In the 33rd Raindance Film Festival, The Lonely Musketeer won the Best U.K. cinematography, Bruce Jackson, shot in monochrome in one claustrophobic main location, a low-budget film, is a taut, stripped-back mystery thriller. The film also won the Best Performance in a UK Feature, Edward Hogg, for his role in unique closed room Thriller, The Lonely Musketeer.

There is only one actor on screen for the most part of Nicolai Schumann’s
mesmerising debut feature, The Lonely Musketeer. It is an entirely
fictitious story which I would term essentially as “Film Noir”. The
musical score accompanying the drama is original. It is a dark, unpleasant,
though gripping drama and I defy anyone not to see the film without
strong feelings for the protagonist – Rupert, expertly portrayed by actor
Edward Hogg.
Rupert is trapped inside an impermeable windowless concrete room with
only his thoughts and his mobile phone. Even water has to be licked off
the walls after a few drops of rain trickle down from the skyhole which is
far too high up to reach. During the story Rupert makes many phone calls
believing his imprisonment is a practical joke at first and he is in touch
with a female police officer who says he has the wrong phone for the
police to track his location. He sees a cat through the hole in the top of the
‘concrete prison’ and leaves fall into there. Then he sees planes and when
the rain thankfully falls he has water. Meanwhile he is constantly trying to
engineer a way out of his predicament putting the audience on the edge of
their seats.

The film uncovers a detective mystery and a psychological portrait of
Rupert in his endeavours to become free from his tortuous situation. The
camera has to work extra hard to maintain audience interest and this is
done with finesse and subtlety whilst we witness Rupert falling apart.
Make up is also sensitively done as Rupert’s several days in the concrete
prison unravel. This is film drama at its best where every word and
movement counts as the story develops. Highly theatrical and unusual it is
hard to believe it is simply a fictional saga but nevertheless extremely
gripping and watchable throughout.

THE LONELY MUSKETEER 97 mins – In English, First released in 2024
Raindance nominees – Best Performance in a British Film, Best UK
Feature, Best in Cinematography. Best Actor.
The only UK Film in the Asian premiere in Beijing.
Official Selection Locarno Film Festival First Look.
Official Selection Oldenburg International Film Festival 2024.
Official Director Max Ophuls Prize Film Festival 2025.
Winner Best Director – North East International Film Festival 2024.
Director, screenplay – Nicolai Schumann.
Cast – Edward Hogg, Richard Glover, Jennifer K Preston, Angela Peters.
Producer – Addy Raja, Mark Schneider.
Shot on location in Questors Theatre, London.
Re distribution: Company sales agent is negotiating final terms for distribution
in autumn.

Cinematography: Bruce Jackson, Editing: Top Tarasin, Music: Nilly Brook
Sound: John Mellor. Production design: Lillian Caccia, Production
company:  Addy Films , Alice’s Pig Productions (UK),   Apiro Entertainment , I
tiRight Film Productions (Germany).

Penny Nair Price