Wetherby (1985)

The mysterious death of an enigmatic young man newly arrived in the suburb of Wetherby releases the long-repressed, dark passions of some of its residents.

Director:

David Hare

Writer:

David Hare

Stars:

Vanessa Redgrave, Ian Holm, Judi Dench

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Jean Travers
Ian Holm	...	Stanley Pilborough
Judi Dench	...	Marcia Pilborough
Marjorie Yates	...	Verity Braithwaite
Tom Wilkinson	...	Roger Braithwaite
Penny Downie	...	Chrissie
Brenda Hall	...	Landlady
Marjorie Sudell	...	Lilly
Patrick Blackwell	...	Derek - Chrissie's Husband
Joely Richardson	...	Young Jean Travers
Robert Hines	...	Jim Mortimer
Katy Behean	...	Young Marcia
Bert King	...	Mr. Mortimer
Paula Tilbrook	...	Mrs. Mortimer
Christopher Fulford	...	Arthur

Storyline

The mysterious death of an enigmatic young man newly arrived in the suburb of Wetherby releases the long-repressed, dark passions of some of its residents.

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Plot Keywords:

death | shakespearean quotation | politics | water leak in the ceiling | sexism | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Home Vision Entertainment (DVD Distributor)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 July 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Il mistero di Wetherby

Filming Locations:

Middlesex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film Four International, Greenpoint Films, Zenith Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rumor has it that David Hare created the role of Jean Travers, played by Vanessa Redgrave, in order to examine Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a product of British history.

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Quotes

Jean Travers: [to her class] Today we address ourselves to the question: 'Is Shakespeare worth reading even though its only about kings?'

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Connections

References The Third Man (1949)

User Reviews

Vanessa Redgrave's Eyes

David Hare's quiet masterpiece conveys a genuine sense of alienation and dislocation while covering a great deal of social and political ground. It never loses sight of the human story, though; the loneliness of the characters comes through in this startlingly intelligent drama which unfolds slowly, like a flower under time lapse photography. We watch the bloom, flowering and eventual withering of the characters' bodies and minds over several decades of social discord, emotional disappointments and lost dreams.

It's stunning how Hare constructs such an involving character study under the framework of a conventional mystery. The inexplicable suicide of a young man draws the viewer in but it's the characters that involve the viewer in a greater mystery of the heart; how did these people get to this point in their lives and the history of a nation? Hare delicately examines the spiritual decay of late-20th century British society and how it impacts all generations, from the haunted post-war generation to the alienated, disconnected contemporary youth. Ultimately both groups are unable to reach out to each other, trapped in the inescapable malaise which spares no-one.

Vanessa Redgrave carries this film. In her eyes a dazzling spectrum of emotions infuse her scenes with joy, heartbreak, hopelessness, elation, and everything else in between. It's a brilliantly written film but no words are necessary to understand the despair. It's all in her eyes.