Separation is a 1968 British experimental drama film written by and starring Jane Arden and directed by Jack Bond. In addition to Jane Arden, the film stars the British actors David de Keyser and Iain Quarrier.
Plot
The film concerns the inner life of a woman during a period of breakdown - marital and possibly mental. Her past and (possible?) future are revealed through a fragmented but brilliantly achieved and often humorous narrative, in which dreams and desires are as real as Swinging London, the film's setting. The film, predominantly shot in black and white, occasionally cuts to colour sequences.
Cast
Jane Arden as Jane
David de Keyser as Husband/Psychiatrist
Ann Lynn as Woman
Iain Quarrier as Lover
Fay Brooke
Terence De Marney as Old man
Malou Pantera
Ann Norman
Joy Bang
Kathleen Saintsbury
Peter Thomas
Neil Holmes
Theo Aygar
Leslie Linder
Tom Corbett
Donald Sayer
Production
Filming
The film was filmed at Caravel Studios and completed at Twickenham Film Studios.
Music
The film features on its soundtrack music by Stanley Myers, one song ("Salad Days") by the British rock group Procol Harum and instrumental music by Procol's original Hammond organist Matthew Fisher.
Release
Home media
The film was restored by the British Film Institute for DVD and Blu-ray Disc and re-released in the UK on 13 July 2009. Another edition of the DVD, with a different cover photo and music credits for Procol Harum on the front cover and for Stanley Myers, Procol Harum and Matthew Fisher on the back cover, was released in the US in March, 2010. Separation was released on DVD in the U.S. for the first time on 30 March 2010 by Microcinema.
Critical reception
'Astonishingly distressing and perceptive.'
- The Observer
References
External links
Review and report from the screening of the remastered version at the British Film Institute, 14 July 2009.
