Hampstead would have been an affecting tale of a tramp’s ordeal and eventual ascension in urban society if it didn’t choose to spread the love.
read more
Based on an actual incident where an elderly Irish tramp Harry Hallowes managed to become the owner of the plot of prime land that he has been squatting upon in 2007, Joel Hopkins’ Hampstead interestingly chooses to build a romance tale around the decade-old premise.
It would have been fine with effective casting and chemistry, but this was not meant to be with Hampstead Village widow Emily Walters (Diane Keaton) and Brendan Gleeson who plays Donald Horner – the elderly Irish tramp. They are both interesting personalities to behold on the silver screen, but definitely do not appeal as a memorable onscreen couple together.
Exploring through the perspective of time-seasoned individuals who are hoping to explore a new life, it is perceived to be difficult for either Emily or Donald to fully let go of their past baggage. It might help to enable better appreciation if their back stories could be incorporated, but Hampstead spends time to re-enact the court case in an attempt to inspire people to stand up against (any) justified cause.
Even Donald doesn’t seem too convinced himself in the film when Emily nudges him to engage a lawyer to defend his case against the property developer who is trying to evict him. “I don’t need help”, says Donald when a group of warm-bloodied volunteers rally near his shack.
While the society may view Donald’s choice of lifestyle as a peculiar taste, Donald feels dignified and doesn’t expect anyone to understand it. “I grow my own food, I produce my own electricity and I do not drive and contribute emissions”, his perspective against the majority perception that Donald leeches off society without paying communal taxes. It’s one of the best aspects of the film that inspires greater thoughts within the audience.
Emily can’t help but questioned Donald’s personal hygiene in an early scene. Many would inevitably associate people of his lifestyle with poor personal hygiene – a stereotypical trait that could also be exploited further in the film.
But Hopkins chooses to focus on Emily and Donald’s romance, as if the couple’s love would generate a greater cause. The final concluding chapter seeks to realise a dissatisfactory point of how love transcends everything in life where everything that Donald fought for was simply given up.
Hampstead would have been an affecting tale of a tramp’s ordeal and eventual ascension in urban society if it didn’t choose to spread the love.
read less