It’s pretty much exactly 16 years since Labour won a general election. This election broadcast film, The Conversation, was a memorable part of that campaign. It was produced by my partner at Lucas/Minghella, Mark Lucas, and directed by my brother, Anthony.
Video courtesy of Silverfish Films.
PS. There’s a terrific untold story about the filming of The Conversation. I’m minded to turn it into a drama. Watch this space!!
My brilliant brother, Anthony Minghella, would have been 67 today. He had our father’s hands – big and chunky and reassuring. He became quite famous, and everybody wanted a piece of him. It was frustrating sometimes. But there was this thing he would do: as you walked together, he would put his hand out just a little behind him, for you to take. He would flex his fingers in a kind of upside-down wave. And when you took that hand, the world fell away. You were safe, you were together, you were unassailable. Oh for that touch, for that feeling again.
There is always a new picture of Anthony to be found on the internet, when I’m in the mood and feeling strong.
Here’s one I found today and I like it because it’s not posed. It’s him in mid-conversation. He has that expression behind the eyes of a man trying to connect, to truly communicate. He listened well, and gave pertinent, intriguing answers. He managed, always, to be modest but also to have something to say, and could add sparkling insight to something you thought you already fully understood. He was clever. He was gifted. He was not just easy to love, but impossible not to love.
Today is his birthday. He would have been 66. To those of us who found him impossible not to love, he IS 66; he wormed his way beautifully into our hearts, into our very souls, and his chocolate-voiced wisdom remains.
Found this gem in my archive, and had to share. For those who loved him and miss him. xx
