About The Souvenir (HBO)

The Souvenir is a semi-autobiographical drama film directed by Joanna Hogg. The movie unfolds the enigmatic love story of a young film student, Julie, who gets romantically involved with a complicated and untrustworthy man, Anthony. The film portrays Julie's self-discovery journey and Anthony's struggle with drug addiction. Set in the 1980s, it portrays an intimate and emotionally rich narrative.

Making / Production

The Souvenir marks Joanna Hogg's pivotal fourth feature film. It combines elements of autobiography and fiction to bring forth a deeply personal narrative. The film's shooting took place in London and Norfolk, and the story was drawn from Hogg's own experiences as a film student in the 1980s.

Actors

• Honor Swinton Byrne as Julie: She excellently captures the spirit of a young woman unraveling her identity and place in the world.
• Tom Burke as Anthony: His performance brilliantly masks his character's struggles and secrets beneath a charming veneer.
• Tilda Swinton as Rosalind: Tilda, in her role as Julie’s mother, exhibits a soothing and cautious demeanor.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film takes its title from an 18th century rococo painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, which is referred to in the movie.
• Honor Swinton Byrne is the real life daughter of actress Tilda Swinton, who plays her mother in this film.
• The characters' costumes were based on director Joanna Hogg's attire from her photo album in her twenties.

Awards

The Souvenir won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival 2019 and was nominated for Best International Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards.

Quotes

• "It’s not enough to be truthful. One must also be precise." - Anthony
• "You can't just make films about life. You have to live it too." - Anthony

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack, reflecting the 1980s era, includes classical compositions with contemporary pop and rock tracks.