As Constance (Natasha Richardson) and Nina (Toni Collette) gather at the deathbed of their mother, Ann (Vanessa Redgrave), they learn for the first time that their mother lived an entire other lifetime during one evening 50 years ago. In vivid flashbacks, the young Ann (Claire Daines) spends one night with a man named Harris (Patrick Wilson), who was the love of her life.
Acting
Redgrave's deathbed frailty will wreck you completely.
Cinematography
Golden-hour Newport glamour that screams 'I summer better than you.'
Costume
Ann's green dress: the real protagonist.
Director
Lajos Koltai
Claire Danes
Ann Grant
Toni Collette
Nina Mars
Vanessa Redgrave
Ann Lord
Patrick Wilson
Harris Arden
Hugh Dancy
Buddy Wittenborn
Natasha Richardson
Constance Haverford
Mamie Gummer
Lila Wittenborn
Eileen Atkins
Nachtschwester
Meryl Streep
Lila Ross
Glenn Close
Mrs. Wittenborn
Cheryl Lynn Bowers
Peach Howze
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Luc
Barry Bostwick
Mr. Wittenborn
David Furr
Ralph Haverford
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave are real-life mother and daughter; their scenes together carry devastating meta-weight given Richardson's 2009 death.
Susan Minot's novel and Michael Cunningham's screenplay fought for dominance; the film's uneven tone reflects this tug-of-war between literary interiority and melodrama.
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