This is a very well shot movie, using styles from the 1960’s – e.g. scenes like you saw in The Sound of Music or Mary Poppins. The story is about a precociously talented writer, played with gusto by the lovely Romola Garai, who becomes a writing sensation with wildly imaginative novels. She buys a mansion called Paradise House and gets the man of her dreams, a painter whose dark paintings haven’t found an appreciative audience. Without ruining the story, the dream house, controlling lifestyle and marriage don’t end well. At the end we’re left wondering if Angel’s ‘dream’ life was really all it cracked up to be. The implication is also that Angel won’t be remembered long term as a significant novelist, but more like a Judy Collins of this age (or a JK Rowling?).

Overall a really enjoyable movie. All the actors were great, including NZ’s Sam Neil with one of his signature performances as an upper class guy with soul and an artistic bent. The lead actress Romola Garai was especially good in this role.

The ending possibly could have been better, but still an absorbing movie with a great story and characters. Beautifully shot too, loved the homages to 60’s family movies.