| 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 1997drama film directed byAlan Rickman (in his featuredirectorial debut) and starringPhyllida Law andEmma Thompson.
Set inScotland 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]
The film is based onSharman MacDonald's play,[2] premiered at theWest Yorkshire Playhouse (in the Quarry studio theatre, 23 January to 18 February 1995) before transferring to theAlmeida 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, withSiân Thomas in the role of Frances, played in the film by Emma Thompson.[2][3]
Much of the film was shot in aroundPittenweem,Elie and Earlsferry andCrail in Fife.[4]
The film was met warmly by critics, with Thompson winning an award at theVenice Film Festival. It holds a 63% "Fresh" score on review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, based on 27 reviews with an average rating of 6.5/10.[5]
In the United Kingdom, it grossed £250,689,[6] and a worldwide total of $1.3 million.