Possession Page #2

Synopsis: Roland Michell is an American scholar trying to make it in the difficult world of British Academia. He has yet to break out from under his mentor's shadow until he finds a pair of love letters that once belonged to one of his idols, a famous Victorian poet. Michell, after some sleuthing, narrows down the suspects to a woman not his wife, another well known Victorian poet. Roland enlists the aid of a Dr. Maud Bailey, an expert on the life of the woman in question. Together they piece together the story of a forbidden love affair, and discover one of their own. They also find themselves in a battle to hold on to their discovery before it falls into the hands of their rival, Fergus Wolfe.
Director(s): Neil LaBute
Production: USA Films
  1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
6.4
Metacritic:
52
Rotten Tomatoes:
64%
PG-13
Year:
2002
102 min
$10,058,448
Website
214 Views


- [Scoffs] | - Fergus. Where is Fergus?

- He's supposed to be teaching. | - I'll come with you.

No need. | The novice blunders | on the discovery.

The scholar investigates.

You get on with | those wretched requests | for Ellen's stuff.

I'll go straight from there | to my class.

Thank you, Roland. | What a wonderful discovery. | They're magically delicious.

- He's a meany. | - That's a very nice name | for what he is.

Wretched requests, please.

[Chuckles] | " How many jars | of gooseberry jam...

did Ash's wife, Ellen, | make in 1850?"

Hmm. This is not | a job for a grown-up.

Gooseberry.

Cooking. | Gooseberry jam.

Cooking, 143.

What about a small, | informal party?

1859.

[Ellen's Voice] My headache | last night prevented me | from accompanying Randolph...

to dear Crabb-Robinson's...

for a dinner honoring | the poetess Christabel LaMotte.

He was reluctant | to attend without me, | but I was persistent...

and finally persuaded him.

Ash, you know | Professor Spear.

I'm delighted.

Mrs. Jameson. | Mrs. Jameson.

Charmed.

Miss Glover.

Oh, Miss Glover.

- And Miss LaMotte. | - Miss LaMotte.

The highest pleasure.

[Ellen Narrating] | Randolph reported the party went | off very well, indeed.

The discussion of poetry | was animated,

with Miss LaMotte | speaking more forcibly | than anyone expected.

Surprises me, madame, | that a lady who lives | as quietly as you do...

wouldn't be aware | of my modest success.

Oh, I'm very aware | that the papers | herald you weekly.

It is you, however, | who surprise me.

- And why is that? | - Judging from your work,

I'm surprised you'd even | acknowledge my existence...

or any woman's for that matter | since you show us such | small regard on the page.

You cut me, madame.

I'm sorry.

I only meant to scratch.

Hey, Fergus.

[Running Footsteps] | Ah, hello, Roland.

What is it you chaps always say, | " How's it hanging?"

Well, we usually | just say "hey." | Unless you're gay.

Oh. | Listen.

Let me ask you something. | Do you know a Dr. Maud Bailey?

Maud! Oh, yes, | I know Maud very well.

She teaches Gender Studies | at Lincoln.

Oh. Would she be helpful? | I'm checking out | Christabel LaMotte.

She's a poet, | writing around about 1859.

Yes, yes. Why would you | be interested in her?

Oh, nothing. It's just | I had some requests | about Ellen Ash's papers.

But LaMotte's name | came up, so...

The keeper of Ellen's flame. | I mean, that's the bottom | of the food chain, old sport.

Yeah, but I got to stay | on the food chain, old sport. | That's why I do it.

Right. Well, | " Publish or perish," | as they say.

Or in your case, | " Perish or perish."

So would she... | this Maud Bailey person?

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David Henry Hwang

David Henry Hwang (simplified Chinese: 黄哲伦; traditional Chinese: 黃哲倫; pinyin: Huáng Zhélún; born August 11, 1957) is an American playwright, librettist, screenwriter, and theater professor. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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