Florence Pugh’s first screen performance lights up the screen tonight (Friday, November 8) on BBC Two, with viewers also able to stream the programme at no extra cost on BBC iPlayer.
The celebrated British star has garnered international fame for her roles in big-ticket projects like Dune and Marvel, as well as her performances in period pieces such as Oppenheimer and Little Women.
Fresh from acting alongside Andrew Garfield in the romantic comedy-drama We Live in Time set for a New Year’s Day release in the UK, Pugh’s inaugural movie role is one to watch.
Before her ascent to global recognition, Pugh appeared opposite Game of Thrones’ star Maisie Williams in this intriguing mystery drama, marking her entry into the film world.
Released in 2014, The Falling centres around a group of 1969 schoolgirls entwined in a bizarre outbreak of mass fainting spells following a tragic incident, reports the Mirror.
(Image: BBC FILMS)
The story unfolds as one girl’s unexplained fainting and subsequent death triggers a chain reaction among her classmates and even a teacher, sparking an intense inquiry into the phenomenon.
Despite a less-than-stellar box office performance on its debut, The Falling has attracted a dedicated fanbase and is a must-watch for those who have tracked Pugh’s journey since the outset.
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes have described the film as “Well-acted and overall unsettling, The Falling delivers thought-provoking thrills – and suggests a bright future for writer-director Carol Morley.”
Audiences on the same site reflect on the film’s distinct narrative, with one user commenting: “The Falling has an eerie and unique story: a girls’ school in the late 60’s is the stage of an epidemic hysterical fainting.
“The strange phenomenon is a metaphor for the contagious sexual liberation that starts with the death of an emancipated girl. The movie is a melodrama with some subtle elements of the supernatural. Beautifully weird!”
Jordan Brooks of Vague Visages commented: “Morley pushes the film’s ‘mystery’ beyond any audience guessing games to a level of bewilderment above any useful analysis, leaving viewers in a state of excited shock.”
A glowing five-star review on Letterboxd hailed it as “a magnificent and distinctive film, and one of those films that will leave you thinking long after you’ve left the cinema.
“A film that can be interpreted in several ways, and which relishes in its ambiguity. English realism crossed with a more experimental style and hints of folk horror make for a very distinctive atmosphere, perfect to complement the rich exploration of sexuality, anger, and grief.”
(Image: BBC FILMS)
Another reviewer urged: “Everyone go see this – the landscapes, aesthetic and soundtrack are unbelievably beautiful and the acting is outstanding.
“It manages to honestly portray young female sexuality without sexualising the girls themselves and is one of the best representations of teenage girlhood I’ve seen.”
For those who prefer a night in, The Falling will be shown on BBC Two at 11.05pm on Friday. Remember, films typically stay available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days post-broadcast.
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