STOP explaining yourself. SHUT UP and act
"Both sets of eyes, though different far, hold many mysteries strange.
Impassively they watch the race of man decay and change.
Hatred burning bright in the brown eyes, with enemies for fuel,
Icy scorn glitters in the grey eyes, contemptuous and cruel."
1953, April 3 (Fri). "Today Juliet and I found the key to the 4th World. We realise now that we have had it in our posession for about 6 months but we only realized it on the day of the death of Christ. We saw a gateway through the clouds. We sat on the edge of the path and looked down the hill out over the bay. The island looked beautiful. The sea was blue. Everything was full of peace and bliss. We then realized we had the key. We now know that we are not genii, as we thought. We have an extra part of our brain which can appreciate the 4th World. Only about 10 people have it. When we die we will go to the 4th World, but meanwhile on two days every year we may use the key and look in to that beautiful world which we have been lucky enough to be allowed to know of, on this Day of Finding the Key to the Way through the Clouds."
~Pauline Parker diary entry
Found in Hillary Nathan's (once Pauline Parker) house in Kent, South East England. Amongst a large mural of similar paintings done by Nathan herself around 60 years after the murder of Honora. This particular image clearly shows two young girls, one brunette, the other blonde (much like Juliet and Pauline) being engulfed into flames. This is how Pauline had occasionally referred to hers and Juliet's relationship in her teenage diary entries.
The fact that this mural was found in her home (where she lived alone) recognises the fact that some 60 years after the murder, Hillary (Pauline) still resents being torn away from Juliet (now Anne Perry) and has not forgotten the fantasy and closeness their relationship had.
Following are some more prints from this same mural.
The fact that this mural was found in her home (where she lived alone) recognises the fact that some 60 years after the murder, Hillary (Pauline) still resents being torn away from Juliet (now Anne Perry) and has not forgotten the fantasy and closeness their relationship had.
Following are some more prints from this same mural.
DESCRIPTION OF ABOVE PAINTINGS:
TOP LEFT The entire mural done by Hillary Nathan found in her Kent home.
TOP RIGHT An image of a face taken over by pain. This could mean many things: her pain for being torn away from Juliet, her life changing decision to murder her Mother, Honora's reaction to the first blow of the brick etc. The fact that Hillary decided to include this image of pain in her mural can be quite disturbing depending on how you look at it. Does the idea of pain thrill her? Or is it remorse and regret?
BOTTOM LEFT An image in the mural depicting two figures being cut away from each other. Obviously this is how Hillary has remembered herself and Juliet being sent to separate prisons, the figures are blonde haired and darker haired, resembling the two girls. Both figures are growing from two plant shoots, this could symbolise the fantasy element Hillary felt in her relationship with Juliet Hulme.
BOTTOM RIGHT A long shot showing more pictures up close. Towards the bottom right we can see a religious figure, something that has taken over Pauline's life as Hillary, now a devout Catholic. This is interesting seeing how Pauline and Juliet often wrote about how much they despise the Bible and that being one of the reasons for the creation of The Fourth World. Top Right corner of this image portrays an element of isolation, this could be how Hillary felt when she was separated from Juliet to go to different prisons in 1954, and possibly ever since.
TOP LEFT The entire mural done by Hillary Nathan found in her Kent home.
TOP RIGHT An image of a face taken over by pain. This could mean many things: her pain for being torn away from Juliet, her life changing decision to murder her Mother, Honora's reaction to the first blow of the brick etc. The fact that Hillary decided to include this image of pain in her mural can be quite disturbing depending on how you look at it. Does the idea of pain thrill her? Or is it remorse and regret?
BOTTOM LEFT An image in the mural depicting two figures being cut away from each other. Obviously this is how Hillary has remembered herself and Juliet being sent to separate prisons, the figures are blonde haired and darker haired, resembling the two girls. Both figures are growing from two plant shoots, this could symbolise the fantasy element Hillary felt in her relationship with Juliet Hulme.
BOTTOM RIGHT A long shot showing more pictures up close. Towards the bottom right we can see a religious figure, something that has taken over Pauline's life as Hillary, now a devout Catholic. This is interesting seeing how Pauline and Juliet often wrote about how much they despise the Bible and that being one of the reasons for the creation of The Fourth World. Top Right corner of this image portrays an element of isolation, this could be how Hillary felt when she was separated from Juliet to go to different prisons in 1954, and possibly ever since.
1953, Sept. 9 (Wed). "It was wonderful returning with Juliet... it was as if she had never been away... I believe I could fall in love with Juliet."
~Pauline Parker diary entry
1953, Oct. 28 (Wed). (Juliet's Birthday) "...told Nicholas this evening that I was no longer very much in love with him because of my imaginary characters."
~Pauline Parker diary entry
Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey depict the perfect creepy, overly dependant relationship that Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme had from the year they met up until the date of the murder.
1953, June 14 (Sun). "Juliet and I decided the Christian religion had become too much of a farce and we decided to make up one of our own."
~Pauline Parker diary entry
Pauline kept a diary that was given to her by her Father. Pauline's diary for 1954 was a 'Whitcombe's New Zealand handy Diary.' On the outside front cover it said "The Handy Diary for 1954" and she would write in it daily, even on the morning of her Mother's murder.
Her diary suggests she was very studious and intelligent, with scrawled linked writing but not paying much attention to Grammar. The real diary entries reveal she was excited for the murder, and had a job at convincing Juliet...
Her diary suggests she was very studious and intelligent, with scrawled linked writing but not paying much attention to Grammar. The real diary entries reveal she was excited for the murder, and had a job at convincing Juliet...
THE FOURTH WORLD
Who first mentioned the Fourth World?
Juliet did.
What was the Fourth World?
Juliet said it was a place for "Music, Art and pure enjoyment." Mario would be there, and James, only they would be Saints. Later, both girls had visions of the "Fourth World" and it came to intrude on their perceptions of the real world, as well.
Was the Fourth World another name for heaven?
No, Juliet said The "Fourth World was "better than Heaven because there weren't any Christians."
Who discovered the Fourth World and when?
Juliet was the first to see the Fourth World, at Port Levy during Easter holidays with the Hulmes. Pauline was confused at first, until Juliet stood tall against the sky, took a deep breath and, in a sure voice, full of knowing anticipation, said: "Come with me!" (an important moment in "Heavenly Creatures.").
Both Juliet and Pauline went on to have a realistic, sensual vision of the "Fourth World." Interestingly, in real life, the vision occurred on Good Friday, 1953, the day commemorating Christ's trials, doubt, crucifiction, suffering and death, and not on Easter Sunday, the day commemorating his resurrection from the dead. "Heavenly Creatures" says the vision was apparently triggered by Juliet's intense depression, brought about because her parents planned to leave her behind in New Zealand when they went on a trip to England.
Who could look in to the Fourth World and when?
Pauline stated in her diary entry that "only about ten people" had the ability, the 'key,' to look into the "Fourth World," and that this could only occur on well-defined occasions, twice a year, when a gateway opened up through the clouds. The bright light of the gateway was like a brilliant six-pointed star--very similar to the star in the CGHS crest that was shown in the very first shot of "Heavenly Creatures," after the title.
Both Pauline and Juliet had this ability to 'look in to' the "Fourth World," because of an extra part of their brain, and that made them rare and special, and brilliant and it set them far apart from ordinary people.
'Looking in to' the "Fourth World" was apparently a different phenomenon, in the girls' eyes, from simply imagining the "Fourth World."
What was the Fourth World like?
In the girls' visions of the "Fourth World," it appeared to be like a lush, over-ripe, beautiful, sunny garden. There were manicured lawns, fountains and pools, marble statues, flowers in vibrant bloom, birds, giant butterflies and mythical beasts, like unicorns, tame and docile. In short, it looked a lot like the gardens and grounds of Ilam, the Hulme's residence.
The "Saints" were supposed to live there, but they were never shown in the girls' visions of the "Fourth World."
Was Borovnia part of the Fourth World?
This wasn't specified clearly in "Heavenly Creatures." At first, the two concepts seemed to be quite separate. The girls had visions of Borovnia independent of their visions of the "Fourth World," and the characters, objects and tone of the two places appeared to be quite distinct. Specifically, Borovnia was shown to be a lusty, bawdy, violent place while the "Fourth World" was peaceful and pastoral; Pauline described it as being full of peace and bliss. Later in the film, it seemed as if Borovnia may have existed as a kingdom in the "Fourth World," judging from images of the countryside seen outside Borovnia in some of the visions.
The "Saints" were said to exist in the "Fourth World." Some of the Borovnian characters had the features of the Saints and, of course, Mario Lanza was himself and he was supposed to live in the "Fourth World."
Who were the Saints?
Juliet initially identified four Saints:
Mario (Lanza)..........................."HE"
James Mason............................"HIM"
Mel Ferrar............................"THIS"
Suie Bjuling (IDd from script)........"THAT"
Pauline commented "Oh, I wish James Mason would do a religious picture. He'd be perfect as Jesus." Then proposed:
Orson Welles............................"IT"
...but Juliet said: "Certainly not! Oooh! Orson Welles--the most hideous man alive!" and she cast his picture to the water. Later, after the girls see "The Third Man," they don't change their opinions about his looks, but they both admit they "adore him," and "IT" is elevated to full sainthood.
BOROVNIA
What was Borovnia?
Borovnia was an imaginary kingdom invented by Pauline and Juliet in elaborate fantasies. They wrote extensively about Borovnia and peopled it with a large cast of characters, both noble and commoner. Pauline said to John-the-boarder that the family tree "was all worked out" for many generations. From time to time, the girls would assume the identities of the characters in real life, or would imagine themselves to be the characters in their visions of Borovnia. Borovnia was a violent, fun place full of action, romance and intrigue. See 3.1.16.11 for more on the character of Borovnia.
Are there parallels with other imaginary kingdoms?
[sb,lfr] The young Brontes had imaginary kingdoms of this kind. A good read on the subject is Daphne du Maurier's "The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte." Apparently the Brontes' fantasy world occupied the sisters for seven years, and was also incredible and quite violent (according to Jay Martin, Ph.D. in a lecture "Movies, Murders, Magic, Obsession and Oppression" given at S. Cal. Psychoanalytical Institute April 20, 1995).
What are the filmmakers' (Heavenly creatures) comments about Borovnia?
Jackson: Pauline and Juliet "used it...as an outlet for violent fantasies. Their stories about Borovnia became increasingly violent and bloodthirsty."
Why were the characters in Borovnia made of pasticine?
Jackson had initially imagined using actors dressed in medieval clothes. Then he heard of real plasticine models made by Juliet and seen by visitors to Ilam in the 50s and thought: "What a fascinating idea. Why don't we have Pauline and Juliet entering into a world populated by Plasticine figures rather than actors wearing costumes."
When and why did the girls have Borovnia visions?
Although Borovnia started out as a literary exercise for the girls' imaginations, both of them came to have more frequent visions of themselves in Borovnia or of Borovnian characters in their real lives.
Both Pauline and Juliet were shown to use Borovnian visions as an escape from unpleasant realities. As "Heavenly Creatures" progresses through a series of upsetting and traumatic events, the girls blur the distinction between the real world and fantasy, usually through Borovnian visions that help them deal with their problems.
Who had the first vision of Borovnia?
The first explicit vision of Borovnia was held by Juliet when she was confronted by Rev Norris in the sanatarium. Diello came to Juliet's rescue and carted off the annoying clergyman, bad teeth and all, to his beheading.
Who first imagined herself actually in Borovnia?
Pauline awoke outside the gates of Borvnia in the second 'Borovnia' vision, as if from a dream, during her night with John(Nicholas). She smiled, as if she were home.
Did anyone cross over completely?
Yes. The film implies that Pauline crossed over completely to the fantasy kingdom during "The Loveliest Night of the Year" when Diello carried her away from Ilam to Borovnia. When we see her in Borovnia, Pauline has become a plasticine Gina, her transformation complete. This final, all-important Borovnian scene would have been "The Rape of Gina" in archaic terms.
Who first mentioned the Fourth World?
Juliet did.
What was the Fourth World?
Juliet said it was a place for "Music, Art and pure enjoyment." Mario would be there, and James, only they would be Saints. Later, both girls had visions of the "Fourth World" and it came to intrude on their perceptions of the real world, as well.
Was the Fourth World another name for heaven?
No, Juliet said The "Fourth World was "better than Heaven because there weren't any Christians."
Who discovered the Fourth World and when?
Juliet was the first to see the Fourth World, at Port Levy during Easter holidays with the Hulmes. Pauline was confused at first, until Juliet stood tall against the sky, took a deep breath and, in a sure voice, full of knowing anticipation, said: "Come with me!" (an important moment in "Heavenly Creatures.").
Both Juliet and Pauline went on to have a realistic, sensual vision of the "Fourth World." Interestingly, in real life, the vision occurred on Good Friday, 1953, the day commemorating Christ's trials, doubt, crucifiction, suffering and death, and not on Easter Sunday, the day commemorating his resurrection from the dead. "Heavenly Creatures" says the vision was apparently triggered by Juliet's intense depression, brought about because her parents planned to leave her behind in New Zealand when they went on a trip to England.
Who could look in to the Fourth World and when?
Pauline stated in her diary entry that "only about ten people" had the ability, the 'key,' to look into the "Fourth World," and that this could only occur on well-defined occasions, twice a year, when a gateway opened up through the clouds. The bright light of the gateway was like a brilliant six-pointed star--very similar to the star in the CGHS crest that was shown in the very first shot of "Heavenly Creatures," after the title.
Both Pauline and Juliet had this ability to 'look in to' the "Fourth World," because of an extra part of their brain, and that made them rare and special, and brilliant and it set them far apart from ordinary people.
'Looking in to' the "Fourth World" was apparently a different phenomenon, in the girls' eyes, from simply imagining the "Fourth World."
What was the Fourth World like?
In the girls' visions of the "Fourth World," it appeared to be like a lush, over-ripe, beautiful, sunny garden. There were manicured lawns, fountains and pools, marble statues, flowers in vibrant bloom, birds, giant butterflies and mythical beasts, like unicorns, tame and docile. In short, it looked a lot like the gardens and grounds of Ilam, the Hulme's residence.
The "Saints" were supposed to live there, but they were never shown in the girls' visions of the "Fourth World."
Was Borovnia part of the Fourth World?
This wasn't specified clearly in "Heavenly Creatures." At first, the two concepts seemed to be quite separate. The girls had visions of Borovnia independent of their visions of the "Fourth World," and the characters, objects and tone of the two places appeared to be quite distinct. Specifically, Borovnia was shown to be a lusty, bawdy, violent place while the "Fourth World" was peaceful and pastoral; Pauline described it as being full of peace and bliss. Later in the film, it seemed as if Borovnia may have existed as a kingdom in the "Fourth World," judging from images of the countryside seen outside Borovnia in some of the visions.
The "Saints" were said to exist in the "Fourth World." Some of the Borovnian characters had the features of the Saints and, of course, Mario Lanza was himself and he was supposed to live in the "Fourth World."
Who were the Saints?
Juliet initially identified four Saints:
Mario (Lanza)..........................."HE"
James Mason............................"HIM"
Mel Ferrar............................"THIS"
Suie Bjuling (IDd from script)........"THAT"
Pauline commented "Oh, I wish James Mason would do a religious picture. He'd be perfect as Jesus." Then proposed:
Orson Welles............................"IT"
...but Juliet said: "Certainly not! Oooh! Orson Welles--the most hideous man alive!" and she cast his picture to the water. Later, after the girls see "The Third Man," they don't change their opinions about his looks, but they both admit they "adore him," and "IT" is elevated to full sainthood.
BOROVNIA
What was Borovnia?
Borovnia was an imaginary kingdom invented by Pauline and Juliet in elaborate fantasies. They wrote extensively about Borovnia and peopled it with a large cast of characters, both noble and commoner. Pauline said to John-the-boarder that the family tree "was all worked out" for many generations. From time to time, the girls would assume the identities of the characters in real life, or would imagine themselves to be the characters in their visions of Borovnia. Borovnia was a violent, fun place full of action, romance and intrigue. See 3.1.16.11 for more on the character of Borovnia.
Are there parallels with other imaginary kingdoms?
[sb,lfr] The young Brontes had imaginary kingdoms of this kind. A good read on the subject is Daphne du Maurier's "The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte." Apparently the Brontes' fantasy world occupied the sisters for seven years, and was also incredible and quite violent (according to Jay Martin, Ph.D. in a lecture "Movies, Murders, Magic, Obsession and Oppression" given at S. Cal. Psychoanalytical Institute April 20, 1995).
What are the filmmakers' (Heavenly creatures) comments about Borovnia?
Jackson: Pauline and Juliet "used it...as an outlet for violent fantasies. Their stories about Borovnia became increasingly violent and bloodthirsty."
Why were the characters in Borovnia made of pasticine?
Jackson had initially imagined using actors dressed in medieval clothes. Then he heard of real plasticine models made by Juliet and seen by visitors to Ilam in the 50s and thought: "What a fascinating idea. Why don't we have Pauline and Juliet entering into a world populated by Plasticine figures rather than actors wearing costumes."
When and why did the girls have Borovnia visions?
Although Borovnia started out as a literary exercise for the girls' imaginations, both of them came to have more frequent visions of themselves in Borovnia or of Borovnian characters in their real lives.
Both Pauline and Juliet were shown to use Borovnian visions as an escape from unpleasant realities. As "Heavenly Creatures" progresses through a series of upsetting and traumatic events, the girls blur the distinction between the real world and fantasy, usually through Borovnian visions that help them deal with their problems.
Who had the first vision of Borovnia?
The first explicit vision of Borovnia was held by Juliet when she was confronted by Rev Norris in the sanatarium. Diello came to Juliet's rescue and carted off the annoying clergyman, bad teeth and all, to his beheading.
Who first imagined herself actually in Borovnia?
Pauline awoke outside the gates of Borvnia in the second 'Borovnia' vision, as if from a dream, during her night with John(Nicholas). She smiled, as if she were home.
Did anyone cross over completely?
Yes. The film implies that Pauline crossed over completely to the fantasy kingdom during "The Loveliest Night of the Year" when Diello carried her away from Ilam to Borovnia. When we see her in Borovnia, Pauline has become a plasticine Gina, her transformation complete. This final, all-important Borovnian scene would have been "The Rape of Gina" in archaic terms.