Michael Yarmush Movies
- 1997
This Canadian-Czech co-production is a coming-of-age drama shot in the Montreal area. The central figure is 13-year-old Maddie Morrison, who has to deal with the taunts of her older brother while responding to her mother's requests that she care for both her younger brother and her elderly grandmother. As the summer progresses, Maddie leaves childhood behind during a succession of events -- a dance, a wedding, a dance, a near-drowning, and a classmate's funeral. Maddie isn't happy that her older sister is off to college, but then she realizes her departure provides her with a room of her own. That changes when her somewhat unconventional Aunt Ruth (Dorothee Berryman) arrives on the scene unexpectedly, and the two share life experiences. Shown at the 1997 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathalie Vansier, Michael Yarmush, (more)
- 1996
- R
Chase Phillips, a chronically depressed, emotionally exhausted mother finally hires a helper while she attempts to recover in a tiny cottage upon Martha's Vineyard where she stays with her sons. The helper is the much younger Elizabeth. At first, Chase despises her and treats her terribly. Elizabeth refuses to be broken by the barrage of verbal battering as she is intimate with the problems of the mentally ill. Elizabeth's sister is in an asylum and treats her worse than Chase does. Elizabeth takes it for as long as she can, but one night breaks and blows up at Chase, forcing the ailing mother's depression to abate. Eventually Chase gets better and things are fine until she drops a bomb on the family and formally declares her love for Elizabeth. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren, Kyra Sedgwick, (more)
