In the
front row pew, a young boy named Gabriel sits as his father and
a preacher tell him: "There are certain people who are chosen
by God for some special purposes of His own. And we believe you
are such a one." Thus unfolds the destiny of Gabriel in Brian
Kirk's riveting Middletown.
After almost an entire lifetime spent in religious instruction,
Gabriel returns to his small Irish town as the new preacher. But
the town is full of drinking and gambling, and Gabriel's younger
brother Jim and sister-in-law Caroline are no exceptions. Soon
Gabriel learns that Caroline does not attend church, runs the
local pub across from the church on the Sabbath, and refuses to
have her child baptized. Jim, the flat-broke black sheep of the
family, quickly becomes caught between his brother's beliefs and
his wife's strong-mindedness.
As a messenger of God, Gabriel believes he must save the townspeople,
especially his brother, his sister-in-law, and the couple's unborn
child. The battle for their souls brings about some surprising
revelations on all sides. With a commanding use of shadows, Kirk
exquisitely captures the ominous tone of Daragh Carville's dynamic
script.
Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice) gives an authoritative
performance as Gabriel, ably balancing stoicism and vulnerability.
Daniel Mays (Vera Drake) perfectly captures Jim's reckless sensibility
and quest for responsibility, while Eva Birthistle (Breakfast
on Pluto) plays the headstrong Caroline with aplomb. Middletown
is an explosive, dark drama that is sure to captivate viewers
from its opening scene to its potent finale.
Acclaimed
violinist Jack Liebeck appears on the soundtrack
Debbie Wiseman was awarded the MBE in 2004 for her services to
the film industry, recognising her as one of the UK's leading
score writers
Her work includes acclaimed music for Wilde, Warriors, Tom's Midnight
Garden and most recently Ar'ne Lupin.
Official Debbie
Wiseman site
http://www.debbiewiseman.co.uk
1.
ONE OF OUR OWN (3:35)
2.
THE HOUR IS COMING (1:56)
3. THE HEART OF MY FAMILY (2:19)
4. NO REST FOR THE WICKED (3:59)
5. AN INFANT BORN IN A PUBLIC HOUSE (2:23)
6. THE MESSENGER OF GOD (4:54)
7.
I BRING YOU THIS CHILD (4:48)
8. MIDDLETOWN (4:11)
9. NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WILT (3:15)
10. OUR NEW PREACHER (4:57)
11. CHOSEN BY GOD (3:39)
12. SINNERS AND BLASPHEMERS (7:22)
sound
samples in MP3 format
The
first 50 copies will be autographed by Debbie Wiseman
