Providence (1977)
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The first English-language film from Alain Resnais, this drama about a spiteful, alcoholic novelist contains the French director's typically playful surrealist touches and recurring use of characters shackled by memory. John Gielgud stars as Clive Langham, a drunken author in failing health who spends an increasingly intoxicated evening at his Rhode Island estate working on his new novel. Clive bases the characters in the melodramatic story on his own family, including his two sons, Claude (Dirk Bogarde) and the illegitimate Kevin (David Warner), as well as Claude's wife Sonia (Ellen Burstyn). Imagining a bitter love triangle full of spite between the three protagonists of his tale, Clive uses generous doses of imagination and symbolism, including a discordant soccer player (Denis Lawson) related to Kevin and werewolves. When his real-life family appears for a meal with Clive, however, they are not quite the embittered, devious players in the author's booze-fueled fiction. Although dividing critics between those delighted with Resnais' comic flourishes and others annoyed by his arty pretensions, Providence (1977) swept the Cesar Awards, France's Oscar equivalent, winning seven including Best Director for Resnais. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Dirk Bogarde - Claude
- John Gielgud - Clive
- Elaine Stritch - Helen Weiner
- Denis Lawson - Dave
- Kathryn Leigh Scott - Miss Boon
- Milo Sperber - Mr. Jenner
- Samson Fainsilber - Old Hairy Man
- Ellen Burstyn - Sonia
- David Warner - Kevin
- Cyril Luckham - Mark
- Peter Arne - Nils
- Anna Wing - Karen
- Tanya Lopert - Miss Lister
- Director(s):
- Alain Resnais
- Writer(s):
- David Mercer
- Producer(s):
- Yves Gasser, Klaus Hellwig, Yves Peyrot
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- Subtitles:
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- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Production Design
- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Editing
- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Original Screenplay
- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Sound
- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Director
- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Picture
- 1977 - Providence - French Academy of Cinema - Best Music
- 1977 - Providence - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actor
