Last week saw the start of the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival. So far, a plethora of incredible films have premiered, but what some people may not know is that festivals like TIFF also see the premieres of limited series. Last year the Cannes Film Festival screened the first two episodes of Sam Levinson's The Idol, and today, the world premiere of BBC's The Listeners premiered at the Scotiabank Theatre, in the Primetime Program. And it is already one of the United Kingdom's most fascinating festival entries so far!
The Listeners is a new limited series, based on the 2021 novel by Canadian writer, Jordan Tannahill. It centers around Claire, an English school teacher who begins hearing a mysterious humming noise of unknown origin. This hum gradually begins to torment her, affecting both her personal and professional life. She soon finds out that one of her unruly students, Kyle, can hear the hum as well, kickstarting a unique, cerebral, adventure.
I went into The Listeners differently than most people. The novel was turned into an opera by Missy Mazzoli in 2022, premiering at the Oslo Opera House in Norway. I've been a fan of that since it came out, but I hadn't connected the dots that The Listeners I'd been enjoying for years was the same story I'd be seeing at TIFF. It's a poignant story that could be seen as an allegory for female hysteria or mental illness. In a way, it's quite a relatable story. Not all of us hear a constant, torturous droning noise all the time, but you probably know what it's like to have nobody believe you about something.
The new series was directed by filmmaker, Janicza Bravo, known for 2021 feature, Zola. And stars Rebecca Hall in the lead role as well as Ollie West, Gayle Rankin, and Prasanna Puwanarajah. Despite only seeing the first two episodes, it's clear that the crown jewel of the series is Rebecca Hall's performance as Claire. Hall treats the role with so much nuance and delicateness. I know from the opera that Claire is a particularly difficult part to play because she is so average. She is an ordinary woman plagued by an extraordinary affliction. So far in the series, there isn't a single scene that doesn't feature Claire or take place from outside of her perspective. It's clear that Rebecca Hall's performance was a very big undertaking, and so far it's been paying off.
The most surprisingly aspect of The Listeners so far was just how amazing it is, visually. The cinematography by Emmy nominee, Jody Lee Lipes truly is something to behold. There were so many times in the theater where I whispered to myself "what an amazing shot!" There's a consistent, almost washed-out color palette throughout that reflects the monotony of life, which directly contradicts with the often chaotic editing. There's a unique blend of audio and visual styles that complement each other very well. It's clear that a lot of thought and effort went into making the series look the way it does.
The Listeners was the very first thing I saw at TIFF, and it was an amazing experience to see a story I was familiar with get its shining moment on the big screen. By the end of the two episodes, a trailer was shown for the remainder of the series, which appears to show a much more intense, emotional side of the story. It is set to be officially released on BBC One some time in the next few months. And judging from the triumph of the first two episodes, I can't wait to see more!
Comments