Esther Kahn
Not yet rated
Time Out says
A distinct disappointment after Desplechin's earlier work, this is an ambitious but misguided adaptation of a novel about a young and wholly unremarkable Jewish girl, emerging from London's East End towards the close of the 19th century to become, through sheer determination, a celebrated actress. The film founders mainly on Desplechin's shaky grasp of English: the dialogue is full of implausible profanity, the director's brother is less than convincing as a theatre critic, while Summer Phoenix, shaky accent, awkward intonation, shallow performance and all, never convinces for a moment, let alone as a triumphant Hedda Gabler. Holm and Barber, and Howard Shore's score briefly counteract the overall clumsiness, but in the end that's nowhere near enough to save a doomed project.Author: GA
Release details
UK release:
2000
Duration:
157 mins
Cast and crew
Director:
Cast:
László Szabó, Frances Barber, Fabrice Desplechin, Ian Holm, Summer Phoenix, Emmanuelle Devos
Music:
Production Designer:
Editor:
Martine Girodano, Hervé de Luze
Cinematography:
Screenwriter:
Emmanuel Bourdieu, Arnaud Desplechin
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