The Winter Guest (1997)

A recent widow who is determined to leave Scotland for Australia with her son gets an unexpected visit from her aging mother.

Director:

Alan Rickman

Writers:

Josep Llurba (translation and adaptation), Sharman Macdonald (play),

Stars:

Phyllida Law, Emma Thompson, Sheila Reid

5 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Phyllida Law	...	Elspeth
Emma Thompson	...	Frances
Sheila Reid	...	Lily
Sandra Voe	...	Chloe
Arlene Cockburn	...	Nita
Gary Hollywood	...	Alex
Sean Biggerstaff	...	Tom
Douglas Murphy	...	Sam
Tom Watson	...	Minister
Jan Shand	...	Café Proprietor
Sandy Neilson	...	Passer-by
Billy McElhaney	...	Bus Driver
Helen Devon	...	Woman in Tea Shop
Harry Welsh	...	Boy in Tea Shop
Christian Zanone	...	Young Man in Church

Storyline

The film centers on four pairs - Frances is a recent widow who wants to get away from Scotland to Australia with her teenage son Alex to escape her memories, arrival of her old mother Elspeth makes her reconsider her decision. Alex approaches his first sexual experience with neighbour girl Nita. Chloe and Lily are two old women who like to attend strangers' funerals and Tom with Sam are two schoolboys who skip school to play on the beach and talk.

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Plot Keywords:

scotland | australia | widow | funeral | beach | 

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Taglines:

Come in from the cold.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 December 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'invitée de l'hiver

Filming Locations:

Elie, Fife, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£56,752 (UK) (9 January 1998)

Gross:

$776,332 (USA) (27 March 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitol Films, Channel Four Films, Fine Line Features

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 95 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Alex: Are you all right?
Frances: Don't keep asking.

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Connections

References Now, Voyager (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Take Me With You"
Sung by Elizabeth Fraser

User Reviews

A fragile universe beyond a frozen sea

Like any great film, this is close to the essence of life. In four poetic,

hearthwarming scenes, different generations of characters are entangled in a

longing for protection and affection. Two woman wait at a bus stop for a day out to a funeral, but behind their apparent, casual view on death lies a hidden fear for their own end. A new girl in town chases after a local boy, both search

through their mutual attraction towards each other. Two schoolboys are playing near the frozen sea and talk about their future. And all this is bound by the main story of a mother-daughter relationship. From the first flight over the seascape, to the final scene with one of the boys walking into the mist, everything is filmed and directed with the same sense for intense images and esthetic realism. And when on the tones of Liz Fraser, lovingly singing the end-credits, the film

ends.....and there's a certain sadness that one already has to leave this beautiful universe behind. "The Winter guest" is again (if their ever was doubt) the prove how superior European cinema is compared to the Hollywood-counterpart. I rest my case.