DEAN SPANLEY
The Story:
Set in Edwardian England, immediately after the Boer War. In the very early 1900s, Henslowe Fisk (Jeremy Northam) lives beholden to his father, a difficult Horatio Fisk (Peter O'Toole). The Fisk family has suffered the loss of the youngest son named Harrington (Xavier Horen) killed in the Boer War shortly followed by the death of his grieving wife. Fisk Senior is looked after by his house keeper Mrs Brimley (Judy Parfitt) who herself has lost her husband. Fisk Junior reluctlantly visits his father every Thursday.
One day, trying to entertain his father, Fisk Junior brings him to a lecture by a visiting swami(Art Malik) about the transmigration of souls that is attended by the new local clergyman, Dean Spanley (Sam Neill).
Later the same day he sights the Dean at his father's club. A chance third meeting leads to an introduction. Fisk Junior is intrigued by the Dean's oddly open-minded views on reincarnation, and, getting beyond the appearance of an affable, rather bland clergyman, by his weakness for certain peculiar sensations, produced by Hungarian Imperial Tokay wine, which leads him into a dreamlike state. Working with his clever friend Wrather (Bryan Brown), an Australian "conveyancer", Fisk secures a large batch of fine Tokay and the two entertain the Dean, who acts ever more strangely, starting to reveal memories of his previous life – as a Welsh Spaniel.
These memories are acute and convincing, including the rich feelings around food and communication with other canines, a deep distaste for cats and pigs, and the joy of serving his master. As the story unfolds, Fisk Junior comes to understand his father's background better, and the two draw closer.
Starring:
Peter O'Toole, Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Art Malik, Judy Parfitt, Ramon Tikaram,
Directed By:
Toa Fraser
Release:
2008
Watch the Trailer:
