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From Amazon.co.uk
Set during the brief hours of light one day in February when the sea has frozen, The Winter Guest is about how four pairs of people at different stages of life attempt to fill the emptiness in their hearts. While that sounds bleak--and the setting in a small town on the East coast of Scotland is certainly stark--there is considerable human warmth in Alan Rickman's directorial debut. Without a conventional story, Rickman simply cuts between four strands, spending most of the time with the difficult relationship between a mother and daughter, played by real-life parent and offspring Phyllida Law and Emma Thomson. Strong dialogue, with a dash of Samuel's Beckett's existential squabbling angst and outstanding performances make this both funny and touching. Meanwhile Thomson's teenage son begins a tentative romance with the new girl in town, two younger boys bunk off school to the icy beach and a pair of elderly ladies attends a funeral. Ultimately the ice-locked sea and Michael Kamen's crystalline piano score become additional characters, the film offering a pseudo-mysticism akin to Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) while echoing with the spare dramas of Krzysztof Kieslowski; especially Three Colours: White (1994). A beautiful drama that demands attention throughout. --Gary S Dalkin
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The lives and relationships of four couples, based around a Scottish seaside town in the icy depths of winter - Frances is a recent widow who wants to get away from Scotland to Australia with her teenage son Alex to escape her memories, arrival of her old mother Elspeth makes her reconsider her decision. Alex approaches his first sexual experience with neighbour girl Nita. Chloe and Lily are two old women who like to attend strangers' funerals and Tom with Sam are two schoolboys who skip school to play on the beach and talk.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, European Film Awards, Venice Film Festival, ...The Winter Guest
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, European Film Awards, Venice Film Festival, ...The Winter Guest
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 95 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Although this is not a video I watch often, it is one of my favourites. It is very vivid, yet quiet, and stays in the memory.
Real-life mother and daughter Phyllida law and Emma Thompson are particularly good as mother and daughter in the film, struggling to cope with their relationship after the death of Emma Thompson's husband. She in turn is trying to avoid repeating mistakes with her own son and alienating him.
The beautiful Scottish setting is paradoxically unwelcoming yet comforting, particularly the snow-covered beach. A real sense of cold is conveyed to the viewer, but also the magical hush you feel on a pristinely white winter's morning.
It is the small details of this film that I always remember - the two old women enjoying a cream cake together, Emma Thompson applying her eye make-up and the small boys dividing a Mars Bar between themselves.
The film was originally a play and someone suggested to Alan Rickman it had a very 'filmic' quality. I am glad he decided to do it as it is a beautiful film. If you ever read this Alan, I would like to thank you for making it.
I absolutely love it and would urge those who appreciate a well-crafted piece, rather than clumsy 'loud' films to buy it.
Real-life mother and daughter Phyllida law and Emma Thompson are particularly good as mother and daughter in the film, struggling to cope with their relationship after the death of Emma Thompson's husband. She in turn is trying to avoid repeating mistakes with her own son and alienating him.
The beautiful Scottish setting is paradoxically unwelcoming yet comforting, particularly the snow-covered beach. A real sense of cold is conveyed to the viewer, but also the magical hush you feel on a pristinely white winter's morning.
It is the small details of this film that I always remember - the two old women enjoying a cream cake together, Emma Thompson applying her eye make-up and the small boys dividing a Mars Bar between themselves.
The film was originally a play and someone suggested to Alan Rickman it had a very 'filmic' quality. I am glad he decided to do it as it is a beautiful film. If you ever read this Alan, I would like to thank you for making it.
I absolutely love it and would urge those who appreciate a well-crafted piece, rather than clumsy 'loud' films to buy it.
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This is one of the most beautiful and moving films I have seen in a very long time. Though nothing really happens, relationships are allowed to develop within the context of a visually stunning scottish backdrop. Each relationship brings to the surface a different memory from my past-recollections of arguements with my own mother, banter with friends, first kisses. It really is a very human story and the characters aren't your average airbrushed "perfect" hollywood types. They are flawed, they have imperfections and we grow to love them because of those flaws rather than inspite of them. You'll carry this film in your heart long after the credits have rolled. I know I still do.
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was a little dubious about this film - at first glance there didn't seem to be much of a story. Having watched it a couple of times, it's one of those films that grow on you.
It follows the changes in relationships between 4 pairs of people - and that's really the whole point. Life isn't necessarily about lots of action. It's everyday things often that affect people in subtle ways to alter them. The main "pair" is Emma Thompson and her real life mother Phylidda Law. There is a depth of emotion and history between them that must only have been enhanced by their off screen connection. The humour element is captured nicely between the schoolboys (note a young Sean Biggerstaff - "Oliver Wood" in Harry Potter films).
The setting is in Scotland on a freezing cold day when the sea has frozen. The human elements supply the warmth.
As a fan of Alan Rickman's work, this is a wonderful directorial debut - though I do prefer to see him in front of the camera! If you like fast action, you'll hate it; if you like to watch a film about real people and normal life, you might really enjoy it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie
This movie I liked because first of all it has a good storyline and it is different and brave. It's very human in it's whimsical way. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Karen Quinn
3.0 out of 5 stars
Two fine actors but ? . . Oh! The language!
First off I was raised in the Glasgow region and have an engineering background, so I am very well acquainted with every faction of foul language. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. P. G. Gibb
1.0 out of 5 stars
Truly dreadful
Great cast, good director what could go wrong? Unfortunately everthing, from the fake snow to the dreadful acting. This one is going straight to the charity shop.
Published 2 months ago by Dr. Adrian D. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great price, fast delivery
Been wanting to acquire this dvd for some time but it was too expensive. When this deal came up at a way lower price I grabbed it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Meg Hart
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing!
Liking both stars very much I had looked forward to this story. I found it utterly depressing and threw it in the bin, not even wanting to give it to charity!
Published 3 months ago by Alice Emma
1.0 out of 5 stars
Drab Dreary & Dull
Drab dreary dull film with poor fake Scottish Accents! Don't waste your money on this film!
Surprised as normally love anything with Emma Thompson...........but not this!
Surprised as normally love anything with Emma Thompson...........but not this!
Published 3 months ago by Dissappointed
1.0 out of 5 stars
depressing
No story line - depressing film but with great actors particularly Phylida Law. Dont recommend this at all unless you like feeling cold
Published 4 months ago by clarebeware
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanting and delightful
Set in a small Scottish seaside village, the film explores the remarkable journeys taken by 4 unlikely couples in a single day. Read more
Published 9 months ago by chronos
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed with this DVD film.
The DVD film was purchased as we read a review of it in the newspaper. It said that it was filmed in Scottish seaside town, ( Fife )to be more exact Ellie and Pittenweem, and had... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Eric L. Malley
3.0 out of 5 stars
A certain charm...
I am a fan of Emma Thompson but most of her movies do not reach our cinemas but thanks to Amazon I have discovered many of her gems. Wit, for example. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Soo Ewe Jin
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