26.08.2010- My Safe Place

Safe  is a soon to be published coffee table book which has been created by Emma Thompson in collaboration with photographer Nick Haddow. The book showcases Haddow's beautiful portraits of strong, inspirational women from around the world, photographed in the places that they feel safest and has been developed in order to support The Helen Bamber Foundation. The foundation, established in 1995, works with survivors of human rights violations, and, in their own words, responds with 'compassion and creativity to the legacy of cruelty. We help to mend what was broken in a safe and supportive environment, where restorative relationships enable survivors to feel whole again.'

Proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards helping survivors of genocide, trafficking, torture and rape find their own safe places and rediscover both their strength and their voices. In conjunction with the publication of the book, which is also being supported by Chanel, Lady Tina Green and Working Title Films, a travelling exhibition will be launched in late 2010, although details are yet to be confirmed.

Emma Thompson is encouraging women all over the world to get involved with the Safe project by asking them to share their own safe places, via www.mysafeplace.co.uk (although sadly the website is currently down, fingers cross it will be working again soon.)

Here are some of Nick Haddow's stunning images shot for the Safe project:

Diane Kruger.

Keira Knightley.

Kate Winslet.

Natasha Richardson, such a touching portrait.

Rosamund Pike.

Vanessa Paradis.

The list of contributors to the book is enormous; Haddow has photographed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Ziyi Zhang in their chosen safe surroundings, and I'm sure that we'll be hearing a lot more about the project over the coming months, in the lead up to the release of the book in Spring 2011. It's such a fantastic initiative to raise both money and awareness for a cause which is so deserving and worthwhile. Keep your eyes peeled on mysafeplace.co.uk (which will hopefully be back to working order soon) to find out more about the project. 

My safe place would probably have to be on the beach in Spain where I spent my holiday this year. I've been going there since I was less than a year old, and it will always have a special place in my heart as it holds so many fond memories, and I'm never happier than when I'm running around like a big kid in the surf.

Where is your safe place?

(Image credit: Google Images, Nick Haddow and Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)

08.08.2010- Film Review: An Education

An Education (2009), directed by Lone Scherfig.

Last weekend I finally got round to watching An Education, after snapping it up on DVD at a bargain price (£8!) The film, based upon the memoirs of journalist Lynn Barber, tells the story of Jenny (played by Carey Mulligan), a young girl on the cusp of adulthood who is preparing to begin a degree at Oxford University. Jenny's parents (more specifically her father, played brilliantly by Alfred Molina) are in the midst of coaching Jenny for the start of her academic career when their lives are invaded by mysterious stranger David (Peter Sarsgaard). David seduces Jenny with expensive gifts, glib persuasion and a 17th birthday trip to Paris, the bohemian paradise of her naïve dreams. As he infiltrates Jenny's comfortable suburban life, she begins to reconsider her priorities and question whether she should follow the path to Oxford or shun University completely. Indeed, in one telling scene, Jenny's father even discourages her from going, in favour of her being financially supported by David after the two become engaged. As Jenny is further exposed to the charmed yet morally bankrupt life David leads, she encounters two of his close friends, Danny and Helen, portrayed by Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike respectively. Cooper, as always, charms, much as he has done since his breakthrough in The History Boys, but it is Pike who is the true scene stealer of this film, thanks mainly to the comic potential of the character she has been gifted with. Helen is essentially the antithesis of Jenny; a woman who lacks ambition or a great deal of intellect, and who is happy to be supported by her boyfriend whilst quaffing champagne adorned in designer clothes. Just as the truth about David's luxurious living and deceit is revealed, Jenny neglects to take her A-Level examinations and is ultimately left to rely upon herself to make the biggest decision of her young life.

I found An Education extremely enjoyable, and in places very funny. The script, written by Nick Hornby, possesses true British wit and heart, and the cinematography, which encapsulates the rainy pavements of Twickenham and the romantic Parisian sunset, is beautiful. In places, I did find the plot quite predictable, but I put this down to Sarsgaard's performance; he does such a brilliant job of making David slightly creepy and unnerving that it was obvious from the outset that he was not all he seemed and would ultimately leave Jenny broken-hearted. The film also features some brilliant supporting performances, specifically from Emma Thompson and Olivia Williams, who, as Jenny's teachers, do all they can to dissuade her from her association with David. The costume designs of Odile Dicks- Mireaux also deserve commendation, as they place the film perfectly within the 1960's and evoke a decadence which begins to seduce the audience just as it seduces Jenny. As the film concludes, we bear witness to a cautionary tale of the price of being too trusting, and, much like Jenny, are reminded of the valuable lessons that life, as well as school, can teach us.

Have you seen An Education? What did you think of it?

(Image credit: Google.)