Roadside Attractions has teamed with Screen Media for the North American distribution rights to Hope Gap, a family drama starring Annette Bening, Bill Nighy, and Josh O’Connor. Oscar-nominated screenwriter William Nicholson directed the film, which will be released in theaters sometime next year.
Hope Gap details the life of a woman, shocked to learn her husband is leaving her for another after 29 years of marriage, and the ensuing emotional fallout the dissolution has on their only grown son, until she ultimately regains her footing, and discovers a new, powerful voice.
The pic, which is based on Nicholson’s Tony Award-nominated play, The Retreat From Moscow, was produced by David M Thompson of Origin Pictures and Sarada McDermott.
Roadside and Screen Media acquired the rights from CAA Media Finance and Protagonist, who has already sold to film in key international territories like Germany/Austria (Tobis), Spain (A Contracorriente), Italy (Cloud...
Hope Gap details the life of a woman, shocked to learn her husband is leaving her for another after 29 years of marriage, and the ensuing emotional fallout the dissolution has on their only grown son, until she ultimately regains her footing, and discovers a new, powerful voice.
The pic, which is based on Nicholson’s Tony Award-nominated play, The Retreat From Moscow, was produced by David M Thompson of Origin Pictures and Sarada McDermott.
Roadside and Screen Media acquired the rights from CAA Media Finance and Protagonist, who has already sold to film in key international territories like Germany/Austria (Tobis), Spain (A Contracorriente), Italy (Cloud...
- 5/9/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Roadside Attractions and Screen Media have acquired North American rights to “Hope Gap,” a family drama from Oscar nominee William Nicholson starring Annette Bening, Roadside co-founders Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff and Screen Media’s Seth Needle jointly announced Thursday.
Roadside and Screen Media acquired the rights from Protagonist and CAA Media Finance. The distributors will release “Hope Gap” in 2020, and levelFILM will distribute in Canada.
Bening stars in “Hope Gap” alongside Bill Nighy and Josh O’Connor in an adaptation of Nicholson’s play “The Retreat From Moscow.” “Hope Gap” is the story of a woman who learns her husband is leaving her for another woman after 29 years of marriage. It charts the emotional fallout experienced by their grown son and how the woman regains her footing and discovers a new voice.
Also Read: 'All My Sons' Broadway Review: Annette Bening and Tracy Letts Face the...
Roadside and Screen Media acquired the rights from Protagonist and CAA Media Finance. The distributors will release “Hope Gap” in 2020, and levelFILM will distribute in Canada.
Bening stars in “Hope Gap” alongside Bill Nighy and Josh O’Connor in an adaptation of Nicholson’s play “The Retreat From Moscow.” “Hope Gap” is the story of a woman who learns her husband is leaving her for another woman after 29 years of marriage. It charts the emotional fallout experienced by their grown son and how the woman regains her footing and discovers a new voice.
Also Read: 'All My Sons' Broadway Review: Annette Bening and Tracy Letts Face the...
- 5/9/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Protagonist licenses to Curzon in UK, Tobis in Germany/Austria, among others.
Roadside Attractions has acquired North American rights with Screen Media to William Nicholson’s family drama Hope Gap starring Annette Bening, Bill Nighy, and BAFTA winner Josh O’Connor.
Roadside and Screen Media acquired rights from Protagonist and CAA Media Finance, and the distributors are planning a theatrical release in 2020. The film will be distributed by levelFILM in Canada.
Based on Nicholson’s Tony Award-nominated play The Retreat From Moscow, Hope Gap charts the life of a woman who is shocked to learn her husband is leaving her...
Roadside Attractions has acquired North American rights with Screen Media to William Nicholson’s family drama Hope Gap starring Annette Bening, Bill Nighy, and BAFTA winner Josh O’Connor.
Roadside and Screen Media acquired rights from Protagonist and CAA Media Finance, and the distributors are planning a theatrical release in 2020. The film will be distributed by levelFILM in Canada.
Based on Nicholson’s Tony Award-nominated play The Retreat From Moscow, Hope Gap charts the life of a woman who is shocked to learn her husband is leaving her...
- 5/9/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: William Nicholson’s (Gladiator) drama Hope Gap, starring Annette Bening (American Beauty), Bill Nighy (Love Actually) and Josh O’Connor (God’s Own Country), has sold into key markets for UK sales firm Protagonist Pictures.
Deals have closed in Germany/Austria (Tobis), Spain (A Contracorriente), Italy (Cloud 9), Australia and New Zealand (Transmission), Scandinavia and Iceland (Sf Studios), China (Dd Dream), Japan (Kino Films), Latin America (California Filmes), Poland (M2), Former Yugoslavia (McF), Middle East (Front Row), Israel (Forum Films), Hungary (Cinetel) and Airlines/Ships (Eim). CAA co-reps North America.
Hope Gap, currently in final post-production, is Nicholson’s second feature as a director after 1997’s Firelight starring Sophie Marceau and Stephen Dillane. The acclaimed writer was Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for Gladiator and Shadowlands and further writing credits include Les Miserables, Breathe and Everest.
Hope Gap charts the unraveling of a marriage after 29 years and the impact on a family unit.
Deals have closed in Germany/Austria (Tobis), Spain (A Contracorriente), Italy (Cloud 9), Australia and New Zealand (Transmission), Scandinavia and Iceland (Sf Studios), China (Dd Dream), Japan (Kino Films), Latin America (California Filmes), Poland (M2), Former Yugoslavia (McF), Middle East (Front Row), Israel (Forum Films), Hungary (Cinetel) and Airlines/Ships (Eim). CAA co-reps North America.
Hope Gap, currently in final post-production, is Nicholson’s second feature as a director after 1997’s Firelight starring Sophie Marceau and Stephen Dillane. The acclaimed writer was Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for Gladiator and Shadowlands and further writing credits include Les Miserables, Breathe and Everest.
Hope Gap charts the unraveling of a marriage after 29 years and the impact on a family unit.
- 11/15/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Project wrapped UK shoot earlier this month.
Screen can reveal the first look at Josh O’Connor, Annette Bening and Bill Nighy in William Nicholson’s family drama Hope Gap for Origin Pictures.
Principal photography wrapped on the project earlier this month after shooting for five weeks in the eponymous Hope Gap in Seaford, Sussex as well as in Leeds and Doncaster.
Hope Gap is Nicholson’s second feature as a director after 1997’s Firelight with Sophie Marceau. He was Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for Gladiator and Shadowlands and his further writing credits include Breathe and Everest.
O’Connor, whose...
Screen can reveal the first look at Josh O’Connor, Annette Bening and Bill Nighy in William Nicholson’s family drama Hope Gap for Origin Pictures.
Principal photography wrapped on the project earlier this month after shooting for five weeks in the eponymous Hope Gap in Seaford, Sussex as well as in Leeds and Doncaster.
Hope Gap is Nicholson’s second feature as a director after 1997’s Firelight with Sophie Marceau. He was Oscar-nominated for his screenplays for Gladiator and Shadowlands and his further writing credits include Breathe and Everest.
O’Connor, whose...
- 8/17/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Xyz Films reports global sell-out on Jamie Bell embassy siege thriller.
Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Toa Fraser’s 6 Days and has earmarked an autumn theatrical release.
Netflix has picked up international rights as a Netflix Original Films release in France, Germany, Latin America, Japan, Benelux, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Italy, Switzerland and other territories.
Elsewhere rights to the thriller have gone to: the UK (Icon), Australia and New Zealand (Transmission), Portugal (Film4You), Spain (A Contracorriente), Middle East (Falcon), Turkey (Calinos), Indonesia (Pt Prima), South Korea (Double & Joy), pan-Asian pay-tv (Fox) and China (Hgc).
Bell, Abbie Cornish, and Mark Strong star in 6 Days, which recounts the six-day hostage crisis at the Iranian Embassy over April-May 1980 and the subsequent rescue mission by the elite British Sas.
Glenn Standring wrote the screenplay, Matthew Metcalfe produced, and Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian, Peter Hampden, Gavin Poolman, Andrea Scarso, and Standring served as executive producers.
6 Days is a Dog...
Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Toa Fraser’s 6 Days and has earmarked an autumn theatrical release.
Netflix has picked up international rights as a Netflix Original Films release in France, Germany, Latin America, Japan, Benelux, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Italy, Switzerland and other territories.
Elsewhere rights to the thriller have gone to: the UK (Icon), Australia and New Zealand (Transmission), Portugal (Film4You), Spain (A Contracorriente), Middle East (Falcon), Turkey (Calinos), Indonesia (Pt Prima), South Korea (Double & Joy), pan-Asian pay-tv (Fox) and China (Hgc).
Bell, Abbie Cornish, and Mark Strong star in 6 Days, which recounts the six-day hostage crisis at the Iranian Embassy over April-May 1980 and the subsequent rescue mission by the elite British Sas.
Glenn Standring wrote the screenplay, Matthew Metcalfe produced, and Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian, Peter Hampden, Gavin Poolman, Andrea Scarso, and Standring served as executive producers.
6 Days is a Dog...
- 3/13/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Saban Films has acquired Us rights to Jonathan Mostow’s action-thriller starring Sam Worthington and newcomer Odeya Rush.
John Brancato and Michael Ferris adapted the screenplay to The Hunter’s Prayer from Kevin Wignall’s novel For The Dogs, about a hitman who forms a bond with a target and sets out to find her family’s killers.
Wme Global and CAA co-represented Us rights and Sierra/Affinity handles international sales.
Navid McIlhargey produced with Anthony Rhulen, Chris Milburn, John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz, Sam Worthington, Tove Christensen, Michael Wexler, Juan Garcia Peredo, Jimmy Costas, Paul Rock and Paul Leyden.
Executive Producers include Gavin Poolman, Duncan Reid, Hugo Heppell, Norman Merry, Peter Hampden, IIdiko Kemeny, David Minkowski and Jack L. Murray.
Earlier in the week Saban announced it had picked up North American rights to Sean Penn’s The Last Face.
John Brancato and Michael Ferris adapted the screenplay to The Hunter’s Prayer from Kevin Wignall’s novel For The Dogs, about a hitman who forms a bond with a target and sets out to find her family’s killers.
Wme Global and CAA co-represented Us rights and Sierra/Affinity handles international sales.
Navid McIlhargey produced with Anthony Rhulen, Chris Milburn, John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz, Sam Worthington, Tove Christensen, Michael Wexler, Juan Garcia Peredo, Jimmy Costas, Paul Rock and Paul Leyden.
Executive Producers include Gavin Poolman, Duncan Reid, Hugo Heppell, Norman Merry, Peter Hampden, IIdiko Kemeny, David Minkowski and Jack L. Murray.
Earlier in the week Saban announced it had picked up North American rights to Sean Penn’s The Last Face.
- 9/9/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
First images of Jamie Bell and Mark Strong revealed.
6 Days, an action thriller based on the true events of April 1980 when armed gunmen stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and took 26 people hostage, has begun the London portion of its shoot.
The New Zealand-uk co-production recently completed its New Zealand shoot and will continue this month in London.
The action thriller is directed by Toa Fraser (The Dead Lands) and produced by Matthew Metcalfe (The Dead Lands).
The cast is led by Jamie Bell (Fantastic Four), Mark Strong (The Imitation Game) and Abbie Cornish (Limitless).
The film traces the six days of tense stand-off that ensued as a group of highly trained soldiers from Britain’s Special Air Service (Sas) prepared to raid the Iranian Embassy at London’s Princes Gate.
Following their acquisition of Fraser’s The Dead Lands, Xyz Films have again partnered with Metcalfe’s General Film Corporation (Gfc) and will take worldwide sales duties...
6 Days, an action thriller based on the true events of April 1980 when armed gunmen stormed the Iranian Embassy in London and took 26 people hostage, has begun the London portion of its shoot.
The New Zealand-uk co-production recently completed its New Zealand shoot and will continue this month in London.
The action thriller is directed by Toa Fraser (The Dead Lands) and produced by Matthew Metcalfe (The Dead Lands).
The cast is led by Jamie Bell (Fantastic Four), Mark Strong (The Imitation Game) and Abbie Cornish (Limitless).
The film traces the six days of tense stand-off that ensued as a group of highly trained soldiers from Britain’s Special Air Service (Sas) prepared to raid the Iranian Embassy at London’s Princes Gate.
Following their acquisition of Fraser’s The Dead Lands, Xyz Films have again partnered with Metcalfe’s General Film Corporation (Gfc) and will take worldwide sales duties...
- 8/3/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Production commenced in Auckland on Wednesday on the embassy siege action thriller from Toa Fraser that Xyz Films sells internationally.
Jamie Bell, Mark Strong and Abbie Cornish star in 6 Days, which General Film Corporation finances in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, Lip Sync Productions and the Ingenious Senior Film Fund.
The story is set in London in April 1980 as the Sas prepares to rescue 26 hostages during the Iranian Embassy siege.
The New Zealand-uk co-production is scheduled to finish the New Zealand portion of the shoot in late July prior to relocating to London in August.
Producer Matthew Metcalfe of General Film Corporation reunites with Fraser and screenwriter Glenn Standring following their collaboration on the 2015 New Zealand foreign-language Oscar submission The Dead Lands.
The parties also worked with Xyz Films, whose Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian serve as executive producers on 6 Days alongside Gavin Poolman and Andrea Scarso from Ingenious Senior Film Fund, Ian Dawson and [link...
Jamie Bell, Mark Strong and Abbie Cornish star in 6 Days, which General Film Corporation finances in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, Lip Sync Productions and the Ingenious Senior Film Fund.
The story is set in London in April 1980 as the Sas prepares to rescue 26 hostages during the Iranian Embassy siege.
The New Zealand-uk co-production is scheduled to finish the New Zealand portion of the shoot in late July prior to relocating to London in August.
Producer Matthew Metcalfe of General Film Corporation reunites with Fraser and screenwriter Glenn Standring following their collaboration on the 2015 New Zealand foreign-language Oscar submission The Dead Lands.
The parties also worked with Xyz Films, whose Nate Bolotin and Aram Tertzakian serve as executive producers on 6 Days alongside Gavin Poolman and Andrea Scarso from Ingenious Senior Film Fund, Ian Dawson and [link...
- 6/10/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The company has wrapped up a slew of sales on Jonathan Mostow’s upcoming thriller starring Sam Worthington and Odeya Rush.
Principal photography is set to begin this week in Yorkshire on the story of a hitman who goes on the run across Europe with the woman he was hired to kill. Martin Compston, Amy Landecker and Verónica Echegui also star.
Paul Leyden, Oren Moverman, John Brancato and Michael Ferris adapted the screenplay from Kevin Wignall’s novel The Dogs.
Deals have closed in Germany (Square One), Latin America (Sun), South Korea (Focus And Company), South Africa (Ster Kinekor), Hong Kong and Taiwan (Sound Space), Switzerland (Ascot Elite) and former Yugoslavia (Blitz).
Sierra / Affinity licensed rights in Bulgaria (Tandem), Greece, India, Middle East and Turkey (Italia), Iceland (Myndform), Israel (United King), Indonesia (Pt Prima), Thailand (Mongkol), Malaysia and Vietnam (Roarlion) and Asia pay-tv (Star).
Financiers are Ingenious Senior Film Fund, Ingenious Project...
Principal photography is set to begin this week in Yorkshire on the story of a hitman who goes on the run across Europe with the woman he was hired to kill. Martin Compston, Amy Landecker and Verónica Echegui also star.
Paul Leyden, Oren Moverman, John Brancato and Michael Ferris adapted the screenplay from Kevin Wignall’s novel The Dogs.
Deals have closed in Germany (Square One), Latin America (Sun), South Korea (Focus And Company), South Africa (Ster Kinekor), Hong Kong and Taiwan (Sound Space), Switzerland (Ascot Elite) and former Yugoslavia (Blitz).
Sierra / Affinity licensed rights in Bulgaria (Tandem), Greece, India, Middle East and Turkey (Italia), Iceland (Myndform), Israel (United King), Indonesia (Pt Prima), Thailand (Mongkol), Malaysia and Vietnam (Roarlion) and Asia pay-tv (Star).
Financiers are Ingenious Senior Film Fund, Ingenious Project...
- 11/8/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Co-pro Hunter’s Prayer marks largest investment and first Us production for fund.
Screen Yorkshire has made its biggest production investment to date on $25m Us-uk co-production Hunter’s Prayer (previously known as For The Dogs).
Avatar and Clash of the Titans star Sam Worthington will star as an assassin in director Jonathan Mostow’s (Terminator 3) thriller, which is due to shoot in the UK and Hungary in 2015.
The film is the first Us production to get backing from Screen Yorkshire, which would not reveal the amount invested but confirmed it to be above £1m.
Casting is currently underway on the female lead. Emma Roberts and Hailee Steinfeld were both previously linked to the project but are no longer in the frame.
Based on the novel For The Dogs by Kevin Wignall, the script has been adapted for the screen by Paul Leyden, Oren Moverman, John Brancato and Michael Ferris.
Producers are [link...
Screen Yorkshire has made its biggest production investment to date on $25m Us-uk co-production Hunter’s Prayer (previously known as For The Dogs).
Avatar and Clash of the Titans star Sam Worthington will star as an assassin in director Jonathan Mostow’s (Terminator 3) thriller, which is due to shoot in the UK and Hungary in 2015.
The film is the first Us production to get backing from Screen Yorkshire, which would not reveal the amount invested but confirmed it to be above £1m.
Casting is currently underway on the female lead. Emma Roberts and Hailee Steinfeld were both previously linked to the project but are no longer in the frame.
Based on the novel For The Dogs by Kevin Wignall, the script has been adapted for the screen by Paul Leyden, Oren Moverman, John Brancato and Michael Ferris.
Producers are [link...
- 7/22/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Debicki also board drama readying for October shoot.
The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, Now You See Me star Isla Fisher and rising talent Elizabeth Debicki are set to join Kate Winslet and Judy Davis in Jocelyn Moorhouse’s romantic drama The Dressmaker, which Embankment Films will be shopping in Cannes.
Principal photography is due to get underway in Victoria, Australia on October 13, 2014. Embankment co-reps Us rights with CAA.
Winslet will play an avenging angel who returns home to the remote country town from which she fled as a child after being accused of murder, to make amends with her eccentric mother.
Although ostracised, as an exponent of the most stunning 1950’s haute couture inspired by Madame Vionnet and Balenciaga, she liberates and empowers the town’s women with her quick wit and beautiful clothing. She unexpectedly finds love and ultimately exacts sweet revenge on those who wronged her.
Jocelyn Moorhouse ([link...
The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth, Now You See Me star Isla Fisher and rising talent Elizabeth Debicki are set to join Kate Winslet and Judy Davis in Jocelyn Moorhouse’s romantic drama The Dressmaker, which Embankment Films will be shopping in Cannes.
Principal photography is due to get underway in Victoria, Australia on October 13, 2014. Embankment co-reps Us rights with CAA.
Winslet will play an avenging angel who returns home to the remote country town from which she fled as a child after being accused of murder, to make amends with her eccentric mother.
Although ostracised, as an exponent of the most stunning 1950’s haute couture inspired by Madame Vionnet and Balenciaga, she liberates and empowers the town’s women with her quick wit and beautiful clothing. She unexpectedly finds love and ultimately exacts sweet revenge on those who wronged her.
Jocelyn Moorhouse ([link...
- 5/9/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Radcliffe to star as Olympic champion in Gold. Simon Beaufoy’s script to be directed by James Watkins, Embankment to handle sales.
Daniel Radcliffe is to play four-time Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe in what will be one of the hottest projects to hit the American Film Market (Afm) next month.
Radcliffe will reunite with Woman in Black director James Watkins on Gold, which will tell the story of Coe’s rivalry with fellow athlete Steve Ovett in the years leading up to the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
The buzzed-about screenplay is by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) and Will Davies (How to Train Your Dragon).
Planning is underway for a shoot in the UK and Russia in April next year.
The film will be produced by Joanna Anderson and Vicky Licorish (Small Island) and Kevin Loader (Hyde Park on Hudson, Le Week-end).
BBC Films and the British Film Institute have developed the project with Al...
Daniel Radcliffe is to play four-time Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe in what will be one of the hottest projects to hit the American Film Market (Afm) next month.
Radcliffe will reunite with Woman in Black director James Watkins on Gold, which will tell the story of Coe’s rivalry with fellow athlete Steve Ovett in the years leading up to the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.
The buzzed-about screenplay is by Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) and Will Davies (How to Train Your Dragon).
Planning is underway for a shoot in the UK and Russia in April next year.
The film will be produced by Joanna Anderson and Vicky Licorish (Small Island) and Kevin Loader (Hyde Park on Hudson, Le Week-end).
BBC Films and the British Film Institute have developed the project with Al...
- 10/30/2013
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
A newspaper article about zoo animals in Kuwait City after the Iraqi invasion inspired Matthew Bishop to write "The Zookeeper".
Director Ralph Ziman took his inspiration from a zoo in Angola during its civil war. Producer Juliusz Kossakowski saw the story as taking place in Eastern Europe. Consequently, "Zookeeper", starring Sam Neill, has an allegorical feeling in which characters act out a tale of brutality and humanity that pathetically repeats itself.
This is a slow, thoughtful, overcalculated effort that is best-suited for art houses and possible cable exposure. Superb and intimate acting by Neill, British actress Gina McKee and a Bosnian-born, Danish-reared boy, Javor Loznica, make the film feel more like a play despite its war scenes and large zoo setting.
The unnamed locale is probably Bosnia. Neill, the enigmatic title character, is a cynical ex-Communist bureaucrat with a troubled past. When his fellow zoo workers flee a city coming under bombardment and sniper fire, he stays on with a veterinarian (Om Puri) and an aging guard. But the guard disappears, and racist partisans kill the vet.
Barely able to keep the animals alive without the vet, Neill nevertheless perseveres, flinging what remains of meat supplies into the cages and injecting medicine into sick ones.
Then a wounded boy (Loznica) turns up. After Neill reluctantly nurses him back to health, the boy returns with a woman (McKee) who is his mother. The zookeeper doesn't want the two around, fearful that the nationalists' murderous captain (Ulrich Thomsen) will discover them. But the unlikely "family" continues the struggle to keep themselves and the animals alive until U.N. troops arrive.
Clearly, Neill is living in self-imposed penance for past deeds during the Communist era. The boy, hardened by war into a tiny soldier who will kill if necessary, shies away from human contact, which he no longer trusts. And his mother, toughened as well by her ordeal at the hands of militia who treated her as a sexual toy, struggles to make sense out of this quiet man who secretly writes poetry.
The story by Bishop and Ziman does not lack for dramatic incidents. Yet the characters never emerge as fully rounded. They move in a haze of symbolism and allegory. They lack specificity and details that would individualize their plight.
At times, Ziman seems more sympathetic to the caged, frightened animals. He explores their horrifying predicament with concern and tenderness. But this does slow down the drama.
Cinematographer Piotr Kukla bathes the screen in blue-gray tones, as if the war had banished the cheer of rich colors. The sequences where explosions and gunfire rock the zoo, causing the animals to shake with terror, contain the film's strongest, most troubling images.
THE ZOOKEEPER
A Svendsen Films presentation
in association with Apollo Films Ltd.,
Pavel Novy Produckce and Maborosi
Producers: Juliusz Kossakowski, Michael Alden
Director: Ralph Ziman
Screenwriters: Ralph Ziman, Matthew Bishop
Executive producers: Michael Lunderskov, Michael Laursen, Gavin Poolman, Rob Langestraat
Director of photography: Piotr Kukla
Production designer: Martin Maly
Music: Nikolaj Egelund
Editor: Christopher Holmes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludovic: Sam Neill
Ankica: Gina McKee
Zioig: Javorf Loznica
Dragov: Ulrich Thomsen
The vet: Om Puri
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Director Ralph Ziman took his inspiration from a zoo in Angola during its civil war. Producer Juliusz Kossakowski saw the story as taking place in Eastern Europe. Consequently, "Zookeeper", starring Sam Neill, has an allegorical feeling in which characters act out a tale of brutality and humanity that pathetically repeats itself.
This is a slow, thoughtful, overcalculated effort that is best-suited for art houses and possible cable exposure. Superb and intimate acting by Neill, British actress Gina McKee and a Bosnian-born, Danish-reared boy, Javor Loznica, make the film feel more like a play despite its war scenes and large zoo setting.
The unnamed locale is probably Bosnia. Neill, the enigmatic title character, is a cynical ex-Communist bureaucrat with a troubled past. When his fellow zoo workers flee a city coming under bombardment and sniper fire, he stays on with a veterinarian (Om Puri) and an aging guard. But the guard disappears, and racist partisans kill the vet.
Barely able to keep the animals alive without the vet, Neill nevertheless perseveres, flinging what remains of meat supplies into the cages and injecting medicine into sick ones.
Then a wounded boy (Loznica) turns up. After Neill reluctantly nurses him back to health, the boy returns with a woman (McKee) who is his mother. The zookeeper doesn't want the two around, fearful that the nationalists' murderous captain (Ulrich Thomsen) will discover them. But the unlikely "family" continues the struggle to keep themselves and the animals alive until U.N. troops arrive.
Clearly, Neill is living in self-imposed penance for past deeds during the Communist era. The boy, hardened by war into a tiny soldier who will kill if necessary, shies away from human contact, which he no longer trusts. And his mother, toughened as well by her ordeal at the hands of militia who treated her as a sexual toy, struggles to make sense out of this quiet man who secretly writes poetry.
The story by Bishop and Ziman does not lack for dramatic incidents. Yet the characters never emerge as fully rounded. They move in a haze of symbolism and allegory. They lack specificity and details that would individualize their plight.
At times, Ziman seems more sympathetic to the caged, frightened animals. He explores their horrifying predicament with concern and tenderness. But this does slow down the drama.
Cinematographer Piotr Kukla bathes the screen in blue-gray tones, as if the war had banished the cheer of rich colors. The sequences where explosions and gunfire rock the zoo, causing the animals to shake with terror, contain the film's strongest, most troubling images.
THE ZOOKEEPER
A Svendsen Films presentation
in association with Apollo Films Ltd.,
Pavel Novy Produckce and Maborosi
Producers: Juliusz Kossakowski, Michael Alden
Director: Ralph Ziman
Screenwriters: Ralph Ziman, Matthew Bishop
Executive producers: Michael Lunderskov, Michael Laursen, Gavin Poolman, Rob Langestraat
Director of photography: Piotr Kukla
Production designer: Martin Maly
Music: Nikolaj Egelund
Editor: Christopher Holmes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludovic: Sam Neill
Ankica: Gina McKee
Zioig: Javorf Loznica
Dragov: Ulrich Thomsen
The vet: Om Puri
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
A newspaper article about zoo animals in Kuwait City after the Iraqi invasion inspired Matthew Bishop to write "The Zookeeper".
Director Ralph Ziman took his inspiration from a zoo in Angola during its civil war. Producer Juliusz Kossakowski saw the story as taking place in Eastern Europe. Consequently, "Zookeeper", starring Sam Neill, has an allegorical feeling in which characters act out a tale of brutality and humanity that pathetically repeats itself.
This is a slow, thoughtful, overcalculated effort that is best-suited for art houses and possible cable exposure. Superb and intimate acting by Neill, British actress Gina McKee and a Bosnian-born, Danish-reared boy, Javor Loznica, make the film feel more like a play despite its war scenes and large zoo setting.
The unnamed locale is probably Bosnia. Neill, the enigmatic title character, is a cynical ex-Communist bureaucrat with a troubled past. When his fellow zoo workers flee a city coming under bombardment and sniper fire, he stays on with a veterinarian (Om Puri) and an aging guard. But the guard disappears, and racist partisans kill the vet.
Barely able to keep the animals alive without the vet, Neill nevertheless perseveres, flinging what remains of meat supplies into the cages and injecting medicine into sick ones.
Then a wounded boy (Loznica) turns up. After Neill reluctantly nurses him back to health, the boy returns with a woman (McKee) who is his mother. The zookeeper doesn't want the two around, fearful that the nationalists' murderous captain (Ulrich Thomsen) will discover them. But the unlikely "family" continues the struggle to keep themselves and the animals alive until U.N. troops arrive.
Clearly, Neill is living in self-imposed penance for past deeds during the Communist era. The boy, hardened by war into a tiny soldier who will kill if necessary, shies away from human contact, which he no longer trusts. And his mother, toughened as well by her ordeal at the hands of militia who treated her as a sexual toy, struggles to make sense out of this quiet man who secretly writes poetry.
The story by Bishop and Ziman does not lack for dramatic incidents. Yet the characters never emerge as fully rounded. They move in a haze of symbolism and allegory. They lack specificity and details that would individualize their plight.
At times, Ziman seems more sympathetic to the caged, frightened animals. He explores their horrifying predicament with concern and tenderness. But this does slow down the drama.
Cinematographer Piotr Kukla bathes the screen in blue-gray tones, as if the war had banished the cheer of rich colors. The sequences where explosions and gunfire rock the zoo, causing the animals to shake with terror, contain the film's strongest, most troubling images.
THE ZOOKEEPER
A Svendsen Films presentation
in association with Apollo Films Ltd.,
Pavel Novy Produckce and Maborosi
Producers: Juliusz Kossakowski, Michael Alden
Director: Ralph Ziman
Screenwriters: Ralph Ziman, Matthew Bishop
Executive producers: Michael Lunderskov, Michael Laursen, Gavin Poolman, Rob Langestraat
Director of photography: Piotr Kukla
Production designer: Martin Maly
Music: Nikolaj Egelund
Editor: Christopher Holmes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludovic: Sam Neill
Ankica: Gina McKee
Zioig: Javorf Loznica
Dragov: Ulrich Thomsen
The vet: Om Puri
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Director Ralph Ziman took his inspiration from a zoo in Angola during its civil war. Producer Juliusz Kossakowski saw the story as taking place in Eastern Europe. Consequently, "Zookeeper", starring Sam Neill, has an allegorical feeling in which characters act out a tale of brutality and humanity that pathetically repeats itself.
This is a slow, thoughtful, overcalculated effort that is best-suited for art houses and possible cable exposure. Superb and intimate acting by Neill, British actress Gina McKee and a Bosnian-born, Danish-reared boy, Javor Loznica, make the film feel more like a play despite its war scenes and large zoo setting.
The unnamed locale is probably Bosnia. Neill, the enigmatic title character, is a cynical ex-Communist bureaucrat with a troubled past. When his fellow zoo workers flee a city coming under bombardment and sniper fire, he stays on with a veterinarian (Om Puri) and an aging guard. But the guard disappears, and racist partisans kill the vet.
Barely able to keep the animals alive without the vet, Neill nevertheless perseveres, flinging what remains of meat supplies into the cages and injecting medicine into sick ones.
Then a wounded boy (Loznica) turns up. After Neill reluctantly nurses him back to health, the boy returns with a woman (McKee) who is his mother. The zookeeper doesn't want the two around, fearful that the nationalists' murderous captain (Ulrich Thomsen) will discover them. But the unlikely "family" continues the struggle to keep themselves and the animals alive until U.N. troops arrive.
Clearly, Neill is living in self-imposed penance for past deeds during the Communist era. The boy, hardened by war into a tiny soldier who will kill if necessary, shies away from human contact, which he no longer trusts. And his mother, toughened as well by her ordeal at the hands of militia who treated her as a sexual toy, struggles to make sense out of this quiet man who secretly writes poetry.
The story by Bishop and Ziman does not lack for dramatic incidents. Yet the characters never emerge as fully rounded. They move in a haze of symbolism and allegory. They lack specificity and details that would individualize their plight.
At times, Ziman seems more sympathetic to the caged, frightened animals. He explores their horrifying predicament with concern and tenderness. But this does slow down the drama.
Cinematographer Piotr Kukla bathes the screen in blue-gray tones, as if the war had banished the cheer of rich colors. The sequences where explosions and gunfire rock the zoo, causing the animals to shake with terror, contain the film's strongest, most troubling images.
THE ZOOKEEPER
A Svendsen Films presentation
in association with Apollo Films Ltd.,
Pavel Novy Produckce and Maborosi
Producers: Juliusz Kossakowski, Michael Alden
Director: Ralph Ziman
Screenwriters: Ralph Ziman, Matthew Bishop
Executive producers: Michael Lunderskov, Michael Laursen, Gavin Poolman, Rob Langestraat
Director of photography: Piotr Kukla
Production designer: Martin Maly
Music: Nikolaj Egelund
Editor: Christopher Holmes
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ludovic: Sam Neill
Ankica: Gina McKee
Zioig: Javorf Loznica
Dragov: Ulrich Thomsen
The vet: Om Puri
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 10/5/2001
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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