This World, Then the Fireworks

When they were children, the twins, Marty and Carol, witnessed a murder committed by their father. The experience continues to affect their lives even as adults. They become involved in prostitution, crime, and killings. The relationship between the brother and sister becomes increasingly sexual, with consequences that are fatal for those around them.
”This World, Then the Fireworks” is based on the novel of the same name written by Jim Thompson (1906-1977), considered by many to be one of the masters of the crime novel genre, well on a par with Dashiell Hammet and Raymond Chandler. Thompson wrote the story already in 1955, but it was first published in 1983, six years after his death. The reason for the delay in publication lies undoubtedly in the fact that the story centres on a sexual relationship between brother and sister, which was long considered too controversial. As late as the 1970's even Playboy magazine declined to print the story.
Michael Oblowitz's screen adaptation of ”This World, Then the Fireworks” is a ''90's film noir''. The plot in the film stays true to the book - it is set in the 50's and basically adheres to both the thematic and stylistic elements that were representative of the American version of the genre in its heyday, an era that started at the beginning of the 1940's and continued over a 10 year period. There is the disillusioned male protagonist who, hounded by an inescapable past, is torn between two strong, irresistible women. There are also the immoral and cynical people on either side of the law, random killings, the light-ing and shadows, rain washed streets in the dead of night, and the typical hard-boiled dialogue. Oblowitz is faithful to the genre to the point that he even permits the hero's voice to drive the action forward, narrating without sentimentality and often with badly concealed irony.
What is significant about ”This World, Then the Fireworks” is that Oblowitz has still allowed himself a considerable degree of freedom within the confines of a film style that already makes such masterly use of the medium to tell a story. He does not shrink from complex use of images or montage, or from emphasizing aspects of the narrative with the use of slow motion. The typical film noir atmosphere, as well as when the film is set are accentuated through the the use of a laid-back, cool jazz theme in the sound-track. Also new, of course, is the controversial subject matter inherent in Thompson's long unpublished story - an incestuous relationship between siblings.
Ola Blomqvist

Premiärstatus
Nordisk premiär: Medverkande
Billy Zane, Gina Gershon, Sheryl Lee: Producent
Chris Hanley, Brad Wyman & Larry Gross: Manus
Larry Gross, based on the short story This World, Then the Fireworks by Jim Thompson: Foto
Tom Priestley, Jr.: Musik
Pete Rugolo: Talat språk
English