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(e)Book – Love and friendship

  (e) Book –  Love and friendship Full title :  Love and friendship and other early works Author : Jane Austen Score : /10 Year : 1790 (original) ; 2012 (this edition) Publisher : Duke Classics   ISBN  978-1-62012-155-9  // 9781620121559  (ebook)  Pages :  Language: English Jane Austen is best known for her 6 novels, which all have been adapted into tv movies - but after having read Virginia Woolf's short fiction in chronological order, I decided to apply the same for Austen's publications, to better appreciate her growth and evolution in narrative style. So, before reading her novels which were released from 1811 to 1817, in the following order :  Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma,  Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, I decided to go back to her teenage years, reading Love and Friendships, and other early works.
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Movie – The Nanny (1965)



Movie – The Nanny (1965)

Score : 9/10  
Year : 1965
Director:  Seth Holt
Country: UK 
Language: English
Duration: 1h29

Writers: Jimmy Sangster (Screenplay) ; Marryam Modell (novel The Nanny)


Mental health isn't often well portrayed on our entertainment screens. In fact, most characterizations are either exaggerated - or underplayed. Many show lack of knowledge on the writters' part. It's tough to find a movie that doesn't perpetuate stigmas and/or make fun of mental health. 

The Nanny is a very agreeable surprise in all these respects. It deals with depression, grief and trauma, through a story of a nanny (Bette Davis) caring for the Fane family who has suffered a loss - at the root of their grief and depression. 
It is based an eponymous novel by Marryam (or Merriam) Modell, although it was published under her pen-name Evelyn Piper and which I haven't read so I cannot discuss (as of yet) about the accuracy of adaptation. 

Bette Davis had the guts of taking un-glamorous roles in her carrer. She embodies this nanny terrifically. Her acting is superb and believable and the supporting cast plays at her level of intensity. 

People look real - no massive makeup nor pristine hairdos first thing out of bed. In fact, depression is portrayed quite realistically. 

This dramatic thriller fully entertains and offers food for thought in sociopolitical comments and one chains of events. 

There is suspense, though some elements become a bit clearer over time, there are also totally unpredictable spins. 

The score tends to be adequate, though not perfect. 

The cinematography offers a few original shots ; The lighting is very good, just like the pace and edit. 

A word of caution: this is a mature, thematic movie. It's not overly graphic as modern movies dealing with these topics would be, but its psychological complexities and possible triggering depictions of bullying and infantilisation do limit the possible audience and moments you should watch it.

The Nanny is an entertaining thriller, depicting mental health in a refreshingly realistic way and which doesn't perpetuate stigmas. 
The social comments stand the test of time and aren't limited to 1965 - at least for those few aspects which didn't change too much since the movie was made. 

Cast:
Bette Davis, William Dix, Wendy Craig, Jill Bennett, James Villiers, Pamela Franklin, et al.



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