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The Winter Guest [DVD] [1998]
 
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The Winter Guest [DVD] [1998]

DVD ~ Phyllida Law
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Phyllida Law, Emma Thompson, Sheila Reid, Sandra Voe, Arlene Cockburn
  • Directors: Alan Rickman
  • Writers: Alan Rickman, Sharman Macdonald
  • Producers: Alan J. Wands, Edward R. Pressman, Ken Lipper, Steve Clark-Hall
  • Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Cinema Club
  • DVD Release Date: 3 Dec 2001
  • Run Time: 105 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004S8ID
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 51,899 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

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


Video Description

DVD Special Features: Theatrical trailer
Interactive menus
Scene Index

Language: English, Dolby Digital
Subtitles: None
Soundtrack: English Dolby surround
Video Aspect Ratio-16:9 Anamorphic

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars a beautiful, quiet film with wonderful detailing, 26 Oct 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Winter Guest [VHS] [1998] (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.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Emotional, 22 Jun 2005
By A Customer
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.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Far from a blockbuster but worth watching!, 10 Dec 2002
By G. M. Ranson "gillmr" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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 Wonderful opening sequence
Listening to my CD of the soundtrack of The Winter Guest after a long pause, I remembered how much I loved the film when I saw it in the late 90s. Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2007 by Allegra

2.0 out of 5 stars The Winter Guest
A winter bore was about right. Online info does say starring Alan Rickman although he is actually the director. My mistake. Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2005 by Lorna Hawley

1.0 out of 5 stars The most boring film I have seen in a long time
If you enjoy listening to pointless dialogues between a mother and a daughter who don't get on very well ("Use your stick, mother." "No, I don't need it." ... Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2004 by unknown

5.0 out of 5 stars The Winter Guest
It's difficult to explain quite why this one of my favourite films.
It is extremely unusual to watch a film where characters and relationships are given the space and privacy... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2004 by H. Kendall

1.0 out of 5 stars The Winter Bore
This has to be one of the dullest movies I have seen in a long time. The dialogue is boring, the plot lines implausible or predictable from the start, and that 'snow' isn't... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2003 by bolebridge

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll laugh and cry
This slice of life story concerns four couples of different ages on a dreary winter day in a Scottish coastal town. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2002 by Kona

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Beautiful!
I started watching this film, but gave up after 10 minutes or so. Then, a few weeks later, decided to give it another go. My goodness, I am glad I did. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars A story about grief, love and friendship...
A "slice" of real life ? Grieving her lost husband, Emma Thompson is (superb as usual) simply trying to go on... with the help of her mother (her real one ! Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2001

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