The Winter Guest
It's winter in a small Scottish village near the sea, and multiple lives intersect in a day. Frances has just lost her husband to an early death, so her mother, Elspeth, travels to Frances' house to reconnect with her daughter and grandson, Alex. Meanwhile, old women Chloe and Lily go to a funeral, youngsters Sam and Tom cut class, and Alex gets a crush on tomboy Nita.
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- Cast：
- Emma Thompson , Phyllida Law , Sheila Reid , Sandra Voe , Gary Hollywood , Sean Biggerstaff , Alan Rickman
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Reviews
You won't be disappointed!
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
I've been a Rickman fan for a long time, I knew about this film, but I never got to see it at the theaters when it was released. Still, it remained for 10 years in my list of "things to do". I saw it today and I'm not the least disappointed. According to current standards, nothing really happens in this film, yet... so much happens. I simply loved it, it's so subtle, it looks so uncomplicated... apparently, still it talks about so many complicated facts of life: growing older, mother and daughter relationship, sexual awakening. I found the atmosphere superb, you do feel the freezing air around you, the white light makes you feel time stands still somehow. I found it highly recommendable and I keep repeating my summary line, why didn't Rickman ever go back to directing?
I loved the cinematography in this movie! The story, however, is utterly boring. There's no catalyst, no actual order of events. Emma Thompson is one of the sexiest, most brilliant stars of her time. Her real life mother, Phyllida Law, was also incredible. Overall, however, there was no drive in the film. Will she go to Australia or not? Do we honestly care? No. Even great actors can't save badly written scripts. There wasn't anything really here... Sorry Alan... Sorry Emma... Sorry cast. You're all beautiful and incredible but you need something to do. Life or death. That makes a good movie. And a decent resolution would've been nice.
A five star piece of work, with superb acting and locations that make this film a delight to watch. Commendations to Alan Rickman on his directorial debut, and high praise for all of the cast. A beautiful piece.
The Winter Guest is a beautiful film, which looks at the rejuvenation of life after a death and the continuation of love and life in society. The setting is unusual but hauntingly beautiful (Scotland in winter) and the employment of some of the best acting talents of today all help to make a movie which causes a viewer to consider life and death, a reflective film beautifully done.
