Overcome by the power of memory, Ann Lord reveals a long-held secret to her concerned daughters, Constance and Nina. Constance is a contented wife and mother, Nina is a restless single woman. There is a turning point within the family. Constance and Nina are at Ann’s bedside when she calls out for the man she loved more than any other. The women don’t know who Harris is and what is he to their mother? Ann journeys in her mind back to a summer weekend fifty years before. She was Ann Grant, a young woman in this time period of the 1940's. She has traveled from New York City to be maid of honor at the high-society Newport wedding of her dearest college friend, Lila Wittenborn. Harris Arden is a wedding guest, he is the man Ann loved and she has never stopped loving him??
Both Constance and Nina are shocked about Ann’s revelation!! Ann attended college with Lila and her younger brother Buddy. Ann and Harris left a party together but Buddy was killed in a car accident when he chased after them? Ann knew that Lila was in love with Harris, Ann and Harris parted ways but they still remained in love with each other.
Constance and Ann are struggling from the pressure and worry of looking after Ann. Constance witnessed her mothers two failed marriages, her singing career and then her life as a suburban mom. Nina is the younger sister and she became a drifter, never settling down in one relationship, unable to hold a steady job and now unsure of her future?
The feeling of this film is very sad!! It is about mortality and pining for a long lost love. The relationships are complex and unusually one character that is about to be married propositions another character on the eve of her wedding?? How does this set up the beginning of a new marriage?? Regret and also death hangs and hovers over this film like a blanket. This could be tough for young viewers to process. Plenty of drinking, smoking and some mild cursing. This film does not follow the plot in the 1998 novel written by Susan Minot!! 3* (This movie is OK)
117 min, Drama directed by Lajos Koltai and written by Susan Monot, Michael Cunningham with Vanessa Redgrave, Toni Collette, Claire Danes, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummr, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Barry Bostwick, David Furr, Sarah Clements, Cheryl Lynn Bowers.
Note: Imdb 6.5* out of 10* with 12,932 reviews, Roger Ebert 1 1/2*, Rotten Tomatoes 27% with 129 critics a48% with 123,715 audience scores, The Guardian 2* out of 3* Andrew Pulver, Common Sense Media S. Jhoanna Robledo, age 15+, 3* violence, sex, 4* drinking, drugs & smoking.
Special Note: There are some family relationships among the actors. Claire Danes is married to Hugh Dancy and they first met during filming. Vanessa Redgrave is the mother of Natasha Richardson, Meryl Streep is the mother of Mamie Gummer.
Mistakes: Characters are getting ready to drive away from the mansion. They are fastening their seat belts with shoulder strap. These straps were not introduced until the mid 1950’s? Ann and Buddy dance around the house and recording is playing a song by Michael Buble? He was not born yet and could not have recorded this song?? Ann points out her star chosen by Buddy. It is one of the Seven Sisters, Pleides. This is a winter constellation and not seen in the summer sky?
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