Providence (1977)

Director:

Alain Resnais

Writer:

David Mercer (writer)

Release Date:

9 February 1977 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Clive Langham (Sir John Gielgud) spends one tormenting night in his bed suffering from health problems and thinking up a story based on his relatives...

Plot Keywords:

Human Autopsy

Awards:

11 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Claude Langham
Ellen Burstyn	...	Sonia Langham
John Gielgud	...	Clive Langham
David Warner	...	Kevin Langham / Kevin Woodford
Elaine Stritch	...	Helen Wiener
Cyril Luckham	...	Doctor Mark Eddington
Denis Lawson	...	Dave Woodford (as Dennis Lawson)
Kathryn Leigh Scott	...	Miss Boon
Milo Sperber	...	Mr. Jenner
Anna Wing	...	Karen
Peter Arne	...	Nils
Tanya Lopert	...	Miss Lister
Joseph Pittoors	...	An Old Man
Samson Fainsilber	...	The Old Man

Runtime:

110 min | USA:104 min

Country:

France | Switzerland

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Berchem, Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium

Company:

Action Films

Trivia:

First cinema film of Denis Lawson.

Quotes:

Clive Langham: Don't you think to have only one bastard after sixty years of action is almost tantamount to self denial?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#7.4)" (1994)

A true artistic masterpiece, by a true master of the art

A dying artist, beautifully acted by Fainsilber, struggles to complete one last book before he dies - the plot of which becomes confused with his own troubled life as he thinks and dreams his way through the night. This was the first film in English for master film-maker Alain Resnais, and also happens to be one of his best. Using a variety of surreal cinematic techniques, Resnais is able to capture the characters of everyone in the film perfectly and his style - combined with excellent scripting - makes for an experience that will not be forgotten. Although the first half of the film will probably be spent in confusion, before you actually realise what is going on - I had to see this film several times before I was satisfied - it is worth struggling to understand this complex and thoroughly entertaining artistic movie.