Afterglow (1997)

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writer (WGA):

Alan Rudolph (written by)

Release Date:

26 December 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A handyman with marital problems meets a housewife with the same.

Plot Keywords:

Extramarital Affair | Actor | Bar | Handyman | Marriage

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Nick Nolte	...	Lucky Mann
Julie Christie	...	Phyllis Mann
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Marianne Byron
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Jeffrey Byron
Jay Underwood	...	Donald Duncan
Domini Blythe	...	Helene Pelletier
Yves Corbeil	...	Bernard Ornay
Alan Fawcett	...	Count Falco / Jack Dana
Michèle-Barbara Pelletier	...	Isabel Marino
France Castel	...	Gloria Marino
Genevieve Bissonnette	...	Cassie
Claudia Besso	...	Monica Bloom
Ivan Smith	...	Doctor
Ellen David	...	Judy the Waitress
Don Jordan	...	Byron's Concierge

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and some language.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Mexico:C | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Peru:14 | Iceland:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Elysian Dreams

Trivia:

Lara Flynn Boyle is named after Julie Christie's character in Doctor Zhivago (1965). This is the first time they act together.

Quotes:

Jeffrey: You're the most fascinating woman I've met in my entire life.
Phyllis: Yes, I know.

Movie Connections:

Features Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

Soundtrack:

Et Maintenant

Great to see Julie Christie again; lots more to enjoy here, too.

Rudolph's films tend to be hit or miss (sometimes by a mile). "Afterglow" falls below the level of his best -- but his best work surpasses so many other directors working today. And I rushed to see "Afterglow" despite being warned off by many newspaper and magazine reviews. A lot of my enthusiasm came from a life-long fascination with and enjoyment of Julie Christie's work. And I wasn't disappointed here, although her role is not the largest part -- it is, ultimately, the most central, the vortex of all the rest. Nolte rates near the top with me, as actors go; he gives a fine performance here -- yet probably not one which greatly tests or extends his range. Still, seeing him and Christie together was another powerful incentive for me to see this one and should be for you as well. Be patient with "Afterglow"; that's my advice. The cinematography works wonderfully, even when some of the plot developments might seem, initially, too predictable -- you might think you know where it's all going. Well, you can still enjoy the ride, tremendously, and it's not really going where it appears to be. There's much below the surface, undertones which you can gradually feel building in pulse. To me the ending was wonderfully cathartic; and we have Christie to thank, as well as Rudolph for that. In some ways, the overall "feel" of this reminded me of the much earlier Rudolph film (with the wonderful Geraldine Chaplin in a central part) "Welcome to L.A." Two very different films, but both well worth seeing.