The Winter Guest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alan Rickman
Edward R. Pressman
- Phyllida Law
- Emma Thompson
- Sheila Reid
- Sandra Voe
- Arlene Cockburn
- Gary Hollywood
- Sean Biggerstaff
- Douglas Murphy
| The Winter Guest | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Alan Rickman |
| Written by | Sharman Macdonald Alan Rickman |
| Produced by | Steve Clark-Hall Edward R. Pressman |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Seamus McGarvey |
| Edited by | Scott Thomas |
| Music by | Michael Kamen |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | FilmFour Distributors |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.3 million |
The Winter Guest is a 1997 drama film directed by Alan Rickman (in his feature directorial debut) and starring Phyllida Law and Emma Thompson.
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.[1]
History
The film is based on Sharman MacDonald's play,[2] 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.[2][3]
Much of the film was shot in around Pittenweem, Elie and Earlsferry and Crail in Fife.[4]