Canal+

Suffragette (2015)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Suffragette film poster- The three sufragetters facing the camera with "The Time is Now" "Suffrafettes" written on top

Suffragette film poster © Pathe

Director: Sarah Gavron

Writer: Abi Morgan

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff

Production Companies: Film4, BFI, Ingenious Media, Canal+, Ciné+, Ruby Films

Kent Locations Used: The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Told through the eyes of a young mother, Suffragette is a powerful film about the foot soldiers of the suffragette movement in late 19th and early 20th century Britain. When peaceful protests fail, a group of suffragettes take radical moves to be heard, risking their jobs, homes, families and even their lives.

Carey Mulligan as Maud looking out of a window next to a vase of flowers

Carey Mulligan as Maud © Pathe

The film is directed by Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane, This Little Life) and written by Abi Morgan (Shame, The Iron Lady).

Featuring an all-star cast including Carey Mulligan (Drive, An Education), Helena Bonham Carter (Alice In Wonderland, Fight Club), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, The Hours), Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas), Brendan Gleeson (Edge of Tomorrow, Troy) and Anne-Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy, Notes on a Scandal).

The production visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham for a week in February 2014 which doubled as the exterior to the Bethnal Green Laundry, a factory and a prison cell.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a maritime heritage location set over an 80 acre site. The location boasts a variety of Georgian and Victorian architecture, maritime environment, cobbled streets, and industrial buildings. The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location and has previously been seen on screen in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015) Our World War (2014) and Mr Selfridge (2012-2015).

Suffragette was released in cinemas on Monday 12th October 2015 and is now available for DVD and online purchase.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

 

The Others (2001)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Others film poster- Nicole kidman holding a lamp looking scared. The others written on top on a black background

The Others © Cruise/Wagner Productions

Directed by: Alejandro Amenabar

The Lime Walk, Penshurst Place- misty forest with trees

The Lime Walk, Penshurst Place © Cruise/Wagner Productions

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Eric Sykes

Production Company: Cruise/Wagner Productions, Sogecine, Las Producciones del Escorpión, Dimension Films, Canal+, Lucky Red, Miramax 

Kent Locations Used: Penshurst Place 

The Others is a supernatural thriller set in Jersey after the Second World War about a woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children and becomes convinced it is haunted.

The film features Nicole Kidman (The Golden Compass, Moulin Rouge), Fionnula Flanagan (Four Brothers, Tears of the Sun), Christopher Eccleston (Elizabeth, The Invisible Circus), Alakina Mann (Girl With the Pearl Earring), James Bentley (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Imperium: Nero) and Eric Sykes (Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire). 

The Lime Walk at Penshurst Place was used for the scene where Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) is walking to the local village through the fog, and coincidently bumps into her husband who has returned from the war. Penshurst Place has previously welcomed other productions such as The Hollow Crown- Henry V (2012), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Merlin (2008).

The Others was released in cinemas in November 2001 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Hamlet (1990)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Hamlet Movie Poster- Hamlet holding a sword up to his face, other characters stand behind him looking away from the camera. Hamlet is written in orange.

Hamlet Movie Poster © Warner Bros. Pictures

Directed by: Franco Zeffirelli

Starring: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Alan Bates & Helena Bonham Carter.

Production Company:  Canal+, Carolco Pictures, Icon Entertainment International, Icon Productions, Marquis Nelson Entertainment, Sovereign Pictures, Warner Bros.

Kent Filming Location: Dover Castle

When Prince Hamlet returns to Denmark following the death of his father, he discovers his mother has already married his uncle Claudius who has now been crowned King.  They encourage Hamlet to marry his only love, the young Ophelia, but Hamlet remains troubled over his mother’s new husband. When the ghost of his father appears before him and reveals that he was murdered, Hamlet becomes dangerous to those around him.

Zeffirelli’s adaptation of the famous Shakespearean tragedy stars Mel Gibson as the Dark Prince, Glenn Close as his mother Gertrude and Alan Bates as Claudius. Helena Bonham Carter also makes an appearance as Ophelia.

Local Resident Tina Easterby experienced filming on a Hollywood film set when she worked as an extra in the film. She had this to say “In 1990 while I was studying for A levels, myself and my fellow Theatre Studies students were invited to tour the set of Hamlet at Dover Castle. As you can imagine at the age of 17 we were beside ourselves with excitement. However it only got better when we were all offered extras parts for 3 days. Hey, we were only servants but just to be on the same set as Glenn Close, Mel Gibson and Franco Zefferrelli was worth it. The castle looked stunning, in what would have been original costumes, with knights on horseback and misty, murky weather. We had a wonderful time!”

Dover Castle makes its first appearance in the title credits for the film. Used to portray the Danish Castle of Elsinore, the castle battlements feature in one of the most dramatic scenes of the film:  Hamlet speaking with the ghost of his dead father.  Built in the 13th Century, the Castle is situated above the White Cliffs of Dover and has guarded our shores for 20 centuries. At the heart of the site stands the Great Tower of the castle which stands at a height of 83 ft. It is here that many of the scenes for Hamlet were shot.

Dover Castle has featured in many films throughout its history. It appeared as the Tower of London in both Lady Jane (1986) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008). A popular tourist attraction, Dover Castle invites visitors to experience life in Henry II’s court and visit the secret WWII tunnels, the HQ of Operation Dynamo. With its striking position within the landscape and medieval architecture it is an ideal location for any film production.

Hamlet is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.