The War Zone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The War Zone | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Tim Roth |
| Produced by | Sarah Radclyffe, Dixie Linder |
| Written by | Alexander Stuart |
| Starring | Ray Winstone, Tilda Swinton, Lara Belmont, Colin Farrell, Freddie Cunliffe |
| Distributed by | Lot 47 Films |
| Release date(s) | December 10, 1999 |
| Running time | 98 min. |
| Country | Italy / United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The War Zone is a 1999 movie written by Alexander Stuart, based on his novel, and directed by Tim Roth. The film takes a blunt look at incest in an English family.
Upon its release, the movie won 9 awards and 10 nominations.
Contents |
[edit] Main characters & plot
Freddie Cunliffe plays Tom, a teenager distraught due to his family's move from London to the Devon countryside, where he misses his old friends. He begins to uncover a sexual secret between his 18 year old sister, Jessie (played by Lara Belmont), and their father (Ray Winstone). The tension between Tom and Jessie thickens as he reveals his knowledge of the incest. Tom confronts their father with accusations, and he responds with an intense beating.
After Tom shares the secret with his mother (Tilda Swinton) - who has just given birth to a baby daughter - she confronts her husband by telephone from the hospital. Finally, Tom and Jessie stab and murder their father in his bedroom. They retreat to a hillside bunker, distraught and traumatized. Jessie asks, "What are we gonna do," signalling that they're on their own from then on.
[edit] Selected cast
- Annabelle Apsion (Nurse)
- Kate Ashfield (Lucy)
- Lara Belmont (Jessie)
- Freddie Cunliffe (Tom)
- Colin Farrell (Nick)
- Aisling O'Sullivan (Carol)
- Tilda Swinton (Mum)
- Megan Thorp (Baby Alice)
- Kim Wall (Barman)
- Ray Winstone (Dad)
The actors playing Tom and Jessie were discovered through an open casting call. Neither of them had any acting training.
[edit] Critical acclaim
The film was acclaimed for its blunt, truthful look at incest.
[edit] Awards & nominations
| Festival/awarding body | Award/nomination |
|---|---|
| 1999 Berlin International Film Festival | C.I.C.A.E. Award - Tim Roth (won) |
| 2000 Bodil Awards | Best Non-American Film - Tim Roth (nominated) |
| 1999 British Independent Film Awards | Most Promising Newcomer - Lara Belmont (won) Best British Independent Film (nominated) |
| 1999 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | CFCA Award Most Promising Actress Lara Belmont (nominated) |
| 1999 European Film Awards | Best Film - Dixie Linder, Sarah Radclyffe (nominated) European Discovery of the Year - Tim Roth (won) |
| 1999 Edinburgh International Film Festival | Best New British Feature - Tim Roth (won) |
| 1999 Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival | Tróia Award - First Works Section - Tim Roth (won) |
| 1999 Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival | Jury Award - Best Director - Tim Roth (won) Jury Award - Best First Feature - Tim Roth (won) |
| 1999 Independent Spirit Awards | Independent Spirit Award Best Foreign Film - Tim Roth (nominated) |
| 1999 Valladolid International Film Festival | Silver Spike - Tim Roth (won) Golden Spike - Tim Roth (nominated) |
