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IMDbPro

Unless

  • 2016
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
299
YOUR RATING
Catherine Keener and Hannah Gross in Unless (2016)
Trailer for Unless
Play trailer2:07
3 Videos
8 Photos
DramaFamily

A writer struggles with her daughter's decision to drop out of college and live on the streets. Based on the novel "Unless" by Carol Shields.A writer struggles with her daughter's decision to drop out of college and live on the streets. Based on the novel "Unless" by Carol Shields.A writer struggles with her daughter's decision to drop out of college and live on the streets. Based on the novel "Unless" by Carol Shields.

  • Director
    • Alan Gilsenan
  • Writers
    • Carol Shields
    • Alan Gilsenan
  • Stars
    • Hannah Gross
    • Catherine Keener
    • Matt Craven
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    299
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan Gilsenan
    • Writers
      • Carol Shields
      • Alan Gilsenan
    • Stars
      • Hannah Gross
      • Catherine Keener
      • Matt Craven
    • 5User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos3

    Unless
    Trailer 2:07
    Unless
    Unless
    Clip 0:43
    Unless
    Unless
    Clip 0:43
    Unless
    Unless
    Clip 1:11
    Unless

    Photos7

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    + 4
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    Top cast30

    Edit
    Hannah Gross
    Hannah Gross
    • Norah Winters
    Catherine Keener
    Catherine Keener
    • Reta Winters
    Matt Craven
    Matt Craven
    • Tom Winters
    August Winter
    August Winter
    • Natalie Winters
    • (as Abigail Winter)
    Chloe Rose
    Chloe Rose
    • Christine Winters
    Nora Sheehan
    Nora Sheehan
    • Traffic Cop
    Martha Henry
    • Lois Winters
    Dewshane Williams
    Dewshane Williams
    • Ben Abbot
    William Webster
    • Professor Hamilton
    Linda Kash
    Linda Kash
    • Tessa Karels
    Hanna Schygulla
    Hanna Schygulla
    • Danielle Westerman
    Yanna McIntosh
    Yanna McIntosh
    • Cery Arnaud
    Robert Nasmith
    • Baby Moon McFadden
    Dylan Harman
    • Jim Halliday
    Kathryn Greenwood
    Kathryn Greenwood
    • Willow Halliday
    Mateo Galindo Torres
    • Jonas
    Brendan Coyle
    Brendan Coyle
    • Casper Brown
    Olivia Scriven
    Olivia Scriven
    • Tracy Halliday
    • Director
      • Alan Gilsenan
    • Writers
      • Carol Shields
      • Alan Gilsenan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    5.3299
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    Featured reviews

    6SnoopyStyle

    interesting idea

    Reta Winters (Catherine Keener) and Tom Winters (Matt Craven) have three daughters. The family struggles to understand after daughter Norah Winters (Hannah Gross) drops out of college and decides to live on the streets of Toronto for no obvious reason.

    This is an interesting concept. These actors are squeezing all the juice out of it. At some point, I would like the plot to do more. I'm not saying that it's repetitive, but the middle is a lot of the same with a few minor detours. Maybe have more from Norah's point of view like the creep. The movie answers one question, but has nothing concrete.
    10HarryOrpenLynch

    Solid film

    Must watch if you like interesting and deep meanings.
    5pnck71

    did not get it

    Well, I am not sure I understood what it is exactly that the director was trying to say in this film. You can feel there is a message there. After all, that "goodness" sign is right in the middle of the most of it. But I am not quite sure what that message was meant to be. The film does touch on quite a few topics like the homelessness, the fragility of happiness, etc. But all of that did not quite all get together. The family drama part and the acting was great, you can certainly feel the confusion and the despair of them so wanting to help and not understanding how. But then, when the explanation came at the end, I'd say I felt no less confused on what "goodness" has to do with all that and what the girl (and the director) wanted to say. Anyway, it certainly maid me want to read the book to fill in all the gaps.
    4meinwonderland

    Tries too hard to be profound without success

    The premise of the movie is interesting enough to give "Unless" a chance. Reta is a writer who finds her daughter Norah dropped out of school and is living in the streets. She and her family will face this predicament in different ways while they try to find the reasons why Norah chose to do that.

    The problem with the movie, at the end of the day, is that it tries too hard to be profound and have deeper meanings in its socio-political commentary that fails to have the desired effect and doesn't deliver once the reasons for Norah's behavior are known.

    Entertaining for the most part, but it's not worth the time.

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Goofs
      Immolation scene was poorly done and had poor special effects.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Reta Winters: [voice over] All my life, I've heard of people speak of finding themselves in acute pain, bankrupt in spirit and body, but I've never understood what they meant. To lose. To have lost. I believe these visitations of darkness last only a few minutes or hours, and that these saddened people, in-between bouts, are occupied, because we all are, with the useful monotony of happiness.

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    FAQ16

    • How long is Unless?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 16, 2018 (Ireland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • Ireland
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • İyilik
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada(location)
    • Production companies
      • Media Pro One
      • Media Pro Two
      • Sienna Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €20,800,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,527
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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    Catherine Keener and Hannah Gross in Unless (2016)
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