The mysterious death of an enigmatic young man newly arrived in the suburb of Wetherby releases the long-repressed, dark passions of some of its residents.
Acting
Redgrave's entire performance is a masterclass in held breath.
Writing
Hare's script weaponizes the British art of not saying things.
Director
David Hare
Vanessa Redgrave
Jean Travers
Ian Holm
Stanley Pilborough
Judi Dench
Marcia Pilborough
Stuart Wilson
Mike Langdon
Tim McInnerny
John Morgan
Suzanna Hamilton
Karen Creasy
Tom Wilkinson
Roger Braithwaite
Joely Richardson
Jean Travers (Young)
Marjorie Yates
Verity Braithwaite
Penny Downie
Chrissie
Christopher Fulford
Arthur
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was playwright David Hare's directorial debut; he later admitted he learned filmmaking 'by doing everything wrong first.'
The film quietly captures 1980s Thatcher-era anxiety about British identity—colonial ghosts, class pretense, and the suburban dream curdling.
US
GB
