Death in Venice, CA (1994)

A stressed out writer's getaway is complicated by advances from a lascivious 17-year-old male relative.

Director:

P. David Ebersole

Writer:

P. David Ebersole

Stars:

Nick Rafter, Robert Glen Keith, Shirley Knight

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Rafter	...	Mason Carver
Robert Glen Keith	...	Sebastian Dickens (as Rob Keith) (as Robert Keith)
Shirley Knight	...	Mona Dickens
John Forristal	...	Silver Toothed Man
Eden King	...	Muscle Beach Gymnast #1, Man at Urinal
Eric Watkins	...	Muscle Beach Gymnast #2
Herb Tannen	...	Man in Gondola
Kent Rodgers	...	Museum Guard #1
Shawm Brydon	...	Museum Guard #2
Karl Wiedergott	...	Man in Museum Couple (as Karl Weidergott)
Tawny Zavad	...	Woman in Museum Couple
Sandra Ball	...	Mother on Beach 1
Linda Eve Miller	...	Mother on Beach 2
Nancy Rommelmann	...	Mother on Beach 3
Tommy Ball	...	Father on Beach

Storyline

Mason Carver is an academic suffering from stress. His wife arranges for him to spend a summer lodging at the Venice home of one of her relatives, Mona Dickens. Mrs. Dickens has a 17-year old stepson, Sebastian, a muscular, moody, and seductive young man who soon captures Carver's fantasies. Carver wants to resist, but temptation is strong. As Carver tries to summon the resolve to turn away from the boy, and with the rough trade of Venice's beach, board-walks, and public toilets at hand, it becomes clear that Sebastian is playing with fire, too. Is there a way out for Carver that also helps Sebastian find a safe passage to adulthood?

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Plot Keywords:

public toilet | beach | death | knife wound | cigarette smoking | 

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Genres:

Drama | Short

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Did You Know?

Quotes

Mason Carver: Where is Mr. Dickens, if you don't mind my asking?
Mona Dickens: One of two places, depending on how his judgement day reckoned.

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Connections

References Death in Venice (1971)

User Reviews

a game

...a dangerous one. A stressed middle age man. A sensual teenager. A murder. And large influences from "The death at Venice" by Thomas Mann and Luchino Visconti . Beautiful cinematography, wise use of clash between new Zeus and Ganymedes. and delicate way to translate in image the bitter air of a profound drama. Short- more than a beautiful short film.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kuolema Venicen rannalla

Filming Locations:

Venice Beach, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Run Features, The Ebersole Hughes Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color