Accident (1967)

The Film

Adapted from a novel by Harold Pinter, Accident has a simply superb script that takes a rather standard love triangle plot and turns it into a unique and incredibly subtle story. The flashback telling is often a rather tired cliché but it works well here because not only does it overarch every scene of William's with a real ominousity, but it is done without any words at all - Pinter realises that the audience will know exactly what is going on and so refrains from spelling it out to us. Like the hot, languorous summer in which it is set, the film moves along as an incredibly slow pace, with very little happening at all - and this is the real beauty of the script, that it lets us watch the relationships develop between the characters with nothing ever seeming forced or rushed (but equally, nothing ever dragging) and building up to an ending that suits the film perfectly by not wrapping anything up or explaining anything at all. Pinter had a reputation for politically charged writings and Accident certainly takes a dull view of the academic circles, but he avoids putting in too much of an agenda and lets the storyline take centre stage here.

Joseph Losey's direction really helps to make the film as good as it is - in keeping with the script, he captures the beautifully lethargic summer atmosphere, particularly in the boating scene, giving the film a very French flavour - the production as a whole exudes the natural surrealism that seems more at home in a Continental film (most effective in the scene where Stephen meets Francesca). Curiously, the film boats some particularly strong sound design - often overlooked in cinema it is given some real focus here and many of the scenes play out without music but underscored by the background sound effects - this is most notably effective in the film's dramatic opening scene. When there is a musical score it is light and fitting for the tone.

 
Three of Britain's best actors take centre stage here. Top billed Dirk Bogard is able to deftly switch between loving father and the haunted, love-sick professor while Stanley Baker is perfectly cast as his colleague who seems to be able to outdo him on all fronts. A particularly young Michael York makes for a good looking young aristocratic student and has just the right level of awkwardness for the part. The most important part however is that played by the beautiful French actress Jacqueline Sassard who conveys a genuine but suitable subtle erotic charge throughout the film, although the character she plays is apparently Austrian which does not particularly suit her appearance or accent.
The second of three unions with Harold Pinter, and starring his two best used actors, Accident sees Joseph Losey on his top form and is a simply superb film, making a rather simple love triangle into a masterpiece of subtlety and effortless surreality. Certainly not a film for everyone, Accident is a must-see for fans of Pinter or Losey, or any of the lead actors and it comes highly recommended to fans of the British New Wave and art-house cinema in general.

In brief:

The DVD

Summary

• An incredible film that marks the high point of Joseph Losey's career and features some superb acting and scripting. Highly recommended.
  

• A good looking, if imperfect, print with a very interesting documentary.

Links

• IMDB entry

• DVD Rewind - DVD version comparisons

• Find other films starring Stanley Baker.

• For explanations of technical terms, see the DVD Dictionary.

All text in this review written by Timothy Young - 17th October 2008.
Text from this review not to be used without authorization.

Please contact: