Directed by: Claire McCarthy
Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Matthew Goode, Kerry Fox, Darci Shaw
Finally a drama with a real happy ending and very positive message: if you are young, talented, and bold but you don’t succeed on the first attempt- don’t give up, don’t get disappointed, just go ahead, believe in yourself and trust in what you are doing. You will be on the top (eventually).
The movie is the life story of Clarice Cliff, a teenage designer of pottery and her rise up to the top of the industry. And not just any industry- an industry that is traditionally ruled by men. So when a 20 years old just walks in and makes a real boom in something that’s been unchanged for a long time, that’s something.
The industrial suburbs in London, England in the beginning of the 20th century was not a spot where you would expect to find such a visionary talent in an unusual art sector like pottery design. But Clarice was just that: she had some ahead of her time ideas that shocked the market. She developed a unique style and her first productions were called “Bizarre.”
But achieving the goal of change is never easy. Clarice was underestimated by the management of the manufacturer where she made her first steps as a designer. She not only presented a new view on how to shape clay, she suggested something that was really imaginative and out there in that time: to make plates and cups so colourful that everybody will smile when using them.
Her first collection presentation at the Pottery Fair in London was a flop. Nobody was interested. In a state of despair she get another genius idea: how to sell the products. Actually, that was the turning point in marketing in that time (and long after that). It was called direct sale. So she avoided old-fashioned, mostly male, sales representatives who overturned her line at the Fair and established a direct way of presenting (and selling) the products to those who actually use those items on a daily basis- female customers.
She sold over 8 million pieces of hand crafted pottery through her long career as a designer.
This is one lavish movie. You’ll like the characters and you’ll like the atmosphere of England in the 1930s. Filming is on a high standard, so many details, and beautiful costume design as well.
Watch the movie. It is going to be competing for any prizes but it’s a mind and spirit booster.
You can get it if you really want it- universal message. A worthwhile message for today too.
