- Actors: Ray Winstone, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe, Tilda Swinton, Colin Farrell
- Directors: Tim Roth
- Writers: Alexander Stuart
- Producers: Dixie Linder, Eric Abraham, Paul Webster, Sarah Radclyffe, Steve Butterworth
- Format: Full Screen, PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Vci
- DVD Release Date: 29 April 2002
- Run Time: 98 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004D0HT
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 59,385 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
As unflinching and bleak as it is beautiful, Tim Roth's directorial debut The War Zone is remarkably accomplished filmmaking. Adapted by Alexander Stuart from his own novel, the film centres on a family that has just moved from London to the wind-swept seaside during winter. The relative isolation soon reveals an ongoing incestuous relationship between the working-class father (Ray Winstone) and his 17-year-old-daughter, Jessie. The middle-class mother (Tilda Swinton) has just given birth to their third child and desperately avoids knowing the truth, leaving Tom, the younger brother, with the horrific responsibility of exposing the family secret. Fearless in its hard-fought depiction of incest, The War Zone pulls no punches; this vivid portrayal of abuse within a family and the scathed consciousness that results is not for the faint of heart. True to his theatre background, Roth doesn't explain how or where such brutal choices were first taken, choosing rather to let the actors bear the ambiguities and anguish of a terrible knowledge in the their body language.--Fionn Meade, Amazon.com
Special Features
2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
English
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
English
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I am relatively surprised this one got past the censor!,
By mikkibex@lineone.net (England (UK)) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The War Zone [DVD] [1999] (DVD)
Fundamentally, The War Zone is a drama that follows the misfortunes of what first appears to be a functional working-class family, who have moved from London to a remote house in the country. From the outset the film is as real a piece of social documentation as you will find (I could compare it to the masterful ONCE WERE WARRIORS, or perhaps NIL BY MOUTH; maybe even something by Mike Leigh), penetrating the heart of one of our deepest taboos with a big barbed hook, and yanking it roughly out into the open for all to see. Ray Winstone (SCUM; NIL BY MOUTH; THE FINAL CUT; LOVE, HONOUR AND OBEY) gives a tour-de-force performance as the sexually abusive sweet-talker who suddenly finds his whole world falling apart around him when his son stumbles upon a shocking incestuous liaison that will change all their lives forever. From the car crash that heralds the arrival of baby Alice, to the final, gruelling conclusion, I was both wrapt and horrified by the no-holds-barred attitude of nascent director Tim Roth - formerly an actor of no little talent (MEANTIME; MADE IN ENGLAND; THE HIT; RESERVOIR DOGS; PULP FICTION) who seems to have turned his somewhat ruthless efforts to writing and directing. Creditable performances are made by the entire cast, but the prize goes to Mr Winstone, who we can always rely on to take us to the edge - in this case we get a helping hand by Mr Roth, and are consequently plummeted into the dark, dank recesses of the human condition with very little in the way of a safety net. I will definately be keeping a nervous eye out for what he comes up with next...
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bleak, as expected,
By
This review is from: The War Zone [DVD] [1999] (DVD)
Tim Roth's debut film as director is a claustrophobic family drama with an excellent cast and is memorably filmed around locations in Devon.
I came to this film knowing that the content of the plot (centering around a father abusing his teenage daughter) would mean it was likely to be a harrowing watch, and I was not wrong in that assumption. Ray Winstone and Tilda Swinton make a convincing if strange married couple, and the two young actors playing their children are revelations in their roles. The film is photographed brilliantly and scenes shot on the rugged coastline are excellent contrasts to the dark interiors. Ultimately, I am not sure whether anyone would come away from this film feeling uplifted in any way, but it does contain moments of raw drama which are worth seeing. The transfer/picture is sharp and the extras include illuminating interviews on the casting and filming process from the actors. Mildly recommended, but only if you can handle depressing films.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bleak and Beautiful,
This review is from: The War Zone [DVD] [1999] (DVD)
This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The performances from all the cast are wonderful but I cannot praise Belmont and Cunliffe for their portrayals of the brother and sister. As Tom (Cunliffe) gives us our view of the drama, his performance is crucial but he truly excels. Jess (Belmont) has to go through some of the most difficult scenes in the film and express the most complicated emotions. These two young actors carry this film and make it the masterpiece it is.Tim Roth's direction is also one of the best I have ever seen, especially considering this is his debut. As others have said this film is not easy to watch, but it is very beautiful and contains some of the best performances I have ever seen.
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