Terence Davies facts for kids

Terence Davies (born November 10, 1945 – died October 7, 2023) was a British writer and director for films. He was known for making movies about his own life. Some of his famous films include Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988), The Long Day Closes (1992), and Of Time and the City (2008). He also directed movies based on books, like The House of Mirth (2000). Many people thought he was one of the best British directors of his time.

Early Life of Terence Davies

Terence Davies was born in Kensington, Liverpool, England, on November 10, 1945. He was the youngest of ten children in a working-class Catholic family. His mother was very religious and raised him as a Catholic. However, when he was 22, he decided he did not believe in religion and became an atheist.

Davies's father died from cancer when Terence was seven years old. He remembered the four years after his father's death, until he went to boarding school at age 11, as the happiest time in his life.

Terence Davies's Career in Film

After leaving school at 16, Davies worked for ten years. He was a clerk in a shipping office and also worked as an accountant without a formal qualification. Later, he left Liverpool to study at Coventry Drama School.

While at drama school, he wrote his first short film, Children (1976). This film was about his own life and was made with help from the BFI Production Board. After this, Davies went to the National Film School. There, he made Madonna and Child (1980), which continued the story of his character, Robert Tucker, during his time as a clerk. He finished this series of films with Death and Transfiguration (1983). In this film, he imagined what his own death might be like.

These three short films were shown together at film festivals in Europe and North America as The Terence Davies Trilogy. They won many awards.

First Feature Films

Davies's first two full-length movies were Distant Voices, Still Lives and The Long Day Closes. These films were also about his life and were set in Liverpool in the 1940s and 1950s.

Many film critics praised Distant Voices, Still Lives. One critic, Jonathan Rosenbaum, said it would be remembered as "one of the greatest of all English films." In 2002, critics voted it the ninth-best film of the previous 25 years. Even Jean-Luc Godard, a famous director who often didn't like British films, called it "magnificent." The Long Day Closes was also highly praised as Davies's most personal and successful work.

Adapting Novels to Film

Davies then directed two films based on books. These were The Neon Bible, from a novel by John Kennedy Toole, and The House of Mirth, based on a book by Edith Wharton.

The House of Mirth received very good reviews. Film Comment magazine named it one of the top ten films of 2000. The lead actress, Gillian Anderson, won an award for her performance.

Later Projects

After The House of Mirth, Davies wanted to make a film called Sunset Song, based on a 1932 novel. However, it was hard to find enough money for the film. Several groups, including the BBC and Channel 4, did not provide the final funds needed. The project was put on hold for a while.

During this time, Davies created two works for radio. One was an original play called A Walk to the Paradise Garden, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 2001. The other was a two-part adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel The Waves, which aired on BBC Radio 4 in 2007.

His next film was his only documentary, Of Time and the City. It was shown for the first time at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. This film used old news footage, popular music, and Davies's own voice to celebrate Liverpool. It received positive reviews.

Davies's next feature film was The Deep Blue Sea, based on a play by Terence Rattigan. This film was also highly praised, and the actress Rachel Weisz won an award for her role.

Finally, Davies found the money for Sunset Song in 2012, and filming began in 2014. It was released in 2015.

His next movie was A Quiet Passion, which told the story of the American poet Emily Dickinson. His last film, Benediction (2021), was about the British war poet Siegfried Sassoon.

Personal Life and Death

Terence Davies lived in Mistley, Essex, England. He passed away at his home on October 7, 2023, at the age of 77, after a short illness.

Filmography

Feature films

Documentaries

Short films

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Terence Davies para niños