Guinevere

Theatrical Release Date: 1999 09 24 (USA)

UPC: 717951005885

Studio: Miramax

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Nudity, Adult Situations, Profanity, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations]

Summary: Writer Audrey Wells (The Truth About Cats and Dogs) makes her directing debut in Guinevere, which won the screenwriting award at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where it made its world premiere. The film concerns Harper Sloane, a twenty-something upper class pre-law student who falls for Connie, a bohemian photographer 30 years her senior. Shy, waifish, and camera shy, Harper feels her life is mapped out for her, coming from a long line of successful, Harvard-educated lawyers living in San Francisco. At her older sister's wedding, Harper meets Connie, who photographs her privately. When he shows her the photos, Harper (whom Connie refers to only as Guinevere) is intrigued, and a passionate romance and sexual attraction begins. Harper moves in with Connie to become his student, against her mother's wishes. Harper also learns that she isn't Connie's first Guinevere; in fact, there have been a half-dozen others, all of whom have remained friends. As the relationship takes its ups and downs, Harper comes out of her shell to become a stronger woman, more in control of her life and destiny than she would have ever dreamed possible. As Connie slowly dies from poverty and alcoholism, all of his Guineveres, including Harper, come together to remember (and drink to) his work and his life. ~ Arthur Borman, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award – Sundance Film Festival Jury Prize – Deauville Film Festival Best Screenplay – Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Actress – Independent Spirit Awards

Features: 5.1 Surround Sound
Widescreen [1.85:1] enhanced for 16x9 TV's

Guinevere

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 03/14/2000

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 2 PCM stereo

Runtime: 105 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Chapter Selection
1. Opening Credits [3:59]
2. The Wedding Photographer [:29]
3. "Which Print Is Better?" [3:26]
4. The Photo [4:29]
5. No Opinion, No Harvard [1:24]
6. Staying At Connie's [1:43]
7. Harper Meets Billie [3:13]
8. Connie Makes His Move [2:08]
9. Harper Starts Work [8:09]
10. Documenting An Alcoholic [3:59]
11. "I'm Sorry" [3:45]
12. "Whose Are These?" [1:06]
13. Harper Move Out [4:15]
14. Fortune Cookies In Bed [3:39]
15. Surprise! [3:35]
16. "Who's My Good Girl?" [4:33]
17. The Welcome Home Present [2:25]
18. Awe [2:10]
19. "Nothing Wrong With Honest Work" [8:45]
20. Coffee Talk [:59]
21. Too Much To Drink [3:45]
22. False Teeth [2:21]
23. In Dire Need Of Money [4:14]
24. Role Reversal [2:47]
25. Goodbye, Guinevere [2:08]
26. A Guinevere Reunion [5:25]
27. One Last Goodbye [4:45]
28. "The Connie Special" [3:42]
29. End Credits [2:38]

Jason Clark

Ace screenwriter Audrey Wells makes a minor impression with her well-written but unimaginative debut film on May-December romances, but thankfully has the brains to cast to cast the remarkable Sarah Polley in the lead role. Polley's intuitive, fascinating performance alone makes the film worth seeing, if only to show how one can create a fully-rounded, sympathetic character with a minimum of tricks and tics. The film coasts quite far on her considerable charm and intriguing presence, but is undone by Wells' unsteady handling of the film's progression. Guinevere sputters along at all the most inopportune times, and while the casting of Stephen Rea as Polley's love interest seems smart on the page, his unfocused performance mars the more interesting aspects of the central relationship. It is a devoted portrayal, but sometimes feels like it belongs in another movie, and as such makes it hard to summon much sympathy for Rea's character. Likewise, Jean Smart's lengthy, mid-film monologue chastising Rea for his actions is designed to be a real crowd-pleaser -- and she handles it nicely -- but it merely points out the film's inconsistent tone, never truly capitalizing on the emotional stress of the relationship it addresses. In all, the film is a mixed effort -- not without interest, but lacking in the fundamentals that would greatly improve its impact. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Brad Weston  Producer 
Boaz Davidson  Executive Producer 
Avi Lerner  Executive Producer 
John Thompson  Executive Producer 
Bob Weinstein  Executive Producer 
Harvey Weinstein  Executive Producer 
Danny Dimbort  Executive Producer 
Trevor Short  Executive Producer 
Beau Flynn  Executive Producer 
Stefan Simchowitz  Executive Producer 
Audrey Wells  Director 
Audrey Wells  Screenwriter 
Christophe Beck  Composer (Music Score) 
Jonathan King  Producer 
Stephen Rea  Actor 
Sarah Polley  Actor 
Jean Smart  Actor 
Gina Gershon  Actor 
Paul Dooley  Actor 
Francis Guinan  Actor 
Jasmine Guy  Actor 
Tracy Letts  Actor 
Sandra Oh  Actor 
Carrie Preston  Actor 
Emily Procter  Actor 
Grace Una  Actor 
Gedde Watanabe  Actor 

Country: USA