MovieChat Forums > The Winter Guest (1997) Discussion > Beautiful and amazingly well-written

Beautiful and amazingly well-written

posted 19 years ago by ormorales
10 replies | jump to latest

I have been wanting to see this movie since I first saw the trailer, and I finally came across it and checked it out.

The cinematography and acting are worth the watch alone, but what makes the movie work are the direction and screenplay. Here, the director finds a delicate balance between the storylines, and allows the characters to speak and learn, a rarity in modern cinema. Reading some of the mixed reviews the film got, I am sorry so many critics seemed to have missed the point entirely.

I should note that Alan Rickman is one of my favorite actors and that was one of the reasons I have remembered this movie's trailer since I was a teenage girl, but now, eight years later, I found the film every bit as engaging as the commercial I saw such a long time ago.

I'm thoroughly saddened, after having seen his directorial debut, that he did not continue directing. I've heard that his love is still the theatre, and I think that is wonderful, but I wish he would consider directing again.

[–] moviemonkey13 19 years ago

I agree. Movies like this, and the confluence of this kind of talent, are rare. I may just rent it again this weekend.

[–] dominic-glisinski 18 years ago

I just saw the film on dvd today...

The jury is still out for me. It leaves me wishing the backstory had been more developed....how did her husband die? What is with her mother walking over the field...? It smacks of a film I saw once by Woody Allen..kind of minimalist and modern ...yet...? I need to see it again I guess :)

Fine acting by Emma, but why the filthy language was put into the boy's mouths I'm not sure. The old gals seem to be disconnected from the rest of the story...in fact the separate little parties remind me of The Tempest by William Shakespeare...read it sometime. A satisfying film all round, but not in the same rank as Remains of the Day (which ends similarly..or at least I feel similarly with both endings)

[–] knysliukas 18 years ago

as for me, i enjoyed the lack of details. it made the usual need for some clearly outlined plot disappear. in this way bringing the 'feeling' nearer. the same with the moments when the music would grow louder than the words spoken, as if carrying them away. maybe words and details are not that important in our lives, after all.

the boys' talk may be explained by the simple fact that teenagers do talk like that everyday. at least where i come from. there is some point around 13-15 years when they, especially the boys, would compete as to who would put the most swearings into a sentence. i for my part liked the contrast between the innumerable cursings and soft talk to the baby feline. as if the boys (at least one of them) take a new step into maturity by taking the responsibility and care for someone else.

really, pity that alan has stopped right after this remarkable debut. i have heard he was considered to be the director on one of the harry potter movies, but then chosen as an actor instead. he is brilliant at whatever he does, but i cannot help wishing he would come up with another movie directed by himself.

[–] uutuus 18 years ago

Hello!

I have The Winter guest on dvd. This film is perfect to watch when feeling stressed or your everyday troubles are getting you down. I really enjoyed the solemnity and the silence in the film.
And it was beautiful how the landscape was an important part of the story. The detailed feeling of being outdoors when it's cold was captured in the film.

[–] ClarkF1 18 years ago

I saw this film whilst living in St. Andrews where the cafe scene was filmed. The film certainly doesn't do the real life locations justice....I've been there many times.

Pittenweem is a beautiful place and deserves a visit should you ever go to Scotland.

Sadly I missed the filming due to studies but was able to watch them cleaning up the fake snow afterwards (which is when I found out what was filming).

This is one of my favourite movies and not bad for a first time director.

Shame he hasn't had a stab at another one.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] reblack68 17 years ago

Having been a teenage boy I can tell you one thing for certain. However concerned you are about the lack of development of your private parts you DO NOT admit this to anybody, least of all one of your peers.

I lived further up the same street when it was filmed and my car is actually in the title shots. It's there because it wouldn't start when they asked me to move it.

When they were filming they added a few features, one of which was the railings. The railings were only for show so they weren't properly secured but there was a bit of an outcry when they were removed- so much so that proper railings have been put in their place.

[–] thurmankattnyy 16 years ago

I really liked the film. That said I was confused by the accents. I heard London, Belfast,and of course some lower Scotland,but they seemed all over the place. Different scenes sounded like different people. I'm a yank ofcourse but I have a good ear for this stuff. My Ma is from Derry in Ulster and I have several Scottish friends. I am close to my family in Ulster and converse with them on a regular basis.Tell me if you thought the accents sounded legit.

[–] sailingcat10 16 years ago

it helps greatly when the writer of the play or film gets to direct it. what they show an audience is their exact interpretation. the writer of the story is going to know every single detail in each individual scene. all of that transfers to the stage or the silver screen very easily.

"What's the score?"
"Dirty love." The Simpsons

[–] 16 years ago

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