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IMDbPro

The Song of Sway Lake

  • 20182018
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
610
YOUR RATING
The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
Trailer for The Song of Sway Lake. http://SwayLake.com

It's summer on Sway Lake, the most glamorous lake in the Adirondacks - former playground of the jazz-age New York aristocracy. Music collector Ollie Sway recruits his only friend, a rowdy Russian drifter, to help him steal a 78 record from his own family's estate. Ollie believes that this mysterious piece of music - recorded at his grandparents' wedding by Cole Porter's lover - was hidden for him by his father before his suicide. He believes possessing the record will change his life.

The boys' mission should be as easy as meeting a pretty girl on the water, but the arrival of the beguiling matriarch herself, Charlie Sway, changes everything. For Charlie has her own plans. And this song that hasn't been heard in half a century may possess the answer to the deepest riddles about love and death - for whichever of these three lost souls will be the first to find it. 

The Song of Sway Lake is a lush romantic drama about the vanished grace of America, and the spell cast by the melodies of the dead. 

Starring RORY CULKIN (Signs), ROBERT SHEEHAN (Misfits, Peter Jackson's Mortal Engines, 2018), MARY BETH PEIL (Tony nomination for Anastasia, 2017), ISABELLE MCNALLY, ELIZABETH PEÑA, and JACK FALAHEE.

Featuring vocal/music performances by JOHN GRANT, THE STAVES, and BRIAN DENNEHY.
Play trailer2:08
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Romance
Music collector Ollie Sway recruits his only friend, a rowdy Russian drifter, to help him steal a 78 record from his own family's estate.Music collector Ollie Sway recruits his only friend, a rowdy Russian drifter, to help him steal a 78 record from his own family's estate.Music collector Ollie Sway recruits his only friend, a rowdy Russian drifter, to help him steal a 78 record from his own family's estate.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
610
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ari Gold
  • Writers
    • Elizabeth Bull
    • Ari Gold
  • Stars
    • Rory Culkin
    • Robert Sheehan
    • Isabelle McNally
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ari Gold
  • Writers
    • Elizabeth Bull
    • Ari Gold
  • Stars
    • Rory Culkin
    • Robert Sheehan
    • Isabelle McNally
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 27User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    The Song of Sway Lake
    Trailer 2:08
    The Song of Sway Lake

    Photos122

    Rory Culkin and Robert Sheehan in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    Rory Culkin in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    Rory Culkin and Robert Sheehan in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    Elizabeth Peña and Rory Culkin in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    Rory Culkin and Robert Sheehan in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    Jack Falahee in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    Robert Sheehan in The Song of Sway Lake (2018)
    The Song of Sway Lake (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rory Culkin
    Rory Culkin
    • Ollieas Ollie
    Robert Sheehan
    Robert Sheehan
    • Nikolaias Nikolai
    Isabelle McNally
    Isabelle McNally
    • Isadoraas Isadora
    Mary Beth Peil
    Mary Beth Peil
    • Charlie Swayas Charlie Sway
    Elizabeth Peña
    Elizabeth Peña
    • Marlenaas Marlena
    Jack Falahee
    Jack Falahee
    • Jimmyas Jimmy
    Brian Dennehy
    Brian Dennehy
    • Hal Swayas Hal Sway
    Anna Shields
    Anna Shields
    • Heatheras Heather
    Gary Arzberger
    • Volunteer Firemanas Volunteer Fireman
    John W. Bard
    • Biker Manas Biker Man
    Jason Brill
    • Timmy Swayas Timmy Sway
    Bob Foley
    • John Durantas John Durant
    Robert Forgett
    • Angry Manas Angry Man
    John Grant
    • Tweed McKayas Tweed McKay
    Kasey Kenyon
    • Rayas Ray
    Zak Kilberg
    Zak Kilberg
    • Cookas Cook
    Jamel King
    Jamel King
    • Lifeguardas Lifeguard
    Karen Lordi-Kirkham
    • Canoe Touristas Canoe Tourist
    • Director
      • Ari Gold
    • Writers
      • Elizabeth Bull
      • Ari Gold
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Elizabeth Peña's final movie. At least four movies were released after her sudden death.
    • Goofs
      From 1:29:19 onwards, when Nikolai is gravely injured and being transported to a hospital, there is heavy AV mismatch. Dialogues have been changed after the shoot.
    • Quotes

      [Isadora moans after she confronts Ollie spying on her]

      Ollie: What are you doing?

      Isadora: Tantric breathing. It's empowering.

    • Soundtracks
      Sway Lake (Big Band Version)
      Written by Ethan Gold

      Vocals by The Staves

      Courtesy of Warner Music UK Ltd.

      Arranged by Gina Leishman

    User reviews27

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A Really Good Time
    The aesthetics of the film were amazing, there were some beautiful shots. The plot was straight forward and the characters were fairly fleshed out. Robert Sheehan played a particularly colorful character named Nikolai, who spent a good bit of the movie barely or not at all clothed - so if you're in it for gratuitous Sheehan, you're all set. Overall it was really enjoyable for my friend and I, though we didn't spend much time discussing it after talking about what we thought happened after the ending. As a comparable musical once said, "Look, I know it's not a perfect show...It does what it's supposed to do; it takes you to another world. A little something for when you're feeling blue, you know?" And this film did just that. It's an escape to a warmer, more interesting place of exploration and ultimately growth.
    helpful•5
    0
    • chicksrule98
    • Aug 9, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 21, 2018 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Website
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Begin the Beguine
    • Filming locations
      • Blue Mountain Lake, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Grack Films
      • Social Construct
      • Act Zero Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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