Maisie Williams, director Carol Morley and Florence Pugh.
Set in 1969, The Falling concerns an outbreak of mass hysteria in a girl's school that begins to affect teachers as well as pupils. Despite scepticism of the suggestion that a mystery illness is plaguing the school, the hysteria spreads, manifesting itself by making the girls faint or fall to the ground. The premiere was attended by director Carol Morley and her cast including Maisie Williams, Florence Pugh, Greta Scacchi and Monica Dolan.
Game Of Thrones' Maisie Williams takes the lead role of Lydia, a girl affected by the unknown malady who begins to unravel, failing to relate to her agoraphobic mother but growing closer to her lecherous brother. While she may be no stranger to festivals and conventions in her more high profile role of Arya Stark on Game Of Thrones, Williams was making a first by attending London Film Festival as a lead actress.
“I'm really excited to be here and I'm so so thrilled that the film has been received as well as it has but wow, when you put it like that it's really exciting.”
The film also marks the official debut of Florence Pugh, who plays Abbie, a student exploring her wild side outside of the classroom. The Falling is her first ever acting job in any capacity, so we asked what it was like to get such a great role on such an interesting project.
“You know what, it's still as much of a shock now. It was all really new to me, and THIS [gestures at the red carpet and the crowds] is all new to me. I got it exactly a year ago so I'm still learning now. It was a dream really, I mean, I had the best director to welcome me to this lifestyle this career, and it's basically just been one big lesson that I could never have dreamed for.”
It's all directed by Carol Morley, whose last feature Dreams Of A Life was also shown, and critically-acclaimed, at the London Film Festival. The film leaves many questions unanswered and builds tension and and an overwhelming feeling of eeriness. It's a film with rich cinematic influences, but the director is most pleased with one comparison in particular. “I'm liking that people are connecting it to Picnic at Hanging Rock because it's a film I really, really, really love. So I love that. But the influences are so many. What attracted me to it more was really filmically exploring young women in a dynamic way and a way that's not been done for a long time”
The Falling also stars Joe Cole, Maxine Peake and Matthew Baynton and currently does not have a UK release date.
Reporting By Joshua Hammond