TOLKIEN - nyt.org.uk · TOLKIEN is an enchanting look at the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, his...

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TOLKIEN Written by David Gleeson (Cowboys & Angels) & Stephen Beresford (Pride) Director: Dome Karukoski (Tom of Finland, Heart of a Lion) Shoots London and Oxford from start of September. A Fox-Searchlight Picture. TOLKIEN is an enchanting look at the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, his adolescence in Birmingham, and the fierce friendships he formed while at King Edward’s School and latterly as a First World War Lieutenant. As is so often commented on, many of his experiences in youth and at war; went on to form the foundations of his internationally acclaimed, and enduringly popular novels. The film tells the story of a boy named John, who became the man that captured our hearts and minds with his tales of extraordinary fortitude, fellowship and mythology. JOHN (aged 12-15) Already showing signs of a masterful storyteller. The young John’s imagination ran wild, often re-telling legends to his younger brother, Hilary. A voracious reader. Dark hair and with sharp blue eyes. The young John often conjured stories to transport the young boys away from their day to day reality. Looking for an actor with a similar aptitude for storytelling. John’s fascination with philology began from an early age. Full of trepidation on arrival at King Edward’s; he quickly revealed himself as one of the brightest amongst his peers. Looking for a young actor with an ear for languages. HILARY (aged 8 - 10) John’s younger brother. Overwhelmed by an enormous amount of upheaval in their childhood, he hero worships John. EDITH (aged 15 – 19) A young ward of the same foster home John is sent to in Birmingham. A talented violinist, and accomplished academic in her won right – Edith is a victim of Edwardian atitudes to female education and quietly envious of John and his schoolboy chums. A little older than John, Edith helps open his eyes to mischief in their early years. The friendship they formed in childhood

Transcript of TOLKIEN - nyt.org.uk · TOLKIEN is an enchanting look at the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, his...

Page 1: TOLKIEN - nyt.org.uk · TOLKIEN is an enchanting look at the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, his adolescence in Birmingham, and the fierce friendships he formed while at King Edward’s

TOLKIENWrittenbyDavidGleeson(Cowboys&Angels)&StephenBeresford(Pride)Director:DomeKarukoski(TomofFinland,HeartofaLion)ShootsLondonandOxfordfromstartofSeptember.AFox-SearchlightPicture.TOLKIEN is an enchanting look at the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, his adolescence inBirmingham,andthefiercefriendshipsheformedwhileatKingEdward’sSchoolandlatterlyasaFirstWorldWarLieutenant.Asissooftencommentedon,manyofhisexperiencesinyouth and atwar;went on to form the foundations of his internationally acclaimed, andenduringlypopularnovels.ThefilmtellsthestoryofaboynamedJohn,whobecamethemanthatcapturedourheartsandmindswithhistalesofextraordinaryfortitude,fellowshipandmythology.

JOHN(aged12-15)Alreadyshowingsignsofamasterfulstoryteller.TheyoungJohn’simaginationranwild,oftenre-tellinglegendstohisyoungerbrother,Hilary.Avoraciousreader.Darkhairandwithsharpblueeyes.TheyoungJohnoftenconjuredstoriestotransporttheyoungboysawayfromtheirdaytodayreality.Lookingforanactorwithasimilaraptitudeforstorytelling.John’sfascinationwithphilologybeganfromanearlyage.FulloftrepidationonarrivalatKingEdward’s;hequicklyrevealedhimselfasoneofthebrightestamongsthispeers.Lookingforayoungactorwithanearforlanguages.

HILARY(aged8-10)John’s younger brother. Overwhelmed by an enormous amount of upheaval in theirchildhood,heheroworshipsJohn.EDITH(aged15–19)AyoungwardofthesamefosterhomeJohnissenttoinBirmingham.Atalentedviolinist,andaccomplishedacademicinherwonright–EdithisavictimofEdwardianatitudestofemaleeducationandquietlyenviousofJohnandhisschoolboychums.AlittleolderthanJohn,Edithhelpsopenhiseyestomischiefintheirearlyyears.Thefriendshiptheyformedinchildhood

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swiftly became something more than that, and Edith became the sole object of John’saffections from his adolescence and throughout his life. Impish with a beautiful self-assurednessandacertainunpredictablequalitybehindhereyes.GEOFFREYBACHESMITH(aged14-17)Slimandnonsporty.Extremelysensitive,bright.InaweofJohn’sacademicability.ThesonofanenormouslywealthyandinfluentialBirminghamsocietycouple.Heeschewshisparentswishforhimtogointoindustry,insteadfocussinghisattentionsonpoetrywritingpoetry.Wittyandcharismatic.Thesortofyoungmanwhocancharmhiswayoutofanysituation.HeandJohnencouragedeachothertowritethroughouttheirfriendship.ROBERTGILSON(aged14-17)Abrilliantacademicinhisownright;heisslightlyperturbedbyJohn’sarrivalatKingEdward’s.Thesonoftheschool’sheadmaster;heisdesperatetoprovehimselfbothacademically,andontheplayingfields.Aguardedyoungman,keentoimpresshisstrictfather.Johnpresentsanimmediaterival.Feelstheoldestinthegroupoffriends.CHRISTOPHERWISEMAN(aged14–17)Polished,handsome,stylish.Theclassclown.Atalentedmusician.ItisChristopherwhofirstspotsthepotentialinJohnandensuresheenvelopeshimintotheirsocialgroup.Quitethewittiestofthegroup,heissociallyadeptbeyondhisyoungyears.