The Saddest Music in the World (2003)

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Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin directs The Saddest Music in the World, reworked from an original screenplay by Kazuo Ishiguro. Set in Winnipeg during the Great Depression, the film involves a contest announced by the legless and glamorous Lady Port-Huntly (Isabella Rossellini) to find the saddest music in the world. She's hoping the contest will result in increased sales of her company's brand of beer. American theatrical producer Chester Kent (Mark McKinney) shows up to win the contest with his kooky show-business idea, while brother Roderick Kent (Ross McMillan) returns from the war. Maria de Medeiros plays Narcissa, a sleep walker romantically linked to both brothers. Their father, the alcoholic doctor Fyodor Kent (David Fox), is tortured by his role in Lady Port-Huntly's leg amputation, so he makes her a new glass pair filled with beer. The Saddest Music in the World was shown at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Starring:: Mark McKinney, Isabella Rossellini, (more)

Director(s):: Guy Maddin

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R

Format(s):: DVD
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Synopsis of The Saddest Music in the World

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:: 101 mins

Complete Cast of The Saddest Music in the World

Mark McKinney - Chester Kent
Maria de Medeiros - Narcissa
Ross McMillan - Roderick Kent

Isabella Rossellini - Lady Port-Huntly
David Fox - Fyodor Kent

Director(s):: Guy Maddin

Writer(s):: George Toles, Guy Maddin

Producer(s):: Jody Shapiro, Niv Fichman

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R(Adult Language, Adult Situations)

Categories:: Independent Films

The Saddest Music in the World Awards:

2003 - Genie Awards - Best Costume Design
2003 - Genie Awards - Best Editing
2003 - Genie Awards - Best Original Score

Warning: This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

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	Richard P.

6 out of 8 people found this review helpful

Yet another installment of Guy Maddin's genius. This movie was carefully crafted to evoke a variety of experiences and emotions. It follow then that the young with their narrow life experiences and tunnel vision won't have any means of appreciating the everlasting treasures delivered in each and every scene of this movie. If you're sad, and you like beer. Isabella is your lady and this is your movie. The short films included on the DVD are incredible. I found Sissy Boy Slap Party just the thing for a mind threatening to go curmudgeonous.

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	Terrance M.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Extremely boring. I stopped watching after about 45 min.

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	Sandra G.

5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

I was skeptical: cheap sets, jerky editing, characters that didn't warm me. I rode it out, and am glad I did. The set made sense(it was a hoot to see someone actually using Vaseline on the lenses after all these years). It worked. Any movie is beyond redemption if you cant care about any of the characters. The supporting characters made the story, and the actors were wonderful, particularly David Fox. I cared about them, and wanted them to come out okay. The director wanted it that way, too. They were the sad ones, the ones that lived with memory and regret. In short, they cared about more than themselves, while others either willfully or by trauma pushed memory and care away. Simple manipulation but again, it worked. If you are not willing to float along on a strange trip, just for the experience of it, you probably won't like this movie. But if you are willing to let it work on you like the second or third beer, you will feel the buzz, and it will feel good.

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The Saddest Music in the World (2003)

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