Pandaemonium (film)

Pandaemonium is a 2000 British drama film directed by Julien Temple and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. The film explores the early lives and friendship of English Romantic poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, focusing on their collaboration on the Lyrical Ballads (1798) and Coleridge's writing of the poem Kubla Khan (written in 1797 and published posthumously in 1816).

Much of the film was shot on location in and around the Quantock Hills in Somerset, an area historically linked to the poets.^[1]

Pandaemonium follows the lives of Romantic poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, focusing on their friendship, creative collaboration, and eventual falling-out.

The story begins in the late 1700s, when Coleridge and Wordsworth meet and bond over their shared passion for a new kind of poetry—one that values nature, emotion, and the everyday lives of ordinary people. Inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, they move to the countryside with their families to live simply and write.

Coleridge, full of energy and imagination, struggles with health issues and begins using laudanum (a form of opium) to ease the pain. While under the drug’s influence, he writes some of his most famous poems, including Kubla Khan. Meanwhile, Wordsworth becomes more reserved and ambitious, focusing on his own literary reputation.

As time passes, tensions rise between the two poets. Coleridge feels that Wordsworth is becoming distant and self-serving, especially when Wordsworth publishes their joint work under his own name. Coleridge’s drug addiction worsens, and their friendship breaks down.

The film explores the cost of creativity, the pressures of fame, and the fragile nature of artistic partnerships. It ends on a sombre note, reflecting on the lasting legacy of both poets and the personal sacrifices behind their greatest works.

• Linus Roache as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a visionary Romantic poet whose creative genius is challenged by his struggles with opium addiction and personal turmoil.
• John Hannah as William Wordsworth, Coleridge's close friend and collaborator, a pragmatic and ambitious poet focused on his literary legacy.
• Samantha Morton as Dorothy Wordsworth, William Wordsworth’s supportive sister and diarist, who provides emotional stability to the poets.
• Emily Woof as Sara Coleridge, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s wife, who deals with the difficulties arising from her husband’s addiction and erratic behaviour.
• Andy Serkis as John Thelwall, a radical political activist and associate of the poets during their early years.
• Richard Bremmer as Robert Southey, a fellow Romantic poet and early collaborator with Coleridge and Wordsworth.
• Samuel West as Robert Lovell, a political radical and friend to the group, involved in their intellectual and revolutionary circles.

Pandaemonium received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the film's ambition and the performances of the lead actors, others found the narrative uneven and the pacing slow.

Philip French of The Guardian described the film as "an ambitious and visually striking exploration of poetic genius, though occasionally weighed down by its dense subject matter."^[2] Roger Ebert noted that the film "offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Romantic poets, but struggles to maintain dramatic momentum throughout."^[3]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 44% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 5.2/10.^[4]

The performances of Linus Roache as Samuel Taylor Coleridge and John Hannah as William Wordsworth were frequently highlighted as strong points.^[5]

However, some critics felt that the film’s dense literary focus limited its broader appeal.^[6]

Pandaemonium had its world premiere on 15 September 2000 at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. It was subsequently screened at the Gothenburg Film Festival in Sweden on 31 January 2001. The film was released theatrically in France on 18 April 2001, followed by its United States release on 29 June 2001. It opened in the United Kingdom on 14 September 2001. Later that year, it was shown at the Bergen International Film Festival in Norway on 23 October. The film was eventually released in Australia on 14 July 2005.

"It's rattling good stuff. There's just one small objection. None of it ever happened. This is fantasy literary history". John Sutherland.^[7]

• Pandaemonium at Box Office Mojo
• Pandaemonium at BBFC
• Pandaemonium at IMDb
• Pandaemonium at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Guardian review
• New York Times review