At the Next Junction, Turn Left (I Know Where I'm Going (DVD))

Member Name: samueltyler

Product:	I Know Where I'm Going (DVD)
Date:	22/09/09 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny, sweet, romantic

Disadvantages: Patronising portrayal of the Scots

It takes a certain type of man to want to go out with a very confident woman. Historically, women have been painted as the fairer sex whose smaller size makes them weaker. This is rubbish of course as although most women are smaller than blokes they make up for it with intelligence, guile and sensitivity. Personally, I like my woman to be confident, ballsy even. I like to get into heated discussions with my partner that border on argument as a means of intellectual stimulation. Also, as a man brought up in the fashion of a 'new' man I have no powers of decision making and having someone to decide for me is a blessing. Confident woman is not a new thing, although perhaps they are finally getting their just rewards, Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth, the Amazons and many others have shown that some woman knew what they wanted and were prepared to get it - just like Joan in 'I Know Where I'm Going'.

Wartime Britain and young lady Joan has finally got what she has planned for - the hand in marriage to a rich man. She plans to travel to the remote islands off Scotland to marry Robert Bellinger, an aging businessman, who is renting a castle there. On arriving on the remote islands Joan finds herself stranded, unable to get to her fiancée, because of the weather. She must bunker down in this strange place and see out the storm for the next few days. What is a stubborn city girl going to do in the wilderness? With an eccentric female manor owner, a charismatic Scotsman and a bird training Major; she may just fall in love before she gets to her fiancée?

As part of my Powell and Pressberger season I had watched their more famous works including 'The Red Shoes' and 'The Black Narcissus'. 'I Know Where I'm Going' is a far more subtle affair and one that many fans of the directors have forgotten or do not even know about. This is a shame as I found it the best film by them to date! I find P&P too obsessed with visuals and not on the story. Although the likes of 'Shoes', 'Black' and 'A Matter of Life and Death', all looked great they suffered from the story falling away half way through. Visuals will fade over time as special effects become better, story never will.

Therefore, it is the strong story that made 'I Know' a joy to watch. Filmed in 1945 this is an old fashioned romantic comedy about opposites attracting. There is a surprisingly close link to this film and the Rom Coms that still come out today as the story unfolds in the way any modern film would. The setting of Scotland is a good one as it allows Joan to be out of her element, whilst Torquil is in his. Although parts of the film were filmed on a soundstage there is enough location work for it to feel Scottish (in the slightly twee patronising way).

The secret to any romantic comedy, old or modern, is chemistry. In actors Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey, P&P have hit a winner. I really enjoyed Hiller's stubborn portrayal of Joan. She is never painted as an overly vain or silly, but perhaps misguided and inexperienced. Livesey is also excellent as the charming Laird Torquil. Livesey was a stage actor and did not appear too often on screen (mostly for Powell and Pressberger); this is a shame as he has an effortless charm that makes him instantly likable. The way that Hiller and Livesey play off one another is what makes the film work as it is great fun and packs the film with fun moments.

Like many films from the 1940s 'I Know' has aged. However, the concepts of romance and laughter still work today so the film holds up. It is the slightly naïve portrayal of Scotland itself that stops the film from being a complete classic, as it is patronising and the most dated element of the film. Despite this, 'I Know Where I'm Going' proved to be the most low key and one of the best films by Powell and Pressberger. With more concentration on the story, dialogue and characters, rather than with special effects, the film was a funny, warm and charming romantic comedy that any couple could enjoy.



Director: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger
Year: 1945
Cert: U
Starring: Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey
Price: Amazon uk £3.38
Play.com £2.99


Extras

At £3 for the film having no extras is not a surprise!

Summary: Powell and Pressberger at their most restrained - and best!