Highlighting the beauty of the Monaro region of New South Wales, debut feature director James Litchfield (who is also the screenwriter) has produced an absorbing film about the struggles of a relationship in trouble and the unusual way that is attempted to save it. Alphabet Street features the always impressive talent of Adelaide’s own Tilda Cobham-Hervey, and she is joined by Nicholas Denton who delivers an equally outstanding performance.
In Alphabet Street, tree-changers Anna (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) and Jack (Nicholas Denton) have moved their professional jobs and lives to rural New South Wales leaving all their family and friends in Sydney. They struggle to settle in the idyllic farm house they have rented outside of a small town and they also have difficulties in making new friends besides their few work acquaintances. As a result of their feelings of isolation, their relationship begins to suffer.
Jack invents a new friend “Joe” who has a wife “Michelle” and also fabricates a backstory of “Joe” being a farmer who has land nearby their rented farm house. To further the joke between them, Anna claims she meets “Michelle” at the hospital she works at one night and she also invents a backstory for “Michelle” as well. Anna and Jack begin to exchange letters with “Joe” and “Michelle” which as their relationship further falters becomes their main source of communication before the situation takes a disconcerting turn.
Last week, Glam Adelaide was lucky to ask Tilda Cobham-Hervey about Alphabet Street and she stated that Nicholas Denton was a “playful and generous actor, and James created an environment where every idea was welcomed. It’s rare to feel that level of creative trust on set. We spent a lot of time together before filming, diving into the characters, building their backstories, and really interrogating their relationship. That gave us a strong foundation once we started shooting. Filming in Cooma, the whole cast and crew became a little family. Nicholas and I actually lived together in a bungalow during the shoot. It was like being on school camp. I loved it!”
Read Glam Adelaide’s full interview with Tilda Cobham-Hervey here: Glam Adelaide Tilda Cobham-Hervey
Alphabet Street features superb performances by Tilda Cobham-Hervey alongside Nicholas Denton and James Litchfield’s script is both clever and humorous. With rural New South Wales as the stunning background, captured by cinematographer Grégoire Lière, Alphabet Street is highly recommended.
Tilda Cobham-Hervey will be at Palace Nova Eastend Rundle Street staging an “alphabet lane” twist on her show “Dear Stranger” then a special screening of Alphabet Lane plus a post-film Q&A with Tilda and Tamara Hardmanafter on Friday April 24.
Further information and booking details at: Alphabet Lane Special Q&A Screening 24 April
Reviewed by Rob McKinnon
Rating 4 out of 5
YouTube Trailer: ALPHABET LANE | In Cinemas from April 23
Distributor: Screen Inc.
Superb performances by Tilda Cobham-Hervey with Nicholas Denton and James Litchfield’s script is both clever and humorous.
