THE TURN OF THE SCREW

In the sixties, Jennifer Gooding (Patsy Kensit) applies for a job as a governess. Because of her love for children, she is ready to do anything to protect them from modern society’s bad influences. Mr. Cooper (Julian Sands), uncle and legal guardian of both children, Miles (Joseph England) and Flora (Clare Szekeres), hires Jennifer after a brief interview. They live in Bly House, a frightening and isolated mansion, with their French governess Mrs. Grose (Stéphane Audran). Jennifer learns that the previous governess, Miss Jessel (Bryony Brind) resigned when she fell in love with Quint (Olivier Debray), an attractive but dangerous man, who was the former domestic and housekeeper of Bly House. She also learns that he was found dead, during a winter night, on the village’s road and that Miss Jessel, obsessed by his death, committed suicide. At the same time, Miles, the young boy who is rude and brutal with his schoolmates, is expelled from school. Yet, it is hard to believe that he could be anything but a charming little boy…

The new adaptation of THE TURN OF THE SCREW, based on the distressing and wonderful story of Henry James, is the work of Lemorande (better known for his work as co-director of YENTL by B. Streisand). This second film remains faithful to the first one (THE INNOCENTS by Jack Clayton with D. Kerr) regarding the emotion and suspense of the story, and it casts an erotic infatuation that mixes with the mysterious atmosphere of the mansion and its inhabitants. The director takes up the challenge of offering a modern version (moving from England during the Victorian era to the sixties) and he wonderfully succeeds thanks to an amazing French and English cast gathering Stéphane Audran, Olivier Debray, Patsy Kensit and Marianne Faithfull.