The Winter Guest
| The Winter Guest | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alan Rickman |
| Produced by | Steve Clark-Hall |
| Written by |
Sharman Macdonald Alan Rickman |
| Starring |
Emma Thompson Phyllida Law Sean Biggerstaff Arlene Cockburn Gary Hollywood Douglas Murphy Sheila Reid Sandra Voe |
| Music by | Michael Kamen |
| Cinematography | Seamus McGarvey |
| Edited by | Scott Thomas |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Fine Line Features |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Winter Guest is a 1997 film directed by Alan Rickman in his debut as a director, which stars Phyllida Law and Emma Thompson.
Plot
Set in Scotland on one wintry day, the film focuses on eight people; a mother and daughter, Elspeth (Phyllida Law) and Frances (Emma Thompson); two young boys skipping school, Sam (Douglas Murphy) and Tom (Sean Biggerstaff); two old women who frequently attend strangers' funerals, Chloe (Sandra Voe) and Lily (Sheila Reid); and two teenagers Nita (Arlene Cockburn) and Alex (Gary Hollywood). The film consists primarily of the interactions between the characters.
History
The film is based on Sharman MacDonald's play, premiered at the West Yorkshire Playhouse (in the Quarry studio theatre, 23 January to 18 February 1995) before transferring to the Almeida Theatre in London (14 March to 15 April 1995).
Like the film it was also directed by Rickman, starring Law, Reid, Voe and John Wark, with Siân Thomas in the role of Frances, played in the film by Emma Thompson.
Reception
The film was met warmly by critics, with Thompson winning an award at the Venice Film Festival. But it was "Robin Don's remarkable set ... that grabs you before anything else" (Michael Billington in The Guardian, 25 January 1995): a house interior, promenade and snowbound seascape, which won Don the Design award in the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards in 1995.
Awards and nominations
- British Independent Film Awards (UK)
- Nominated: Best British Actress (Emma Thompson)
- Brussels International Film Festival (Belgium)
- Won: Audience Award (Alan Rickman)
- Chicago Film Festival (USA)
- Won: Gold Hugo – Best Film (Alan Rickman)
- Czech Lion (Czech Republic)
- Nominated: Best Foreign Language Film (Alan Rickman)
- European Film Awards
- Nominated: Best Actress (Emma Thompson)
- Venice Film Festival (Italy)
- Won: 'CinemAvvenire' Award (Alan Rickman; tied with A Ostra e o Vento and Giro di lune tra terra e mare).
- Won: OCIC Award (Alan Rickman)
- Won: Pasinetti Award – Best Actress (Emma Thompson)
- Nominated: Golden Lion (Alan Rickman)