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:

No matter where you hide life will always find you

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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

To accept your own, personal winter guest

Don't know about you, but i just loved the movie. It was very interesting to discover Alan Rickman as a Director - and i wasn't disappointed with the result in any way. First, the 'structure' of the movie: tiny episodes from every plot line, their gentle crossing with each other. Then, these plot lines themselves - i found them pictured with more subtlety and tenderness than i had believed possible.

What struck me most was the teenage boys' behaviour. Or, to be more precise, the abrupt change in both of them - from cigarettes, swearing, and all this genitals-related speech to the sudden gentle manner when they find and adopt baby kittens. Is it how we grow up? Does it only take a helpless creature, who has nothing and no-one to depend on, to step towards maturity? Frances' (Emma Thompson) drama about her lost husband expresses silent grief, which is more felt than seen from her performance. Her mother Elspeth (Phyllida Law), adds even more emotion to it. While usual movies concentrate on showing the 'action', here the very sight of Elspeth's slow journey towards her daughter's house speaks volumes. What can we learn from her? That old age cannot be fought? Or, that the journey to another soul is long and winding? or both?..

The other two plot lines are magnificent as well. I won't delve into every single moment that made me shudder, for everyone finds their own special episodes. What i can say is that the movie didn't leave any dazzling impressions. No vivid flashbacks. Only a feeling of winter silently creeping into our souls and staying there for long. Not the freezing, icy season. But the feeling of a thick blanket of snow. The thrill you get when you hear snow crackling beneath your feet. The strange yet peaceful emotion when witnessing the earth sleep.

Who is the winter guest? Alan Rickman has been asked about it in some interview. He said he didn't know it himself. It might be death, however. Who is the winter guest for every one of us? Death, which comes alien and unexpected. Winter, bringing sleep and slumber into our ordinary lives. Grief, which covers our hearts with ice. Life, which stirs beneath the layers of ice and snow. Different for each and every one. The movie is leaving much space to insert your own emotions and feelings. To accept your own, personal winter guest. I have learned to accept mine.