Dreams of a Life - DVD - watched 10th July 2012

(Rated 6/5)


The caption on the DVD label says:

"Joyce Vincent's skeleton was found in her London flat three years after she died. Nothing was known about her. A quest to discover who she was and why she became so forgotten" 

Just that sent shivers down my spine. How could it be that someone dies and is not discovered for such a long time?! How can it be that not a single person in her life wonders where she is? Does/Did she have anybody in her life? Do they not care? My immediate conclusion was that she was elderly, with no children and all her friends and acquaintances had passed before she did. That seemed the only rational, human, 'acceptable' reason for this to be possible. BUT no, Joyce was fairly young, had family living - sisters and nephews and nieces, had friends, even had people living near her... and nobody seemed to actively question why they hadn't seen her in all that time.

This is an extraordinary film - billed as a drama documentary, though no box seems to really fit - and about one person's life, yet about all our lives and society today. It is a real story. This happened to one lady, and could happen more and more. We have lost so much in terms of community values and care. It is possible to live a highly independent life, especially in London, to be amongst a crowd of people and yet not seen, make no impact and disappear with nobody batting an eyelid. The film involves interviews of those found who did actually knew Joyce. And in those interviews, and portrayal by Zawe Ashton, Joyce can be sen as a vibrant, beautiful, attractive woman, who would draw attention to her and make those around her feel special, warm and entertained. She was aspirational but gradually the story reveals traumas in childhood and how they had a profound impact on her emotional and psychological make-up and way of being in the world. As Zawe explains there are both light and depth/darkness in Joyce and comedy and tragedy reside together on a knife-edge. I personally think that is true for very many of us. We could all be Joyce, even though the precise circumstances and personalities may be different. We all know people like her. EVERYONE has a story but so many are unknown.

I often sit on London Underground tube trains, noticing the people around me and feeling certain I will NEVER see them again. I wonder what has happened in their lives, and what will happen. It can feel mind-blowing. You get used to being aware of people in your life, but going for days, weeks, maybe months without making contact with them. We may assume they are still in the world - somewhere in the world even if far away - but in a split second they may not be and how would we know?! In many cases we have lost that close connection. I check in with my friends and family by text or email - the replies may be immediate or take a long time - we've got used to that being 'normal'.

I'm terrified of dying alone, of being the last to go, yet I also value my independence. Many couples these days love each other but only manage to stay together by living apart so they can have their space. It's something I completely understand. I related to much in Joyce's life. Her dreams. Her difficulties in attachment. Bringing sunshine into a room - as I've been told - and yet feeling empty inside. Loving others but wanting to be alone.

The film, as Zawe and director Carol Morley note, is a celebration of her and her life and a way of fulfilling her aspirations - she would have loved to be famous they conclude. In the process of playing Joyce, Zawe found closed doors within her opening. She hopes they did for Joyce too. And perhaps for all of us so that we do not close those physical and psychological doors on hope, life and connection.

This is a tender, sensitive... absolutely gorgeously emotive film... that really makes the audience think and feel.


                               Dreams of a Life – Review by TheRestrictedReviewer © 2012