The Edge of Love Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys, Cillian Murphy Director: John Maybury
The plot may centre around the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas but the film itself soon becomes all about his women. Director John Maybury has put together a richly evocative drama, with the bombing of London during the second world war as its backdrop.
Thomas (played with simmering energy by Matthew Rhys) has two women at his beck and call: his wife (Sienna Miller) and his - and hers - lover (Keira Knightley, right with Miller). But just as everything seems to be working out - to a fashion at least - along comes a soldier (Cillian Murphy) who's waiting for war and looking for a little love of his own.
The tension is drawn from both the politics (Thomas was a conscientious objector) and the personalities. But as powerfully as the two male leads are played, the focus is soon drawn towards Knightley and Miller - one a superstar already and one who pretty soon will be.
There's a joyous abandon to their roles - Knightley in particular relishing every chance she's given to kick up her heels, and even belting out a few impressive songs along the way.
The very believable friendship they form on screen helps Maybury capture the spirit of the times, the bonding of people when every horror was falling down around the ears.