Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsShy People (1987) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Andrei Konchalovsky (story)
Gérard Brach (screenplay) ...
more
Release Date:
May 1988 (USA) more
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Red Carpet Lineup. Hot Streaks
(From FilmExperience. 7 May 2009, 12:55 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
all relatives are something more (8 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jill Clayburgh | ... | Diana | |
| Barbara Hershey | ... | Ruth | |
| Martha Plimpton | ... | Grace | |
| Merritt Butrick | ... | Mike | |
| John Philbin | ... | Tommy | |
| Don Swayze | ... | Mark | |
| Pruitt Taylor Vince | ... | Paul | |
| Mare Winningham | ... | Candy | |
| Michael Audley | ... | Louie | |
| Brad Leland | ... | Larry | |
| Tony Epper | ... | Jake | |
| Paul Landry | ... | Henry | |
| Warren Battiste | ... | Dick | |
| Edward Bunker | ... | Chuck | |
| Vladimir Bibic | ... | Welder |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
Spain:113 min | UK:120 min | USA:118 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | USA:R | UK:15
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Movie Connections:
References Stop Making Sense (1984) more
Soundtrack:
Goin' to Town more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (8 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Shy People (1987)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Why isn't this on DVD? | jeffylindsey |
| I love this film do you? | badbill-1 |
Recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Maria's Lovers | Down by Law | Passion Fish | Duet for One | Avenging Force |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

Barbara Hershey won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in Andrei Konchalovsky's "Shy People". The movie portrays a magazine writer (Jill Clayburgh) and her daughter (Martha Plimpton) taking a trip to the Louisiana boondocks to meet a distant relative (Hershey). As the movie progresses, we learn not only about the relative's various kinds of superstitions, but also about the secrets that the great uncle held, and how they relate to some current rifts in the family.
Probably the movie's best aspect is how it dignifies country people. While making it clear that these folks have some backwards notions about things - namely that the deceased man is still watching - Konchalovsky never makes them look stupid. Also, we get to see rural Louisiana (although it may have changed in the past twenty years, especially after Hurricane Katrina).
If anything mildly disappointed me about the movie, it's that I didn't get to hear more about Cajun culture. But then again, it's probably best that the movie didn't lose its main focus. I would suspect that the one boy was right when he accused the oil companies.
All in all, worth seeing.