影片主(zhǔ)角(jiǎo)是一个78岁的英国(guó)著(zhù)名作家(jiā),他身(shēn)患(huàn)重病却仍(réng)然酗酒(jiǔ)成性(xìng),口不择(zé)言夜(yè)晚(wǎn)不时(shí)陷(xiàn)于噩梦的缠(chán)绕(rào)中,令(lìng)他想入非非,一边琢(zuó)磨(mó)着他最(zuì)后(hòu)一部作品的情(qíng)节(jié)构思(sī),一边回忆着他的往事。于是,噩梦、他的想象(xiàng)加上往事的回忆相(xiāng)互(hù)混淆(xiáo)在一起,共(gòng)同构成了他作品的故(gù)事框(kuāng)架(jià)。 影片将(jiāng)文学创作的过程(chéng)跟幻想、愤怒等(děng)融(róng)为一体,制(zhì)造(zào)了一个精致(zhì)的弗洛伊(yī)德哑(yǎ)谜(mí)。这是雷奈的第(dì)一部用(yòng)英语拍(pāi)摄的影片。剧(jù)本(běn)比较拗(ǎo)口罗嗦,有较重的文学味,影片被认(rèn)为是雷奈的杰(jié)作,博(bó)加德的演出(chū)尤为精湛(zhàn),但一般(bān)观(guān)众(zhòng)可(kě)能会(huì)觉(jué)得(dé)单调乏味。 Clive Langham (Sir John Gielgud) spends one tormenting night in his bed suffering from health problems and thinking up a story based on his relatives. He is a bitter man and he shows, through flashbacks, how spiteful, conniving and treacherous his family is. But is this how they really are or is it his own vindictive slant on things