Country Life (1994)

Director:

Michael Blakemore

Writer:

Michael Blakemore (writer)

Release Date:

28 July 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Adaptation of Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" set in rural Australia in the 1920's. Jack Dickens and his niece...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film | Based On Novel

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Sam Neill	...	Dr. Max Askey
Greta Scacchi	...	Deborah Voysey
John Hargreaves	...	Jack Dickens
Kerry Fox	...	Sally Voysey
Michael Blakemore	...	Alexander Voysey
Googie Withers	...	Hannah
Patricia Kennedy	...	Maud Dickens
Ron Blanchard	...	Wally Wells
Robyn Cruze	...	Violet
Maurie Fields	...	Fred Livingstone
Bryan Marshall	...	Mr. Pettinger
Tony Barry	...	Logger
Terry Brady	...	Logger
Tom Long	...	Billy Livingstone
Rob Steele	...	James

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sex-related scenes.

Runtime:

118 min | USA:107 min (dvd release) (IFC library print)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Carcoar, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Trivia:

Film adaptation based on and including most of the cast of Michael Blakemore's National Theatre production of "Uncle Vanya".

Quotes:

Sally Voysey: What have you two been doing?
Deborah Voysey: Nothing. Absolutely Nothing. We're bored to death.
Sally Voysey: Do something, then. Find something to do.
Deborah Voysey: Here? Good heavens -- what?

Movie Connections:

Version of "BBC Play of the Month: Uncle Vanya (#6.3)" (1970)

Uncle Vanya update

Ah the Russians, they can be so heavy. This smooth, fast-moving, Aussie pastoral tale from 1919 is a fine version of old Uncle. The characters are all there--the brother-in-law with dirty hands and lovelorn eyes, the homely daughter, the idealistic doctor, the old fake intellectual with his gorgeous unhappy young wife, and the funny maids. All that's missing is Russian winter snow. Country Life is funny. The Australian-born writer/director brought out the irony in this sentimental story of missed love, spoiled ambition, the snobbery of the city and plain goodness of the country.

So much better to end this story with scenes of simple country flowers than with the promise of Heaven that ends Uncle Vanya: "We shall hear the angels, we shall see the whole sky all diamonds, we shall see how all earthly evil, all our sufferings, are drowned in the mercy that will fill the whole world. And our life will grow peaceful, tender, sweet as a caress. . . . In your life you haven't known what joy was; but wait, Uncle Vanya, wait. . . . We shall rest."