Credited cast: | |||
Gena Rowlands | ... | Laura Ponti | |
Deborah Kara Unger | ... | Marian Kerr | |
Brooke Shields | ... | Nina | |
Jared Harris | ... | John Kerr | |
David Conrad | ... | Lyle | |
James Duval | ... | Robert | |
D.B. Sweeney | ... | Tony | |
Gary Dourdan | ... | Thierry | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Jessica Morris | ... | Sarah |
Marian (Deborah Kara Unger) and John Kerr (Jared Harris) are expecting an old friend, Lyle (David Conrad) for a weekend visit to their beautiful upstate New York home. Emotions run high since it is the one-year anniversary of the death of John's brother, the handsome and charismatic Tony (D.B. Sweeney), who had also been Lyle's lover. Marian, who is still inconsolable after losing Tony to AIDS, is upset when Lyle brings his new boyfriend, a young artist, Robert (James Duval). Meanwhile, the situation is just as tense at the Kerrs' neighbors' house, where oft-widowed, free spirit Laura Ponti (Gena Rowlands) gets a surprise visit from her resentful, angry daughter, Nina (Brooke Shields), and her married lover, Thierry (Gary Dourdan). Matters worsen when the battling mother-daughter duo joins the Kerr household for a dinner party, where the pain-riddled diners engage in a messy emotional showdown. Written by Anonymous
Saw this film at the Hamptons Film Festival recently and it was the best of the lot. This had potential for being lumped in with the endless number of films with similar set-ups (Family and friends gather for a weekend together, tensions erupt, secrets come out, etc...) However, being beautifully shot, written, directed and acted, it makes leaps ahead of the pack. The characters were very compelling and touching, with Gena Rowlands effortlessly playing the grande dame to the hilt. The rest of the cast was, in varying degrees, hovering around that caliber, with excellent work from Brooke Shields, as Rowlands' spoiled daughter. Fantastic chemistry between the cast, which is a testament to the director's abilities.
No idea when or if it has a release scheduled, but I recommend seeking it out. Look forward to the next!