Madame Sousatzka (1988)
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- PG-13
- 2h 2min
- Drama, Music
- 14 Oct 1988 (USA)
- Movie
Renowned Russian piano teacher Irina Sousatzka gets a new student - Bengali piano prodigy Manek Sen. They are both immigrants in the UK and bond quickly. When his single mother Sushila's business fails, he must make a career decision.
Director:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Shirley MacLaine | ... |
Madame Sousatzka
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| Peggy Ashcroft | ... |
Lady Emily
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| Twiggy | ... |
Jenny
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| Shabana Azmi | ... |
Sushila
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| Leigh Lawson | ... |
Ronnie Blum
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| Geoffrey Bayldon | ... |
Mr. Cordle
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| Lee Montague | ... |
Vincent Pick
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| Robert Rietty | ... |
Leo Milev
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| Navin Chowdhry | ... |
Manek Sen
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| Greg Ellis | ... |
Tarek
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Sam Howard | ... |
Edward
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| Jeremy Sinden | ... |
Woodford
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| Roger Hammond | ... |
Lefranc
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Mohammed Ashiq | ... |
Sunil
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Carol Gillies | ... |
Sousatzka's Mother
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| Jamila Massey | ... |
Mrs. Ahuja
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| Trevor Baxter | ... |
Mr. Beechy
(as Trevor Baxtor)
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| Roland Curram | ... |
Menswear Salesman
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| Katharine Schlesinger | ... |
Piano Student
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Elizabeth Hayes | ... |
Piano Student
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Manuel Bagorro | ... |
Masterclass Student
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Humphrey Burton | ... |
Festival Announcer
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| Vernon Dobtcheff | ... |
Music Critic
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Ryan Ward | ... |
Sound Engineer
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| Peter-Hugo Daly | ... |
Roadie
(as Peter Hugo Daly)
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Sue Robinson | ... |
Store Employee
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| Jean Anderson | ... |
Lady with Removal Men
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Stephen Webber | ... |
School Teacher
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Charu Bala Chokshi | ... |
1st Punjabi Lady
(as Charu Bala Choksi)
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Usha Patel | ... |
2nd Punjabi Lady
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Sam Beazley | ... |
Festival Guest
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Cheryl Miller | ... |
Black Schoolgirl
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Matthew Hodson | ... |
Schoolfriend
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Kieron O'Shea | ... |
Schoolfriend
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Jane Bedford | ... |
Nurse
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Sebastian Taylor | ... |
Street Youth
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David Doyle | ... |
Street Youth
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Sam Smart | ... |
Street Youth
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| Susan Porrett | ... |
Receptionist
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Keith Horsley | ... |
Mini-cab Driver
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Sarah Jane McKechnie | ... |
Festival Mime Artist
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Andrew St. Clair | ... |
Festival Mime Artist
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Edward Kirby | ... |
Festival Mime Artist
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Jonathan Poland | ... |
Festival Assistant
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Benet Brandreth | ... |
New Pupil
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Michelle Brown | ... |
New Pupil's Mother
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Eamon Geoghegan | ... |
Specialist Roller-skater
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Gary Forbes | ... |
Specialist Roller-skater
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Janine Duvitski | ... |
Woman (uncredited)
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| Tina Simmons | ... |
Concert Guest (uncredited)
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Tom Vincent | ... |
Boy in Audience (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Schlesinger | ||
Written by
| Bernice Rubens | ... | (from the novel by) |
| Ruth Prawer Jhabvala | ... | (screenplay) and |
| John Schlesinger | ... | (screenplay) |
| Peter Morgan | ... | (additional material written by) and |
| Mark Wadlow | ... | (additional material written by) |
Produced by
| Simon Bosanquet | ... | associate producer |
| Robin Dalton | ... | producer |
Music by
| Gerald Gouriet | ||
Cinematography by
| Nat Crosby | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Peter Honess | ||
Editorial Department
| Robert Green | ... | assistant editor |
| Chris Joyce | ... | assistant editor |
| Jonathan Lucas | ... | first assistant editor |
| Mick Monks | ... | assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Luciana Arrighi | ||
Art Direction by
| Stephen Scott | ||
| Ian Whittaker | ||
Costume Design by
| Amy Roberts | ||
Makeup Department
| Elaine Bowerbank | ... | hairdresser |
| Sallie Evans | ... | makeup artist |
| Paula Gillespie | ... | chief hairdresser |
| Ken Lintott | ... | chief makeup artist |
Production Management
| Mary Richards | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Kevin de la Noy | ... | third assistant director |
| John Dodds | ... | second assistant director |
| Chris Rose | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Bruce Bigg | ... | property master |
| Vanessa Clegg | ... | assistant art director |
| Stan Cook | ... | chargehand dressing propman |
| Andrew Garnet-Lawson | ... | scenic artist (as Andrew Garnett Lawson) |
| John Hedges | ... | construction manager |
| Ian Shubrook | ... | dressing propman |
| Alfie Smith | ... | chargehand stand-by props |
| Micky Swift | ... | stand-by propman (as Mickey Swift) |
| Bob Walker | ... | signwriter |
| Peter Walpole | ... | production buyer |
| Ian Whittaker | ... | set dresser |
| David Wood | ... | draughtsman |
| Ernie Bell | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Roy Biggs | ... | stand-by stagehand (uncredited) |
| J. Devlin | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Steve Fitzwater | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Kevin Fowler | ... | stagehand (uncredited) |
| Alan Greenham | ... | chargehand painter (uncredited) |
| Kevin Hoar | ... | stagehand (uncredited) |
| Norman North | ... | stand-by painter (uncredited) |
| Ray Rose | ... | property storeman (uncredited) |
| David Stone | ... | stand-by carpenter (uncredited) |
| Graham Weames | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Richard Weames | ... | chargehand carpenter (uncredited) |
| Kenneth Welland | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Aidan Goldberg | ... | playback operator |
| Taffy Haines | ... | sound maintenance |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Simon Kaye | ... | sound recordist |
| Teddy Mason | ... | dialogue editor |
| Bob Risk | ... | sound editor |
| Tommy Staples | ... | boom operator |
Stunts
| Sadie Eden | ... | stunt performer |
| Colin Skeaping | ... | stunt arranger / stunt performer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Gary Hutchings | ... | camera grip |
| Amnon Israeli | ... | camera operator |
| Ian Jackson | ... | focus puller |
| Simon Mein | ... | still photographer |
| Ray Potter | ... | gaffer |
| Bob Shipsey | ... | clapper loader |
| David Worley | ... | camera operator |
| Stephen Banks | ... | jobfit attachment: camera (uncredited) |
| John Field | ... | rigger (uncredited) |
| Andy McDade | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Steve Mcleod | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Terry Potter | ... | best boy (uncredited) |
| Dave Ridout | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| John Wright | ... | stand-by rigger (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Noel Davis | ... | casting |
| Jeremy Zimmermann | ... | casting (as Jeremy Zimmerman) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Cynthea Dowling | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Renee Heimer | ... | wardrobe mistress |
| Patrick Wheatley | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Nick Daubeny | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Christopher Adey | ... | conductor: The London Symphony Orchestra |
| Dina Eaton | ... | music editor |
| The Fairer Sax | ... | musicians: saxophone quartet |
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | orchestra (as The London Symphony Orchestra) |
| Yonty Solomon | ... | music supervisor |
| Alexander Taylor | ... | musician |
| Paul Edmund-Davies | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Diana Dill | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Mike Beaver | ... | driver: Miss MacLaine (uncredited) |
| Sidney Bushell | ... | driver: Mr. Schlesinger (uncredited) |
| John Hollywood | ... | unit driver (uncredited) |
| Geoff King | ... | unit driver (uncredited) |
| Brian Mcgivern | ... | driver: generator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Joanna Campling | ... | publicity writer |
| Diane Chittell | ... | production coordinator |
| Hazel Crombie | ... | assistant accountant |
| Annick Fordham | ... | floor runner |
| Lynn Hoey | ... | production runner |
| Alison Odell | ... | assistant to producer |
| Maggie Phelan | ... | production accountant |
| Zakiya Powell | ... | publicity consultant |
| Stephanie Sheahan | ... | assistant to director |
| Adam Somner | ... | assistant to location manager |
| Jane Trower | ... | accounting assistant |
| Susanne Goldstein | ... | student observer (uncredited) |
| Richard Morrison | ... | title designer (uncredited) |
| Anya Noakes | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Thomas Sharkey | ... | personal assistant: Miss MacLaine (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Cineplex Odeon Films (presents)
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cineplex Odeon Films (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Cine Saison (1989) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Curzon Film Distributors (1989) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Motion Picture Group (MPG) (1989) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- SF Studio (1989) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
- MCA Home Video (1989) (Canada) (VHS)
- MCA Home Video (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Cineplex Odeon Films International (1988) (Non-US) (sales)
- CBS Sony Group Inc. (1990) (Japan) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Video (1990) (Spain) (VHS)
- NHK-BS2 (1991) (Japan) (tv)
- Nederlandse Christelijke Radio-Vereniging (NCRV) (1991) (Netherlands) (tv)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (United States) (VHS)
- Alliance Atlantis Communications (2007) (Canada)
- Netwerk (2007) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- CMV Laservision (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2014) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr) (Universal Vault Series)
- The Criterion Channel (2024) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Abbey Road Studios (music recording)
- B & D Film & TV Location Services (facility vehicles)
- C.T.S. Studios (music recording)
- CBS Studios, London (music recording)
- Damson Studios (titles and opticals)
- Elstree Film & Television Studios (movie studio)
- F.T.V. Workshops Ltd. (construction facilities)
- Focus Transport Ltd. (unit transportation)
- J&J Film Foods Ltd. (catering)
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- Location Facilities (caravans and location vehicles)
- Paradise Studios (music recording)
- Plume Designs (title design)
- Royal College of Music (muscian's portraits)
- Sapex Scripts (post-production script services)
- Savage Sound Studios (music recording)
- Siren Sound Transfer Ltd. (sound equipment)
- The Snakeranch (music studios)
- Twickenham Film Studios (post-production facilities)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Bengali Sushila Sen and her son, Manek, relocate from India to London after Sushila's relationship with her husband fails. Sushila struggles with everyday living. A child piano prodigy, Manek's schoolteacher refers him to a piano teacher, Irina Sousatzka, a Russian immigrant renowned for her teaching skills. Irina forms a strong bond with Manek, not only teaching him piano but also valuable life lessons. Disagreements arise, as Manek does not want anyone to run his life for him, but nevertheless the training progresses. Sushila, a baker and seller of Indian cuisine, loses an important client after her hair is found in one of her baked goods. To help his mother, Manek feels pressure to use his piano skills to earn some money. This is against Irina's wishes, however, as she is trying to protect Manek from her own negative experiences as a young concert pianist. She believes no student should perform until they are ready. But Manek, encouraged by a pushy music agent, decides to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra, ready or not. Written by Laura |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | I teach not only how to play, but how to live. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Shirley MacLaine won a Golden Globe for Best Actress (Drama) for this performance, but failed to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (for the same film). Prior to 2008, this was the only time a Best Actress Golden Globe-winner (Drama) was not also nominated for an Oscar for the same performance. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Alien Nation/Elvira: Mistress of the Dark/Imagine: John Lennon/Salaam Bombay/Track 29 (1988). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Mouret Bourrees See more » |