Another Life

Another Life is a true story. Set in Edwardian London, it is the colourful and moving account of Edith Thompson, a woman wrongly accused of the murder of her husband, a case which became a 'cause celebre' of its time.

Beginning of 1909, the film traces the heady days when Edith falls in love with and finally marries her childhood sweetheart, Percy Thompson. The First World War follows during which time Edith becomes gradually disillusioned as Percy reveals himself to be a coward, dodging his military service.

Her whole world is changed when she meets the handsome Freddy Bywaters and she soon embarks on an affair with the young sailor. When the couple indulge in foolish fantasy, inventing unrealistic schemes to do away with Edith's husband, Freddy translates the game into reality, stabbing Percy to death as he walks home from the theatre with Edith.

Despite hugh public outcry and Bywater's adamant assertion that she had no hand in the killing, Edith is found guilty of murder alongside her lover, and they are both sentenced to be hanged.

Edinburgh International Film Festival - NBX review:

Set in Edwardian London, Another Life is based on the true story of Edith Thompson, a woman wrongly accused of her husband's murder.

Natasha Little (a This Life graduate who has since starred in the BBC's Vanity Fair) plays Edith, a career woman whose husband Percy Thompson (Nick Moran) is stabbed to death on a dark night in October 1922. As Edith recollects her past, we are introduced to Freddie Bywaters (Ioan Gruffudd), a sailor with whom she embarks on a passionate affair. When the lovers indulge in a fantasy to do away with her husband, little does Edith realise that Freddie is about to translate their game into action.

Writer-director Philip Goodhew first started researching Edith Thompson's story a decade ago, at the same time as he uncovered the material for his first feature Intimate Relations.

Goodhew and producing partner Angela Hart of Boxer Films set about getting the project off the ground in 1996 and the £2.5m budget was finally raised in 1998.

Ioan Gruffudd was the first actor on board. "I saw a trailer of him as Hornblower and was stunned at how similar he was to the real Freddie Bywaters," says Goodhew. Nick Moran, from Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, was a more unusual piece of casting as the dullard Percy. "Most people will be wondering what he's doing playing that role because its a period piece and he's not playing the baddie," says Goodhew.

Another Life was shot over six weeks at the end of 1999 at Three Mills Studios in Bow, East London and around London.