Simon Rumley Movies
A family facing myriad disasters is forced to confront one on the form of their own son in this harrowing psychological drama from British filmmaker Simon Rumley. Donald Brocklebank (Roger Lloyd Pack) is a former British nobleman who has lost his peerage, and with it his fortune. The Brocklebank estate has fallen into disrepair, Donald's wife Nancy (Kate Fahy) is suffering from an advanced case of cancer that makes nearly any effort an agony, and their son James (Leo Bill) is a manic depressive with violent tendencies and the mind of a child. Only an operation that Donald cannot afford will save Nancy's life, so he has made plans to sell the estate in order to pay for the surgery and her subsequent care. However, Donald has to travel out of town for several days in order to complete the details of the sale. Donald has arranged for Mary (Sarah Ball), a nurse who has worked for the family before, to care for his wife while he's away, but Donald is forced to leave before Mary arrives. Determined to show his father that he's a responsible adult, James announces he'll be "looking after Mummy," locks Mary out of the house, disconnects the telephone, and stages a minor siege as Mary is determined to save Nancy's life. Nancy slowly slips into a panic as her brutal and incompetent son nearly claims her life, and matters become uglier when Mary contacts the police about the situation at the Brocklebank mansion. The Living and the Dead won the Jury Award in five categories (including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor) at the 2006 Austin Fantastic Fest. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Abruptly calling their relationship quits when she discovers that Mike (Brad Gorton) has slept with another girl, Ali (Allison McKenzie) decides to hit Club Le Monde with her best friend to celebrate her newfound freedom. Despite eyeing Mike entering the club just ahead of them, Ali vows to have a good time and humiliate Mike by hooking-up with any guy she can. As the view bounces wildly from clubber to clubber, we meet such eccentric characters as bathroom conversationalists Yas (Emma Pike) and Kelly (Tania Emery), a pair of country bumpkins looking for a fun night in the city (Tom Connolly and Tom Halstead), the mysterious Mr. Sunglasses (Danny Nussbaum) and club owner Danny (Frank Haper), who is currently in a tight spot due to an ill-advised dalliance with his best friend's wife. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dawn Steele, Allison McKenzie, (more)
- 2000
A British chamber drama exploring three young couples in various states of conversation during an extended dinner party, this is the second film from writer/director Simon Rumley in a planned trilogy on young Londoners, which began with his pop mockumentary Strong Language. A married couple, Eddy and Lilly (Stuart Laing and Selina Giles), currently house-sitting, invite over four other individuals to partake in an evening of truth-telling and dissing. The guests include flashy Dan (Paul Blackthorne and edgy Charlotte (Tania Emery, closely followed by shy social worker Alan (Thomas Fisher) and sweet but dim Alex (Jennifer White). Everyone carries certain baggage; Dan, for one, is still smitten with Lilly while being constantly aggravated by Charlotte's excessive nagging, and Eddy continues, unwillingly, to provide Dan drugs. A late-breaking game of "truth" breaks through their facades to reveal their innermost thoughts. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Blackthorne, Tania Emery, (more)
- 2000
Filmmaker Simon Rumley directs this satirical mockumentary about life in 1990s London seen through the eyes of 20-something Gen-Xers. Deftly edited, a series of supposedly real characters aged 23 through 31 respond to the same questions posed by an unseen interviewer -- ranging from sex to Britpop, defection to AIDS. Representing all levels of British society, the character's responses are often as salty as they are hilarious. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
