"A Feast at Midnight" is a family feast at any time. The story centers around Goff, a young boy sent to boarding school in England, whose favorite illegal pastime is cooking. Letters from his father offer paternal wisdom, recipes from L'Escoffier and encouragement for his deliciously naughty behaviour.
Goff (Aled Roberts) develops a small band of friends who sneak into the "No Boys Allowed" kitchen late at night, cooking up sophisticated desserts. Will they get caught by Chef, who is clearly frustrated by the Headmaster's desire to feed the school a healthy, low-fat and basically tasteless diet? Or will they get caught by the Major, a stern taskmaster whose daughter, Miss Charlotte (Lisa Faulkner) is employed in many servile capacities at the school?
The very scary Major is drolly portrayed by Christopher Lee, whose deep set eyes and basso profundo is know to viewers in an assortment of Dracula and Sherlock Holmes movies.(He also narrated "The Rocky Horror Picture Show.)Lee is the uncle of Harriet Walker, who coincidentally appeared with Headmaster Robert Hardy in "Sense and Sensibility". (Fanny Dashwood, Sir John Middleton.)
Goff's friendship with Miss Charlotte changes the nature of her relationship to the school and her father, and gives her the courage to declare her own independence.
The anal retentive Chef is superbly portrayed by Samuel West, who moviegoers will recognize as Julia Robert's co-star in "Notting Hill".
Director Justin Hardy and Cinematographer Tim Maurice-Jones use a wide-angle lens to emphasize Goff's sense of aloneness and feelings of being overwhelmed.There are a number of humorous visual and plot puns that film buffs will recognize, such as a play on "Oliver" in a dining hall scene.
Goff's relationship with his father, and his unique method of rebellion make this a film that stands out as an alternative to the usual violent fare aimed at children, yet it is sophisticated enough to be enjoyed by all.