Winter People

This movie was filmed near my hometown in the Western North Carolina mountains in a little community called Plumtree in Avery County. The severe winter weather depicted in the film is like it really is. The elevation here is about 3500 feet and the area gets enough snow to support a large snow skiing industry.

One of dozens of movies saved the past couple of years for viewing, that I remembered hearing years ago were good - but never had the chance to watch.

Some are fine. Some are not.

This one is better than expected.

Always loved Kelly McGillis, and Kurt Russell is excellent in this film. Initially it looks like we're going to be stuck viewing Hatfields and McCoys type nonsense, but among the feuds and fights, difficult events lead to compromise and a satisfactory ending.

A couple of hunting scenes, and injured or killed animals, but nothing too graphic. It is depression era mountain life.

Worth seeing through to the end.

I just watched this movie and what a well-spent evening!Thoroughly enjoyable.I can think of no flaws whatever with this film. The scenery is beautiful as well. Another plus.I can't imagine anyone not being pleased with their experience in seeing this film. It has drama,romance and wonderful relationship studies,and development.

I don't know what else to say without rambling! I can't believe IMDb insists that you must meet a minimum required amount of sentences to post a comment,SHEEZ! Just be sure not to pass this one up if you get a chance to see it. Fotunately my library had it. I don't remember ever hearing of it before.

Widowed clockmaker Kurt Russell brings his daughter, Amelia Burnette, to the Carolina Piedmont. There he falls in love with single mother Kelly McGillis. However, when the baby's drunken father comes calling, the pair of them are forced into desperate action.

The movie is replete with carefully offered symbolism, almost certainly from the novel by John Ehle), mostly about the wintry stasis of people and society during the early stages of the Roosevelt New Deal, to characters' names (I'm reading Scott's KENILWORTH, so Russell's character's name of "Wayland" seems apt), to the way cinematographer Francois Protat lights the shots in a greyness that doesn't break until the end. Ordinarily I would find this sort of movie pompous with its easy-to-analyze details substituting for the things that interest me most: character and story.

This one never does, thanks to a fine cast under a solid director. Ted Kotcheff may be best know for his gross comedy hit WEEKEND WITH BERNIE, but his long resume shows a respectful handling of movies about subcultures: not only THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ, but NORTH DALLAS FORTY.

Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis give believable performances in this rural drama. Tremendous North Carolina atmosphere and a fine score add immensely to the film. Some may find it a bit slow, but those willing to watch and listen, will be rewarded. "Winter People" does not follow any typical feuding families formula, but carves new ground, with sacrifice instead of shoot outs. Anyone expecting a "Deliverance" clone would be advised to seek out "Hunter's Blood" and leave "Winter People" to those who appreciate a quieter, more thought provoking movie. Definitely recommended for couples viewing as there is enough depth to maintain interest for everyone. - MERK