Hampstead (2017)

An American widow finds unexpected love with a man living wild on Hampstead Heath when they take on the developers who want to destroy his home.

Director:

Joel Hopkins

Writer:

Robert Festinger

Stars:

Brendan Gleeson, Diane Keaton, Lesley Manville

Cast

Credited cast:
Brendan Gleeson	...	Donald Horner
Diane Keaton	...	Emily Walters
Lesley Manville	...	Fiona
James Norton	...	Philip
Adeel Akhtar	...	Wiggin
Jason Watkins	...	James Smythe
Phil Davis	...	Sid Fife
Simon Callow	...	Judge
Alistair Petrie	...	Steve Crowley
Hugh Skinner	...	Erik
Deborah Findlay	...	Mary Neal
Rosalind Ayres	...	Susan
Will Smith	...	Leon Rowlands
Elizabeth Conboy	...	Posh lady
Brian Protheroe	...	Rory

Storyline

An American widowed woman left in debt by her unfaithfull husband finds a man living on the land of Hampstead. He lives in a broken down shack but happy with his life. One day she spots him being beaten up so calls the police and goes to see him, so after this she starts to fall for him and helps him from being evicted.

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Plot Keywords:

widow | court case | property developer | park | hermit | 

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Taglines:

Love can grow where you least expect it.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some suggestive material and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

After his death in 2016, Harry Hallowes' half acre of land was bequeathed to two homeless charities who put it up for auction. The land sold for £154,000.

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Goofs

When Emily is having dinner with James and they are talking about holidays, he passes her an iPad. The images on the screen change as they pass it back and forth to each other.

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Quotes

Emily Walters: [Standing in front of her husband's grave] I know I've said this before. But even to this day, I still can't help but think about... what could have been going on -
[looking around to both sides]
Emily Walters: excuse me - with you and that little whore, whose pictures you left in your safety deposit box. The safety deposit box, for God's sakes, you idiot!
[Flings a bunch of flowers at the headstone]
Emily Walters: I'm not gonna let this go, you sleeping bastard!

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Connections

References Britain's Got Talent (2007)

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Soundtracks

Rolling Dice
Written by Mathilda Homer and Sam Mitchell

User Reviews

Interesting telling based on true events

23 June 2017 Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester Tonight - Hampstead. Why do people find it so hard to reconcile themselves to the fact that it's OK to be different. This story takes us on a journey of burgeoning love between a widowed American and a man who deliberately chose to remove himself from society. Putting nothing into society, yet taking nothing out, he is persecuted for his lifestyle and when he is being threatened with eviction he finds support from an unexpected source....namely Emily, played the the wonderful Diane Keaton, who brings her flighty style to this put upon, widowed character. Almost forced into rebelling by Fiona, her busy body head of the tenants association neighbour, Emily discovers Donald Horner, a man who has been practising his lifestyle for 17 years, yet is facing eviction by the developers who want to utilise his plot of land. Based on a true story this film shows the unpleasant side of some people's characters and the nicer side of those who are drawn out from their shells. A feel good film which only had one uneasy moment for me, that was when Emily seemed to change her personality momentarily leading me to wonder where things were going. A good rainy Sunday afternoon film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official Site (de)

Country:

UK Belgium

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hampstead

Filming Locations:

Highgate Cemetery, Swain's Lane, Highgate, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,141, 16 June 2019

Gross USA:

$144,396

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,335,171

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ecosse Films, Motion Picture Capital, Scope Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1