Why you can trust GamesRadar+
Oscar-winning screenwriter William Nicholson's (Shadowlands) directorial debut is a period pic in which portraying emotions takes precedence over re-creating mid-19th century life. Two strangers, Elizabeth (Marceau) and Charles (Dillane) meet in Normandy and shag for three days; Marceau is paid a sizable sum to cancel family debt, while Charles gets the child his wife can't give him. Years later, Elizabeth, unbeknown to Charles, is appointed as a governess to teach their brattish daughter. The couple realise they're in love and when the tot realises teacher is Mum all ends nicely.
While Firelight's merits rest in Nicholson's plausible script, a fluid performance from Marceau and stunning photography, it still misses the mark. Nicholson clumsily glues these elements together, to the point where the film creaks like old furniture. Passable, but ultimately disappointing.
The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.
The Inside Out 2 panic attack scene is one of the best depictions of anxiety ever – and something Pixar director Kelsey Mann is incredibly proud of: "I couldn't be happier"
When making Kingdom Hearts, the "one thing" RPG icon Tetsuya Nomura "wasn't willing to budge on" was a non-Disney protagonist
The Witcher fans in shambles after a new book reveals just how old Geralt really is