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The 70th BFI London Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday with the European premiere of “Elsinore,” a movie that, as the credits rolled, left large swathes of the audience at the Royal Festival Hall wiping away tears.
But just moments later, as the name of lead star Andrew Scott appeared on stage, the loud snuffles were replaced with whoops and, in rather uncharacteristically British style, a standing ovation for the actor.
Directed by Simon Stone from a script by Simon Beresford, “Elsinore” — already expected to be among the awards season hopefuls — sees Scott portray famed Scottish actor and “Chariots of Fire” star Ian Charleson. In 1989, while already succumbing to complications from AIDS, Charleson replaced Daniel Day-Lewis in “Hamlet” at London’s National Theatre after the actor had walked off stage mid-performance, never to return to the production. Charleson received rave reviews, but died just seven weeks after bowing out.
Speaking on stage ahead of the premiere, Stone introduced his cast, including “the great Andrew Scott.” While Scott said little before “Elsinore” began, afterwards he made a special presentation in which he called up the real-life individuals from the film and the actors portraying then, including the National Theatre’s stage doorkeeper for 46 years, Linda Tolhurst (played by Monica Dolan), itss long-serving dresser Ralph Mills (Paul Chahidi), and director and Charleson’s close friend Sean Mathias (Matthew Beard). But the biggest round of applause — and other standing ovation — was reserved for pioneering HIV/AIDS consultant Dr. Margaret Johnson (Olivia Colman).
“It’s difficult to underestimate the impact this person had on the development of treatment for people suffering with HIV and AIDS,” said Scott. “To our mind, she is a true life hero.”
Scott then signed off by introducing a song from camp classic “The Ethel Merman Disco Album,” performed in the film, as a tribute to Charleson. “We want you to be able to remember not just Ian’s death, but how extraordinarily he lived with such flair and zest and warmth and charm and passion and talent,” he said, adding that the song “encapsulates this man who loved this industry so much.”
Encouraging the audience to dance as they left the auditorium, Scott concluded: “He went out performing, so this one’s for you, Ian. We love you.”
Speaking to Variety before the premiere, LFF head Kristy Matheson said she’d first seen “Elsinore” — which has amassed widespread critical acclaim since premiering in Telluride — with colleagues during the summer. “It was one of those films where we walked out and we just had to really take a beat,” she said. “We were really so sure of the film from the second it finished.”
Bringing “Elsinore” to London as the curtain raiser not only felt like a perfect choice for the festival, but offered some considerable poignancy given the location of the opening night premiere — merely meters from where Charleson gave his final performance.
“I think it’s going to be such an incredible moment to screen that film literally a stone’s throw away from the National Theatre,” said Matheson. “So it feels like we’re going to bring this film home, and I’m just really excited and honored to do that.”
The London Film Festival runs Oct 7-18, with other major screenings including the likes of “Wild Horse Nine,” “La Bola Negra,” “Club Kid,” “Ink,” “Artificial,” “Primetime” and “The Debut” and a lineup of Screen Talks involving the likes of Danny Boyle, Cynthia Erivo, Sofia Coppola, Javier Bardem and John Malkovich.
