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A grim yellow pall hangs over the drab, empty spaces of Sam MendessEmpire of Light.
The middle-aged Hilary lives by herself and spends much of her off time at the Empire.
We learn from an early doctor visit that Hilary has been taking lithium.
Marvelous stuff, the physician opines, but Hilary wants to stop taking it.
Hilary is fascinated by Stephen almost as soon as he arrives.
But we never really get into his life or hers.
Their relationship doesnt feel particularly liberating or lively or even needful.
The director was reportedly inspired by his own mothers struggles with mental illness in writing this film.
That speaks to his sincerity, but maybe hes too close to the material this time around.
(ThinkStray Dogs.)
But they can do only so much with such underwritten characters.
And so the film goes through the motions with Hilary and Stephen.
We know the relationship wont last.
We know her mental situation will fray.
For all the energy expended on the look of this film, theres nothing much onscreen.
