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An Angel at My Table

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 2h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
An Angel at My Table (1990)
Janet Frame was a brilliant child who, as a teen, was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Explore Janet's discovery of the world and her life in Europe as her books are published to acclaim.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
35 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama

Janet Frame was a brilliant child who, as a teen, was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Explore Janet's discovery of the world and her life in Europe as her books are published to acclaim.Janet Frame was a brilliant child who, as a teen, was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Explore Janet's discovery of the world and her life in Europe as her books are published to acclaim.Janet Frame was a brilliant child who, as a teen, was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Explore Janet's discovery of the world and her life in Europe as her books are published to acclaim.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jane Campion
  • Writers
    • Janet Frame(based on the autobiographies of)
    • Laura Jones(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kerry Fox
    • Alexia Keogh
    • Karen Fergusson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jane Campion
  • Writers
    • Janet Frame(based on the autobiographies of)
    • Laura Jones(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kerry Fox
    • Alexia Keogh
    • Karen Fergusson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 46Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 19 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Official Trailer

    Photos35

    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    Kerry Fox in An Angel at My Table (1990)
    Alexia Keogh in An Angel at My Table (1990)
    An Angel at My Table (1990)
    Karen Fergusson in An Angel at My Table (1990)
    Kerry Fox in An Angel at My Table (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kerry Fox
    Kerry Fox
    • Janetas Janet
    Alexia Keogh
    Alexia Keogh
    • Young Janetas Young Janet
    Karen Fergusson
    • Teenage Janetas Teenage Janet
    Iris Churn
    • Motheras Mother
    Jessie Mune
    • Baby Janetas Baby Janet
    Kevin J. Wilson
    Kevin J. Wilson
    • Fatheras Father
    • (as K.J. Wilson)
    Francesca Collins
    • Baby Janeas Baby Jane
    Melina Bernecker
    • Myrtleas Myrtle
    Mark Morrison
    • Young Bruddieas Young Bruddie
    Katherine Murray-Cowper
    • Young Isabel Frameas Young Isabel Frame
    Mark Thomson
    • Billy Delawareas Billy Delaware
    Brenda Kendall
    • Miss Bottingas Miss Botting
    Paul Moffat
    • Dis McIvoras Dis McIvor
    Blair Hutchison
    • Bully Boyas Bully Boy
    David McAuslan
    • Bully Boyas Bully Boy
    Ailene Herring
    • Teacheras Teacher
    Faye Flegg
    • Doctoras Doctor
    Carla Hedgeman
    • Young Poppyas Young Poppy
    • Director
      • Jane Campion
    • Writers
      • Janet Frame(based on the autobiographies of)
      • Laura Jones(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1920s and 1930s New Zealand, Janet Frame grows up in a poor family with lots of brothers and sisters. Already at an early age she is different from the other kids. She gets an education as a teacher but since she is considered abnormal she stays at a mental institution for eight years. Success comes when she starts to write novels. —Mattias Thuresson
    • new zealand
    • writer
    • based on autobiography
    • based on novel
    • f rated
    • 79 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sensuality and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kerry Fox gained two stones (12.7kg) for her role as Janet Frame. She managed this by drinking liters of Coca-Cola, eating packets of chocolate biscuits and going on the pill.
    • Goofs
      The streets of Ibiza have some features that surely were not present on the 50s, i.e., a "no parking" signal on one of the streets. Cars were very rare on the island those days.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: City Slickers/Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead/Jungle Fever/An Angel at My Table (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Somebody Stole My Gal
      Written by Leo Wood

      Performed by Pat McMinn with Crombie Murdoch and the Nickelodeons

      Used by permission of D.F. Peach

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    Easily one of my favorite films of the 90's.
    An Angel at My Table tells the story of famed New Zealand author Janet Frame. We are drawn into the quiet world of the shy, red-haired girl who struggles with her life, but succeeds through her exceptional talent of writing. Since her autobiography was written in three separate volumes, we are treated to a film in three separate parts, beginning with her journey through childhood. The film does an excellent job at portraying the character of Frame, and her nervous attitude when brought into social situations. Every ounce of shyness is felt off-screen, which is a kudos to the direction of Campion, that plays an important part in making sure that this woman is brought to life, as realistic, and as close to the truth as possible.

    Growing up in poverty, with two hard-working parents, and 4 siblings, life must've been hard. But when you're thrust into such a difficult situation, it somehow seems normal and it doesn't bother that it's a much harder life than other people currently living are. But Janet lived through her childhood, finding that she would love to spend her life as a poet, or just writing. A depression hit her hard during her teenage years when an unexpected tragedy occurred, and she had chosen to write, instead of being with that person beforehand. Not knowing she was a depressed young person, Frame was sent to a mental hospital, and forced to undergo several shock treatments, under the incorrect diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, Frame persevered through it, using writing as a way of expressing her own thoughts. While still in the mental hospital, she was able to publish a book. The years inside the hospital are the most unpleasant of film, and Campion perfectly captures the deranged conditions that Janet experienced. The most remarkable part about the direction is how it doesn't go over the top to deliver a nauseating film in those scenes. Rather, she plays to the quiet personality of Frame. The film is kept with the same pace, and focused in a way that never wants to show itself off, but keeps the main character always in the center, without losing that focus.

    The blown-up biopic `Malcolm X' was released around a year later, and while I admire that film, it was also very hyped-up before it's release. I found a strange drawing power in the fact that Jane Campion's film wasn't about spectacle, but about someone's life that is done more sincerely, and realistically, paying close attention to details, both period and human. Something you wouldn't find in a Hollywood biopic, such as Milos Foreman's `Man on the Moon,' which I openly despise.

    The writer and director surprised me a bit concerning a small detail in the film. In films concerning `writing', and an exceptional author (Wonder Boys, Finding Forrester), there is never any real proof of how good the writer supposedly is. We are never allowed to read the great book they wrote, nor are there much of any excerpts written to prove to us that the writer is indeed as great as it is suggested. In films, I realize that it really isn't possible to show such a thing, since film is a visual medium instead of a literary one. Campion and the screenwriter know this, and without subjecting us to Frame's writing, she adds in some narration, using actress Kerry Fox's voice. The narration is spread out in small bits throughout the film, never taking control of telling the story. Instead, it conveys the thoughts going on in Frame's mind, which are all little excerpts from the writing contained in her autobiographies. It begins with narration and ends with it. A surprising detail that is small, but adds much to the overall film, and gives the ending a sweet, and optimistic touch to an amazing film.

    Frame was (is) talented at what she did most of the time, without knowing the talent was there. She only knew that she loved to do it, and wanted to continue doing it for the rest of her life. That is true talent. She had it, even at times when she thought there wasn't any hope; she had the ability to write. And because of that ability, that talent, she was able to gradually come to terms, and live comfortably with her life. ****1/2 of five or (9/10)
    helpful•27
    4
    • zclark8
    • Aug 19, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1990 (Australia)
    • Countries of origin
      • New Zealand
      • Australia
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • En ängel vid mitt bord
    • Filming locations
      • La Selva de Mar, Girona, Catalonia, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Hibiscus Films
      • New Zealand Film Commission
      • Television New Zealand (TVNZ)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,054,638
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,905
      • May 27, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,055,995
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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