The House of the Spirits (1993)

Director:

Bille August

Writers:

Isabel Allende (novel)
Bille August (writer)

Release Date:

1 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Chile, second half of the 20th century. The poor Esteban marries Clara and they get a daughter, Blanca...

Plot Keywords:

Golpe | Incest | Dictatorship | Belt | Whipping

Awards:

11 wins

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Clara del Valle Trueba
Glenn Close	...	Férula Trueba
Jeremy Irons	...	Esteban Trueba
Winona Ryder	...	Blanca Trueba
Antonio Banderas	...	Pedro Tercero García
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Nívea del Valle
Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Tránsito Soto
Armin Mueller-Stahl	...	Severo del Valle
Jan Niklas	...	Count Jean de Satigny
Sarita Choudhury	...	Pancha García
António Assunção	...	Man at Cattlemarket
Julie Balloo	...	Young Lady
Frank Baker	...	Intelligence Officer
João Cabral	...	Soldier
Miguel Guilherme	...	Soldier

Also Known As:

Åndernes hus (Denmark)
A Casa dos Espíritos (Portugal)
Geisterhaus, Das (Germany)

Runtime:

140 min | Germany:141 min | Spain:146 min

Country:

Portugal | Germany | Denmark | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:15 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Germany:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Alentejo, Portugal

Company:

Costa do Castelo Filmes

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Alba is eating KFC, but the KFC name/logo wasn't adopted until the 1990s (it was formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken), it's in a basket instead of a box, and the chain wasn't franchised in South America in the 1970s anyway.

Quotes:

Férula Trueba: I would like to be a man... for also to leave.
Esteban Trueba: And I am happy for not being a woman.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Seinfeld: The Engagement (#7.1)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

La Paloma

epic romantic saga

this film has spirit, hope and courage. a love story spanning three generations, dealing with mystic experiences, cruel ambition and selfless devotion. wonderfully moving performances by entire cast. irons plays a powerful fool who's lost his humanity, but not his desire to love. streep is wonderful as a woman who is a bridge between life and spirit. close is moving as a woman who denied her own desires tending first her mother, then her brother. rider blossoms with courage and passion for banderas who is fine as revolutionist. do not attempt to watch this film--feel it, experience it, open your heart to it's romantic and passionate tale. allow it charm you and take you back to timeless story telling of hope and disappointment and cruel injustice and forgiveness. it's clear that this piece is a collective gift of love from all involved to all whom are willing to be transported to romance, to spiritual connections, to love strong enough to reach beyond death.