The Well (1997)

Theatrical Release Information  |  See Details About All Versions

In her feature film directorial debut, Samantha Lang offers a subtle and moving psychological portrait of a female friendship and the effects of an unexpected tragedy upon it. Dowdy, tired, middle-aged and sexually frustrated Hester Harper and free-spirited, young, beautiful dancer Katherine are an unlikely pair of friends, but somehow the relationship works. In the prologue the two are seen at a local community dance. Katherine is having too much fun dancing crazily by herself in front of everyone. Hester, who is lame, watches her silently. Tired, she decides it's time to leave and must wrest Katherine away from the crowd. Katherine ignores Hester's protestations and insists on driving the narrow, winding road home. Unfortunately, Katherine isn't paying attention, disaster strikes and the screen goes black. After the credits, the story shows how Katherine and Hester became friends and then roommates. Eventually the story jumps past the beginning incident to chronicle the aftermath of the accident which left a stranger dead. The women decide to dispose of the body in a deep, dry well near their cottage. They return home and discover that someone has stolen the small fortune they'd been saving. Could the thief be the man in the well? While wrestling with the logistics of whether they can or should get him out, cracks appear in their friendship that are only worsened when the two find themselves plagued by supernatural occurrences. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Complete Cast:

Director(s):

Samantha Lang

Writer(s):

Laura Jones

Producer(s):

Sandra Levy

Closed Captioning:

Check All Versions

Subtitles:

Check All Versions

• 1997 - The Well - Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Production Design
• 1997 - The Well - Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Actress
• 1997 - The Well - Australian Film Institute Awards - Best Adapted Screenplay