The Winter Guest
First screened in January 1998
Director: Alan Rickman. With Phyllida Law, Emma Thompson, Gary Hollwyood, Arlene Cockburn, Sean Biggerstaff, Douglas Murphy, Sandra Voe, Sheila Reid. Screenplay: Sharman MacDonald and Alan Rickman (from the play by Sharman MacDonald).

Twitter Capsule: Each of four strands pays rich emotional dividends. Evades pressure to warm itself up or tie everything together.

VOR:   Impressively limns unrest around mortality among everyone, young and old, without feeling heavy. Easy to track back to stage, but cinematic enough. Both minor and undervalued.



Photo © 1997 Fine Line Features/Channel Four Films

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: B


Awards:
Venice Film Festival: OCIC Award
Chicago Film Festival: Golden Hugo (Best Picture)

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