Strangers in Good Company (1990)

A busload of women become stranded in an isolated part of the Canadian countryside. As they await rescue, they reflect on their lives through a mostly ad-libbed script.

Director:

Cynthia Scott

Writers:

Sally Bochner, Gloria Demers,

Stars:

Alice Diabo, Constance Garneau, Winifred Holden

4 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alice Diabo	...	Alice
Constance Garneau	...	Constance
Winifred Holden	...	Winnie
Cissy Meddings	...	Cissy
Mary Meigs	...	Mary
Catherine Roche	...	Catherine
Michelle Sweeney	...	Michelle
Beth Webber	...	Beth

Storyline

A bus breaks down in the wilderness. Seven elderly women,average age 71 and one 27 year old are stranded at a deserted farmhouse. The have only their wits, their memories, and eventually some roasted frogs' legs, to sustain them. Through the long days and nights this remarkable group of strangers share their life stories and exchange intimate thoughts; turning the crisis into a magical time of humor and spirit. Featuring non-professional actors and spontaneous dialogue, this memorable film dissolves the barrier between fiction and reality, weaving a heartwarming tale of friendship and courage.

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Plot Keywords:

stranded | canadian | friendship | elderly | countryside | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes the middle of nowhere can lead to the most beautiful of places.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1991 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Company of Strangers

Filming Locations:

Québec, Canada

Box Office

Gross:

$1,002,689 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bedford Entertainment, First Run Features, National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was mostly ad-libbed by the women, all talking about their real lives.

User Reviews

Commendable portrayal of often ignored subjects. (spoilers)

'Strangers in Good Company' is an odd sort of film, precisely because of the honesty of its subjects who, other than playing their allotted stereotypical roles in our collective pop culture, are routinely ignored in film or television portrayal. Even the idiotic 'Something's Gotta Give' seemed to have such a hard time with 60 year-old characters and more so, with their relationship. Films like 'Strangers in Good Company,' on the other hand (this one being largely improvised by its cast of elderly female characters stranded in the Canadian countryside when their bus breaks down), and others like 84 Charing Cross Road, or similar films, actually give the audience a very touching, though sometimes sad, portrayal.

Here, these women, on their way to one older woman's childhood home, become good friends as they hole up in what looks like an abandoned Canadian country home, roughing it for a few days while they try to find help. In the company of each other, they develop a friendship, and learn a bit about each other's lives as the days pass. Some of them memorable, interesting tales of the women's lives (see the trivia, most of what is told is pulled from their background) and some, very sad recollections and future perceptions such as the woman who's greatest fear was being destitute and left alone with no one to care for her. It is less a story of survival in the countryside and more of a tapestry of lives being told here and there. Some of the improvisation is evident as some of the actresses seem either unsure or uncomfortable with what is going on sometimes. But nonetheless, this low-budget picture actually turned out to be a nice little underrated film about something we don't always get to see or hear.