Hallam Foe | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
Directed by | David Mackenzie |
Produced by | Gillian Berrie |
Written by | Peter Jinks (novel) David Mackenzie and Ed Whitmore (screenplay) |
Starring |
Jamie Bell Sophia Myles Claire Forlani Ciarán Hinds Jamie Sives Maurice Roëves |
Music by | Matt Biffa (music consultant) |
Cinematography | Giles Nuttgens |
Edited by | Colin Monie |
Production
company |
|
Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures |
Release date
|
|
Running time
|
95 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Hallam Foe is a 2007 British drama film directed by David Mackenzie based on the novel written by Peter Jinks. The film was released in the United States as Mister Foe. The screenplay was written by Ed Whitmore and David Mackenzie and produced by Gillian Berrie.
Hallam Foe premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on 16 February 2007 and competed for the Golden Bear for Best Motion Picture. The film won the Silver Bear for Best Music.
The film was released in the UK on 31 August 2007 and in the US on 5 September 2008.
Hallam Foe is a teenage loner who lives on his father's large estate near Peebles. His hobby is spying on people from his tree house. Hallam is convinced that his stepmother (Verity) is responsible for his mother's death by drowning two years earlier. Hallam's sister leaves home to attend university and it becomes clear that Verity and his father want Hallam to move on as well. Hallam initially refuses due to his suspicion of Verity, but she uses his diaries first to have sex with him and then to blackmail him into leaving. To escape his father and stepmother, Hallam travels to Edinburgh.
Upon arrival in Edinburgh, Hallam sees Kate, an administrator at the Balmoral Hotel, located in the city centre. Kate bears a striking resemblance to his late mother. He manages to persuade her to give him a job as a kitchen porter in the hotel. Hallam makes his home in the clock tower of the hotel because of its vantage point over Kate's home in a top flat, where he can spy on her. He also spies on Kate through a skylight on her roof, clambering over the roofscape to reach his vantage point.
Hallam learns that another senior hotel employee (Alasdair) is having an extra-marital affair with Kate. Alasdair then discovers Hallam's lookout in the clock tower. Hallam attempts to blackmail Alasdair with the knowledge of his adultery, but Alasdair dismisses him. Hallam retaliates by finding Alasdair's wife and child and thereby demonstrating the ability, if he wishes, to inform her of the affair, which forces Alasdair to give him back his job.