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The Winter Guest

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Winter Guest (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Fine Line
Play trailer2:26
1 Video
14 Photos
  • Drama

A recent widow, who is determined to leave Scotland for Australia with her son, gets an unexpected visit from her aging mother.A recent widow, who is determined to leave Scotland for Australia with her son, gets an unexpected visit from her aging mother.A recent widow, who is determined to leave Scotland for Australia with her son, gets an unexpected visit from her aging mother.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alan Rickman
  • Writers
    • Sharman Macdonald(screenplay)
    • Alan Rickman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Phyllida Law
    • Emma Thompson
    • Sheila Reid
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alan Rickman
  • Writers
    • Sharman Macdonald(screenplay)
    • Alan Rickman(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Phyllida Law
    • Emma Thompson
    • Sheila Reid
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 51User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos1

    The Winter Guest
    Trailer 2:26
    The Winter Guest

    Photos14

    The Winter Guest (1997)
    The Winter Guest (1997)
    The Winter Guest (1997)
    The Winter Guest (1997)
    Emma Thompson in The Winter Guest (1997)
    Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law in The Winter Guest (1997)
    Emma Thompson and Sean Biggerstaff in The Winter Guest (1997)
    Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law in The Winter Guest (1997)
    Phyllida Law in The Winter Guest (1997)
    Alan Rickman in The Winter Guest (1997)
    Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, and Phyllida Law in The Winter Guest (1997)
    The Winter Guest (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Phyllida Law
    Phyllida Law
    • Elspethas Elspeth
    Emma Thompson
    Emma Thompson
    • Francesas Frances
    Sheila Reid
    Sheila Reid
    • Lilyas Lily
    Sandra Voe
    • Chloeas Chloe
    Arlene Cockburn
    • Nitaas Nita
    Gary Hollywood
    • Alexas Alex
    Sean Biggerstaff
    Sean Biggerstaff
    • Tomas Tom
    Douglas Murphy
    • Samas Sam
    Tom Watson
    • Ministeras Minister
    Jan Shand
    • Café Proprietoras Café Proprietor
    Sandy Neilson
    • Passer-byas Passer-by
    Billy McElhaney
    Billy McElhaney
    • Bus Driveras Bus Driver
    Helen Devon
    • Woman in Tea Shopas Woman in Tea Shop
    Harry Welsh
    • Boy in Teashopas Boy in Teashop
    Christian Zanone
    • Young Man in Churchas Young Man in Church
    Ross Lewis
    • Jamieas Jamie
    Alan Rickman
    Alan Rickman
    • Man in Streetas Man in Street
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alan Rickman
    • Writers
      • Sharman Macdonald(screenplay) (play)
      • Alan Rickman(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    This movie centers on four pairs - Frances (Dame Emma Thompson) is a recent widow who wants to get away from Scotland to Australia with her teenage son Alex (Gary Hollywood) to escape her memories, arrival of her old mother Elspeth (Phyllida Law) makes her reconsider her decision. Alex approaches his first sexual experience with neighbour girl Nita (Arlene Cockburn). Chloe (Sandra Voe) and Lily (Sheila Reid) are two old women who like to attend strangers' funerals and Tom (Sean Biggerstaff) with Sam (Douglas Murphy) are two schoolboys who skip school to play on the beach and talk.
    • tights
    • f rated
    • australia
    • widow
    • scotland
    • 99 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Come in from the cold.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and brief sensuality
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dame Emma Thompson and Phyllida Law are real-life mother and daughter.
    • Quotes

      Frances: This is my own body. I can do what I like. I can gain weight if I like, and I can cut my own hair.

    • Connections
      References Now, Voyager (1942)
    • Soundtracks
      Take Me With You
      Sung by Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins)

      Music by Michael Kamen

      Lyrics by Alan Rickman

    User reviews51

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Gorgeous
    Alan Rickman has made a breathtakingly beautiful, haunting movie that sucks you in and won't let you go until long after the credits have finished rolling. The story centers on four couples: a mother and her grieving adult daughter, her son and the girl who takes a fancy to him, two young teenage boys going through all the troubles of puberty, and two old ladies with nothing left to do but attend funerals. Their stories are intervowen, against the backdrop of a gorgeous Scottish winter landscape, which is threatening to take over and swallow them whole. They all have to find their paths in life, realize what's important and what's worth living for.

    The pace of this movie is very slow, so granted, it's not for everyone. But if you like your movies bittersweet, with reality seeping out of every pore, then this is a film for you.
    helpful•37
    0
    • Evy
    • Nov 18, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 24, 1997 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bir kış masalı
    • Filming locations
      • Elie, Fife, Scotland, UK
    • Production companies
      • Capitol Films
      • Channel Four Films
      • Fine Line Features
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $870,290
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $20,533
      • Dec 28, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $870,290
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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