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3.1.13 "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?
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' 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
plasticine?
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." (see
3.1.10 concerning plasticine figures in real life.)
** When and why did the girls have Borovnian
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. See
3.1.16.11 for more on this scene.
** Who imagined the death of Nicholas in
Borovnia?
That's not clear. Nicholas was dispatched by Diello in the third Borovnian vision,
but we see both girls immediately after this vision, and they smile knowingly at each
other. Maybe this was telepathy (see diary entries).
** Did Juliet ever imagine herself entering
Borovnia?
Yes. Juliet's first voluntary crossing over to Borovnia, as Deborah, was at the
beginning of "The Loveliest Night of the Year" scene, when the Ilam parlour
dissolved into Borovnia. Mario became human in this vision. So did Dr Hulme, the Fool.
** 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.
