Closet Land (1991)

In a drab police state, a children's book writer is interrogated by a sadistic secret policeman under suspicion of embedding anti-government messages in her stories.

Director:

Radha Bharadwaj

Writer:

Radha Bharadwaj

Stars:

Madeleine Stowe, Alan Rickman

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alan Rickman	...	Interrogator
Madeleine Stowe	...	Victim

Storyline

A young writer is interrogated by a sadistic secret policeman. She is accused of embedding political messages in her children's stories. The entire movie takes place in one room, with only the two actors. The movie is set in an unidentified, modern police state.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | police state | book | two word title | f rated | 

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Taglines:

No one can harm you in your imagination.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for psychological torture

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tierra de armarios

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$121,635, 10 March 1991, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$259,012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The director originally had Peter O'Toole, Ian Holm, and Anthony Hopkins in mind for the role of the Interrogator before Alan Rickman was cast.

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Quotes

Recording: Ninety-nine point ten percent of women who wear black underwear are closet whores.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Hard Way/Closet Land/New Jack City/Shipwrecked/Ju Dou (1991)

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Soundtracks

Hernando's Hideaway
Written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Performed by Richard Einhorn

User Reviews

Simply Amazing, Simply Disturbing

Closet Land. The title itself conjures up thoughts of secrets. And that is really what's at the heart of this Amnesty International film. Government secrets, personal secrets, both are integral pieces of this story.

By far the greatest acting seen in too long a time, both Alan Rickman and Madeleine Stowe were phenomenal in their portrayal of a Government Interrogator and Victim respectively. With only the two actors in this unusual standard length film, it is instantly clear that both actors were dedicated and talented enough to pull the viewer into this tiny bubble of a world and shut the door.

A WORD OF CAUTION...

What isn't mentioned on the description of this movie is that there is a subplot that deals with childhood sexual abuse. While there is no graphic detail about the abuse, the nature of it may be difficult for some viewers to watch - especially given the intensity of the film on whole.

I'm not a big fan of Amnesty International films, but this movie drew me in because the acting was so exceptional, and I can't help but make this movie one of my personal favorites.