Grand Jury Prize World Cinema Dramatic at Sundance Film Festival and being nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Quotes

• "I just feel a bit lost." - Julie
• "But you're not lost. Other people are." - Anthony

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's score was composed by David Holmes in collaboration with Keefus Ciancia.
• The soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the era it represents, with a mix of contemporary songs and original score pieces.