4.5 Stars Let's Go to Antigonish "Margaret's Museum is a quirky little independent Canadian film made over 10 years ago, featuring an impressive performance by Helena Bonham Carter (trying to do something other than English period pieces) as the title character. Carter is one of the most talented contemporary actresses and her failure to become a major star is a bit of a puzzle.
The film's obscurity is not such a puzzle, it contains just enough wry humor and off-kilter behavior to offend those who take its political message seriously and not enough to become a cult classic. The producers should have amped up the weirdness level a bit.
It will remind viewers of "New Waterford Girl", not just because both were filmed in Nova Scotia, but because the heroines are similar as is the theme of diminished small town expectations. It is probably safe to say that these are the only feature films that reference the town of Antigonish.
Gaelic lovers should especially enjoy "Margaret's Museum as it includes a lot of traditional music. If you are a Scotsman at heart you will pick up on obscure references to things like The Battle of Culloden" (i.e. Bonnie Prince Charlie 1746).
Margaret MacNeil lives with her widowed mother in a small company town in Nova Scotia (1949 judging by the cars). The economy revolves around the coal mine and the story has all the "I owe my soul to the company store" elements (''Sons and Lovers'' and ''The Molly Maguires'' are unfunny examples). Margaret's father and older brother were killed in the mine and her grandfather is barely able to breathe after years of working in "the pit". The broken nature of the family and the cause are symbolized by their house, once a duplex the other unit was destroyed when a portion of the tunnel underneath collapsed.
Margaret falls in love with and marries Neil Currie (Clive Russell), at least in part because he has quit mining work for good. Neil is a giant of a man who incessantly plays the bagpipes, speaks in the Gaelic dialect, drinks a lot, and composes traditional tunes. Of course with all the emphasis on Neil staying out of the mines you just know that he will eventually go back to work there. There is a coming of age side story about Margaret's younger brother Jimmy (Craig Olejnik), but it is given too little emphasis to be much of a factor. It does introduce a bit of irony as Jimmy is expected to be the family member who breaks the mold and escapes, but his first love makes him reluctant to leave the town for better things.
Kate Nelligan plays Margaret's deservedly fatalistic mother and creates a complex character. Watch how this hardened woman occasionally exhibits a ray of optimism and even a slight bit of hope for her daughter.
The title refers to Margaret's "Cost of Coal" museum which she opens as an expression righteous indignation. The museum sequences bookend the main story (told in a long flashback).
If not on the perfection level of "New Waterford Girl", the fine performances and the excellent production design make "Margaret's Museum" well worth watching.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
A Truth Told In A Beautiful Story This is an amazingly real story, so well acted and directed. The characters are all so natural. I love this film because it tells a TRUTH about the actual cost of mining. The location is beautifully photographed here in Canada on the East Coast. This is a must see for anyone who enjoys a thoughtful and genuine story about life.
Human Limits How much can a woman take? Apparently lots. However, for Margaret the questions transcends that - she lost everything and she simply wants to keep something. Helena Bonham Carter is more than her typical Merchant and Ivory cardboard character - she really stratches with this one and comes out stronger for it. It is shame that this movie along with other greats like Firelight and Jude did not achieve the commercial success that movies of this quality deserve. It is a painful movie, yet it is heartwarming and really has something for everyone. On a dreary rainy day, slide this into your machine and surrender to Margaret's world and into the soul of a brave woman. Carter is up there with Marceau and Winslet and delivers an Oscar caliber performance.
Miguel Llora
A Canadian Labour Movie About Life in the Coal Mines Margaret MacNeil is a woman living on Canada's east coast in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia during the turn of the century. Glace Bay is a coal-mining town, and Margaret knows the horrors of the mines. Her father and brother were both killed in mining accidents, and her grandfather's lungs are completely ruined by working with coal for years. From such experiences, Margaret hates the coals mines and vows never to get involved with a man who works with coal. That is hard to do, when all the town's employment opportunities exist in the mines.
Margaret marries a dishwasher, Neil Curry, and begins her life as a married woman. Though they are poor, they are also happy. However, within their first year as a married couple Neil is fried from his job at a Chinese restaurant, and forced to find work in the mines. Margaret, upset by his new career, leaves her husband--a man who once vowed never to work the mines again. She eventually forgives him, as he was left with no choice, as Glace Bay had few employment opportunities. Meanwhile, Margaret's 16 year old brother dropped out of school and got a job in the mines too.
Margaret's life is turned upside down, as her uncle gets arrested for causing a fire in the company store after finally realizing how he has been exploited by his employer for years. Not long after, a rockslide in the mines kills her brother and husband. Distracted by the sirens of emergency, she ran to the mine, where she learned of the death to her loved ones. During this time, her grandfather died in his bed because Margaret was not home to hit his back during cough attacks caused by miner's lung.
The following is unbelievable, as she removes her dead brother's genitalis, husband's fingers and grandfather's lungs. She then displayed those body parts at her home as a reminder of the horror of the mines.
After being in a mental institution for a couple of years, Margaret is freed. She comes home and is confronted by her mother, who disowns Margaret and Glace Bay. Margaret goes to the half-built home that her husband began after they had got engaged. She turns her home to a museum, to preserve the memory of her family while living in utter isolation.
enchanting, slightly off-beat little charmer of a film Set in a coal mining village in 1950's Nova Scotia, this little gem of a film holds one to his seat throughout the movie. Helena Bonham Carter brillantly portrays a common girl who is at once confused and sure of herself. If you liked her previous performances, you'll love this film. END
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
