Jay Anania Movies
- 2006
Five people cross paths in New York City over the course of a day marked by violence in this independent drama from writer and director Jay Anania. Judy (Judy Kuhn) is a singer who is busy in a recording studio working on an album of British folk songs with jazz keyboardist John Medeski. Shira (Alyssa Sutherland) is a successful fashion model doing a photo shoot. Najia (Carmen Chaplin) is a journalist from Palestine who is in the United States working on a piece on treating victims of wartime violence, and she's arranged an interview with a well-respected doctor, Dr. Mary Wade (Olympia Dukakis). And Walter (Martin Donovan) is a quiet man who enjoys spending time in the park observing others. When a Palestinian suicide bomber sets off an explosive charge on a busy Manhattan street corner, all five characters are forced to deal with the physical and emotional wreckage of its aftermath. Day on Fire was screened as part of the "Visions" series, devoted to challenging works from new filmmakers, at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olympia Dukakis, Martin Donovan, (more)
A reclusive married couple residing in a lavish seaside home receive a pair of menacing unwelcome visitors in director Jay Anania's tense tale of homebound terror. Carla (Julianne Nicholson) and Bill (Julian Sands) don't get out much, and when a pair of strangers show up and refuse to leave, the tension in their comfortable beach house soon begins to rise. The evening wears on and when the menace of the visitors turns threatening, Bill attempts to take control of the situation before the emotional violence of his malevolent house guests turns physical. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Jay Anania wrote and directed this drama that opens on New Year's Eve, 1971. Diane Thwaite (Paulina Porizkova) hits something with her car, stops to check, and faints next to her car. Flash forward to 24 years later, when she's working as a NYC botanical illustrator and friends with Cyril (Jeff Webster), while the mysterious figure of Michael James (Julian Sands) wanders the city. When Diane hears Auld Lang Syne, it triggers memories of the incident in 1971. More recollections are refreshed by a combination of hypnosis, research, and a confession from James. Suppressed memories surface, including a baby's cry, a van, and a missing mother and child. Small-town waitress Phoebe (Julianne Nicholson) may hold the key to the mystery. The music track features moody vocals by Judy Kuhn. This is the first film to take the technical path of a Super-16 original transferred to HDTV and then to a 35mm negative. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paulina Porizkova, Julian Sands, (more)
