Blithe Spirit (2020 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2020 |
Key people | Edward Hall (director), Nick Moorcroft (screenwriter), Meg Leonard (screenwriter), Piers Ashworth (screenwriter) |
| Products | Supernatural comedy film |
Blithe Spirit is a British supernatural comedy film released in 2020, set during the late 1930s and marking the feature directorial debut of Edward Hall. The movie features performances by Dan Stevens, Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench, Emilia Fox, among others. Adapted from Noël Coward's 1941 comic farce play, this version is a heavily revised screenplay crafted by Nick Moorcroft, Meg Leonard, and Piers Ashworth. It serves as the second cinematic interpretation, following the 1945 adaptation directed by David Lean.
The film had its world premiere at the 2020 Mill Valley Film Festival and was subsequently released in the United Kingdom on 15 January 2021. Despite its distinguished ensemble and classic source, it was met with predominantly negative reviews from critics. Globally, it earned around $890,000 at the box office.
Plot summary
Set in 1937, the story centers on Charles Condomine, a playwright grappling with depression and creative stagnation that puts strain on his five-year marriage to Ruth. After a public séance led by medium Madame Arcati ends unsuccessfully, she later conducts a private ritual at the Condomine residence, unintentionally summoning the ghost of Charles’s first wife, Elvira, who passed away there seven years prior.
Elvira had been a muse for much of Charles’s work; her spirit’s absence contributed to his writer’s block. Now jealous of Ruth, Elvira’s apparition attempts to unsettle her, leaving Charles caught between the two women as he remains the sole person able to perceive Elvira’s ghost.
Production
In May 2019, announcements confirmed that Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, and Judi Dench would headline the film directed by Edward Hall, with a screenplay penned by Piers Ashworth, Meg Leonard, and Nick Moorcroft. By June 2019, additional cast members including Leslie Mann, Julian Rhind-Tutt, and Emilia Fox had joined the project.
Principal filming commenced near Sydney in June 2019.
Release
The film debuted on 8 October 2020 at the Mill Valley Film Festival and was also shown later that month at the San Diego International Film Festival. Initially slated for a UK release on 1 May 2020, its launch was postponed first to 4 September and then again to 25 December 2020 due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In November 2020, distribution rights for the UK were acquired by Sky, which released it via the Sky Cinema platform on 15 January 2021. In the United States, distribution was managed by IFC Films.
Home media
On 26 April 2021, Blithe Spirit became available on DVD and Blu-Ray through Warner Bros. Home Entertainment under license from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. This release included interviews with cast members and additional bonus features. In Nordic territories, the film was distributed under the title My Better Halves.
Box office
During its opening weekend in the United States, Blithe Spirit generated $98,100 across 239 theaters. It also achieved top placement as the most rented indie film on Apple TV and ranked ninth among all rentals on the platform.
Critical response
According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating based on critical reviews, with an average score reflecting mixed reception. The consensus summarizes: "An uninspired take on beloved material, Blithe Spirit assembles a notable cast but fails to capture the original's lively comedic energy." Meanwhile, Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 26 out of 100 from sixteen critics, indicating generally unfavorable evaluations.