Based on Peter Turner’s memoir, the film follows the playful but passionate relationship between Turner and the actress, Gloria Grahame, in 1978 Liverpool.
What starts as a vibrant affair between a legendary femme fatale and her young lover quickly grows into a deeper relationship, with Turner being the person Gloria turns to for comfort. Their passion and lust for life is tested to the limits by events beyond their control.
In the shadow of Harvey Weinstein, the case of Gloria Grahame – chewed up and spat out by the studios – could not be more relevant. The star was bullied into having work done on her face and, during her divorces, highly paid industry lawyers spread hideous stories about her that tame showbiz correspondents made sure stuck.
But the film gets its unusual power from the fact that it has something to offer in place of fame and sexual oppression. This film is about love and the need to do justice to Gloria.
Dir: Paul McGuigan, UK, 2017, 1 15.
Stars: Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Kenneth Cranham