I Saw The Light – Film Review by Frank L.

Directed by Marc Abraham
Writers: Marc Abraham, Colin Escott (book)
Stars: Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen, Maddie Hasson

Tom Hiddleston plays Hank Williams who was born in 1923 in Alabama. The film begins in 1944 when Williams is on the verge of conquering the world of Country music. He is already a hard drinking guy. A part explanation for his alcohol and drug dependence is the constant pain he endured having been born with spina bifida but it appears Williams was well into his twenties before this condition was recognised and therefore diagnosed. His father is never mentioned in the film but his mother Lillie (Cherry Jones) is a powerful figure who has little time for Audrey (Elizabeth Olsen), a divorcee who Williams marries and together they rapidly produce a son. However Williams has no understanding of matrimonial vows and the marriage does not work. There are more female friends. As can be discerned from the above there is little harmony in his life. In fact in this film there is a great deal of familial and matrimonial bickering. In addition there are professional rows with his musical colleagues as well. In short it is not a happy story.

Little attention is paid to the fact that Hank Williams wrote over twenty songs which came to dominate the charts of country & western music, many of which became classics. Hiddleston is convincing singing some of these. However no insight is given to Williams as a songwriter. What things or musicians inspired him or who were his musical heroes are not revealed. Olsen has an unlovely part to play as Audrey as does Jones as Lillie; their parts are those of an unloved wife and adoring mother. Given the stereotypes it was always going to be almost impossible to breathe any individuality into either role and neither does.

It is somewhat odd that HIddleston, a product of Eton, Oxford and Rada should be playing Hank Williams, a boy born of the deep south of America. However he is entirely convincing as the famed singer songwriter even if his odd wrinkle around the eyes would make him look a little older than Hank Williams. However it is probable the spina bifida, booze and the drugs had placed a fair few lines on Hank Williams’ countenance when he died aged 29. Abraham’s movie is an opportunity missed but Hank Williams’ songs still manage to rise above an otherwise mundane offering.