Passion Fish (1992)

Director:

John Sayles

Writer (WGA):

John Sayles (written by)

Release Date:

11 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

May-Alice Culhane was a successful soap opera star, but a car accident has left her bound to a wheelchair...

Plot Keywords:

Louisiana | Accident | Actress | Soap Opera | Bayou

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Mary McDonnell	...	May-Alice Culhane
Alfre Woodard	...	Chantelle
Lenore Banks	...	Nurse Quick
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Sugar LeDoux
Will Mahoney	...	Max
David Strathairn	...	Rennie
Leo Burmester	...	Reeves
Nelle Stokes	...	Therapist #1
Brett Ardoin	...	Therapist #2
Nora Dunn	...	Ti-Marie
Michael Mantell	...	Dr. Kline
Mary Portser	...	Precious
Angela Bassett	...	Dawn / Rhonda
Daniel Dupont	...	Therapist #3
Chuck Cain	...	Attendant

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Peru:14 | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Elton, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Atchafalaya

Trivia:

'Mary McDonnell' prepared for her role as the wheelchair-bound May-Alice by attending physical training and hospital sessions with counselors and real paraplegics. She had to do this while she was concurrently filming Sneakers (1992).

Goofs:

Continuity: Rennie's bass turned into a catfish when he opened it up for the passion fish.

Quotes:

May-Alice Culhane: I need a drink.
Chantelle: That's too bad.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Grosse Pointe: Passion Fish (#1.16)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Attack Of The Mutant Guitars

Excellent

Writer/Director John Sayles' 1992 outing tells the tale of a soap opera star (Mary McDonell), who's been in a car accident, and is now wheelchair bound, and her unlikely friendship with her live-in nurse (Alfre Woodard). Excellent supporting roles from the great David Strathairn (A Sayles fave, star of Limbo), Vondie Curtis-Hall (who went on to direct Gridlock'd), and Angela Bassett. I gotta say this. Sayles always writes believable characters, and his dialogue is amongst the best in filmdom. I knew my wife would like this, which was my main motivation for renting it. I'd seen it before, but had forgotten just how good it is. McDonell garnered a well-deserved Oscar nomination for her role in this largely overlooked gem. 4 (of 5) stars on this one.