Britten - The Turn of the Screw

The film "Britten - The Turn of the Screw" is a cinematic presentation of Benjamin Britten's internationally renowned 20th-century chamber opera, "The Turn of the Screw". The opera, initially performed in 1954, derives inspiration from the ghost story novel of the same name by Henry James. Director Elijah Moshinsky brings together a talented ensemble of actors and musicians in order to retell this haunting tale with utmost resonance. Steuart Bedford, a long-time collaborator with Britten, brilliantly conducts the English Chamber Orchestra in a performance that adds depth to the already intricate tapestry of the story.

Reflecting the limited cast deemed necessary by Britten for his opera staging, the movie sees stellar performances from an ensemble of six actors. Celebrated soprano Menai Davies stands out in her role as Miss Jessel - the tormented, ghostly presence persistently looming over the opera. Her profound understanding of Britten's music is evident in the way she navigates her role with grace, enhancing the uneasy atmosphere permeating the opera.

The story revolves around a young governess, compelled to unravel the web of eerie mysteries surrounding the two orphaned children, Miles and Flora, under her charge. The plot thickens with the introduction of two spectral figures whose intertwining pasts seem to be the root cause of the present unsettling occurrences. Its complex themes of innocence and perversion, reality and imagination, love and loathing, all contribute to creating an oppressive ambiance of dread and suspense that stirs the audience's deepest fears.

The opera boasts an innovative handiwork of Britten's 'theme and variations' structure, weaving twelve 'variations' around a solitary 'theme' as the narrative sequentially unfolds. This unusual structure encompasses and lends a linear continuity to the multiple time frames, multiple perspectives, and ambiguous narrative that is characteristic of James' novel. Britten's vigorous score, an engrossing amalgamation of dissonance, eerie melodies and abrupt rhythm changes, is given full expression under Bedford’s expert baton. Each character's complexity is eloquently revealed through their individual musical themes, contributing to further deepen the archetypal ambiguity inherent in the narrative.

The film's aesthetic stays faithful to its source material. It embraces a bleak, monochromatic visual scheme, amplifying the absoluteness of light and shadow, creating an atmosphere of chilliness much allied to the music and narrative. Moshinsky's directorial prowess also traces the labyrinthine psychological examination of characters, effectively showcasing the disintegration of their innocence and their eventual descent into turmoil, very much like Britten's music.

The performances by the children, Michael Ginn and Nicola Downss, are exceptionally noteworthy. They portray the roles of Miles and Flora respectively with an uncanny maturity, smoothly transitioning between innocence and depravity as the narrative demands, the continuity seamless. The film ascends into dramatic heights with their entrancing duets, where the children harmonize to disturbingly potent lyrics, fanning the fearsome beauty of the opera.

The governess, performed by Helen Field, allows spectators to partake in her struggle as she spirals down a psychological decline. Her performance is marked by hope, confusion, and terror, her musical articulation mirroring her character's internal strife effectively. The underlying terror of her role progressively becomes palpable through her masterful vocal performance.

A mention should also be given to Thomas Allen who portrays Peter Quint, the second spectral figure who, alongside Miss Jessel, pervades the narrative with a troubling intensity. He performs with an eerie charm as he sings of taking Miles 'over to the other side', his character's deceptively tender musical theme masking his sinister disposition very well.

"Britten - The Turn of the Screw" is, thus, a remarkable cinematic adaptation of one of the 20th century's most critically acclaimed chamber operas. Whether you admire classic literature, appreciate operatic score, or simply savor a good and unnerving ghost story, this film is an exceptionally rewarding view. With its masterful performances, haunting musical score and skillful direction, it faithfully recounts Britten's original vision, rendering the in-depth psychological depiction and chilling narrative of Henry James' famed novel into a truly remarkable cinematic experience.