Agatha Christie - Unfinished Portrait is a British biographical drama movie that premiered in 1992, directed by James Cellan Jones, and starring Joan Hickson. The movie explores the complicated life of Agatha Christie and provides a glimpse into the person behind the famous mystery novels. The story is set in the 1920s when Christie was struggling to come to terms with her husband's infidelity and feeling overwhelmed with her newfound fame. The movie begins with Christie arriving at a spa in Devon, where she plans to spend some time to heal and write her next novel.
At the spa, she meets a young therapist by the name of Wally Stanton (Jane Lapotaire), who immediately takes a liking to her. When Wally tells her she's a massive fan of her work, Christie becomes intrigued and begins to open up to her therapist, revealing secrets about her past and present struggles.
Throughout the film, flashbacks are used to show Christie's life before reaching the spa, including her relationship with her cheating husband, Archie (Nicholas Clay), and her struggles with writer's block. We also see her interactions with her daughter, Rosalind (Anna Cropper), and the impact her work has had on her family life.
Christie finds solace in her sessions with Wally and even begins to see herself in a new light. She becomes more self-aware of the choices she's made in her life and what she can do to move forward. But when a journalist (Hugh Fraser) arrives at the spa and begins to pry into Christie's life, she starts to feel trapped, and the past begins to haunt her.
Throughout the movie, we see Joan Hickson deliver a captivating performance as Agatha Christie. Despite having played Miss Marple on screen, the actress portrays the famous writer in a very different light. She brings depth, subtlety, and nuance to the character that's both captivating and touching.
The movie also does an excellent job of exploring the themes of betrayal, loss, and creativity. It's a story about a woman who's famous for creating stories, but is struggling to find a happy ending in her own life. It's about the burden of fame and how it can impact the people who carry it.
Overall, Agatha Christie - Unfinished Portrait is an intimate and respectful portrait of one of the most famous writers of the 20th century. It's a movie that delves into the complexities of Christie's life and provides an insight into the woman behind the mysteries. If you're a fan of Christie's work, then this movie is a must-watch.
Agatha Christie - Unfinished Portrait is a 1990 non-fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour.
