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Pauline Parker: Melanie Lynskey Juliet Hulme: Kate Winslet Honora Parker: Sarah Peirse Hilda Hulme: Diana Kent Henry Hulme: Clive Merrison Herbert Rieper: Simon O'Connor Directed by Peter Jackson. Written by Peter Jackson and Frances Walsh. Running time: 99 minutes. Rated R (for a murder and some sexuality). |
In 1952, Pauline Parker (Melanie Lynskey) met Juliet Hulme (Kate Winslet) and formed such a strong friendship that the people around them found it to be wrong and unsettling. Their parents' disapproval of their relationship caused Pauline and Juliet to commit an act unimaginable, a savage murder of one of their parents. They were quickly caught for their heinous crime. Tried and sentenced, they served only five years before they were paroled. One of the conditions to their release was that they never see each other again.
Heavenly Creatures is loosely based on this true story, using Parker's diary entries (the same entries that the police used to incriminate them) as its model. The events happened in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1952 to 1954. In 1952, Pauline was 13 and Juliet was 15 when they met at an all girl's school at Christchurch. It would be hard to imagine that these two girls would even notice each other when we first meet them because of how opposite they are. Juliet is an aristocrat who probably has traveled around the world. Dignified and pompous, you would expect her never to associate with Pauline and abhor the sight of her. Pauline is a simple commoner, who probably hasn't even left the town let alone the country, is attending the school with a scholarship. Pauline keeps to herself and would likely be the person who sits at an empty lunch table.
Pauline notices Juliet during a French class, where Juliet thinks nothing of correcting the French teacher of her grammar. Juliet notices Pauline with her leg scar after an operation for bone disease: "All the best people have had chest and bone disease! It's all frightfully romantic!" Both girls did not fit well with their peers, one being arrogant and the other a bit of an introvert, yet they seem to get along with each other. Despite their different upbringing and behavior, they both share an extraordinary interest in creative writing, a great imagination and a love for the greatest tenor, Mario Lanzo. And just like that, they hit it off and form a bond that any person would covet.
The two become inseparable, as they share each and every moment together. Even when the other experiences relations with the opposite sex, the other is jealous and can't bear the thought of it. They share a committed relationship that is stronger than a marriage, as they do not need vows to pledge their allegiance for it is already implied. They become intoxicated with their friendship, as they run around the countryside, singing, giggling and squealing. Occasionally they wrestle with each other and share a quick and harmless kiss, but it is not to be confused for homosexuality. Their bond is formed on love for only each other and has no room for anyone else, not even their parents. Their relationship becomes stronger and dependent when Juliet describes the "Fourth World," a realm of medieval times filled with magic and the arts. Juliet herself describes it as heaven, "without Christians." Inhabited by unicorns and huge butterflies, they begin to populate the world with characters from their imagination as Mario Lanzo serenades them. As their parents become more distant and oblivious to them, the "Fourth World" becomes almost a reality to them, as they rather live there instead of their current world. It becomes so real that the two imagine their characters interacting with people, most of them resulting unfavorably.
The parents soon become aware of Juliet and Pauline's relationship. They become disturbed of their closeness and faint hints of lesbianism begin to be spoken. In a conservative town such as Christchurch, homosexuality is a word not spoken nor recognized. The parents' suspicions causes them to separate the two girls for good, but both refuse to let go ("No one can understand our genius"). The impending breakup forces Juliet and Pauline to decide that one of their parents must be killed for them to be together.
Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet both fresh faces give a marvelous performance as these two girls. They both find a feel and essence to each girl that we feel we have known them for years. They make their relationship so right and fun, that we are heartbroken when they lose each other. Credit should also go to Peter Jackson, who also directed the picture, and Frances Walsh, who wrote a wonderful script that doesn't denounce their bond together, but helps us understand their relationship.
A fascinating footnote can be associated to the film. Upon its release in New Zealand, there was a great interest of the fate of these two women. Pauline was never located, but Juliet was identified as Anne Perry known as a best-selling murder mystery author. It is quite an appropriate ending given the events in the film.
Heavenly Creatures is a tale of desperation and love so powerful that it forever affected many people's lives. One can't help but think if there was someone who could have just recognized what was happening and put a stop to it, that there would have been a brighter future for these people. In the end, the lack of communication destroyed both sides. What I find more extraordinary and frightening is the fact that Juliet and Pauline felt the world they created for themselves was so attractive and wonderful that it was worth protecting at any cost. Grade: B+
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