Jedermann's Fest (2002)

Austrian television director Fritz Lehner makes his feature debut with the big-budget drama Jedermann's Fest, based on the 1911 play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, which in turn was based on a medieval tale. Originated in parts of England, the myth of Jan Jedermann ("John Everyman") deals with a rich man on his deathbed coming to terms with his life's failures. Not following much of a plot, the modernized version involves famous fashion designer Jedermann (Klaus Maria Brandauer) imagining his last big gala event while rendered unconscious as a result of a car accident in his Ferrari. He is a success in Vienna but not in fashionable Paris, so he wishes to impress French elder stateswoman Yvonne Becker (Juliette Greco). Also somehow implicated is his lover Isabelle (Alexa Sommer), her rival Cocaine (Veronika Lucanska), photographer Gerry (Jim Raketa), and assistant Daniel (Redbad Klynstra). Eventually, his aging father (Otto Tausig) appears, followed by his nurse Sophie (Sylvie Testud). Running over 170 minutes, Jedermann's Fest took over five years to complete. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi