Empire of Light
Overview
Empire of Light is a 2022 drama film written and directed by Sam Mendes, starring Olivia Colman as Hilary, a lonely, middle-aged woman who works as a duty manager at a beautiful, old cinema in an English seaside town in the 1980s. She forms a relationship with a younger, new employee, Stephen (Micheal Ward). The film is a quiet, intimate, and beautifully shot film about loneliness, mental illness, and the power of cinema. It was a critical and commercial disappointment, earning over $11 million on a $50 million budget. The film was praised for its performances, its cinematography, and its score. Olivia Colman gives a powerful, nuanced performance as a woman who is struggling with her mental health. The film is a must-see for fans of Sam Mendes and for anyone who loves a good, old-fashioned, romantic drama.
