The Last September

Director: Deborah Warner

Overview

"Deborah Warner's The Last September comes to DVD from Trimark Home Video with a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer. The closed captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1 with optional English, Spanish, and French subtitles also available. Extr

Product Details

Release Date:	02/06/2007
UPC:	0031398744023
Original Release:	1998
Rating:	R
Source:	Lions Gate
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:43:00
Sales rank:	34,582

Special Features

Trailer; Interviews; Dramatic reading

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Maggie Smith	Lady Myra
Michael Gambon	Sir Richard Naylor
Jane Birkin	Francie
Fiona Shaw	Marda
Lambert Wilson	Hugo,Maid No. 3
David Tennant	Capt. Colthurst
Richard Roxburgh	Daventry
Keeley Hawes	Lois
Gary Lydon	Peter
Jonathan Slinger	Laurence
Emily Nagle	Livvy Connolly
Tom Hickey	O'Brien
Catherine Walsh	Doreen Hartigan
Bernie Downes	Nora Hartigan
Kieran Ahern	Daniel Connolly
Tamsin MacCarthy	Marcie Mangan
Mikel Murfi	Sergeant Wilson
Lesley McGuire	Mrs. Vermont
Aaron Harris	Captain Vermont
Arthur Riordan	Black and Tan Soldier
Miles Horgan	Postman
Mal Whyte	Second Officer
Maeve Kearney	Maid No. 1
Francine Mulrooney	Maid No. 2

Technical Credits

Patrick Condren	Stunts
Leo Davis	Casting
Peter Fudakowski	Executive Producer
Neil Jordan	Executive Producer
Nik Powell	Executive Producer
Yvonne Thunder	Producer
Stephen Woolley	Executive Producer

Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Scene Access
1. Dancing [5:05]
2. Visitor [4:06]
3. Character [3:43]
4. Reflection [2:49]
5. Rivals [3:19]
6. Judgement [3:21]
7. Adventure [4:30]
8. Observations [4:35]
9. Voyeur [3:09]
10. Devoted [3:26]
11. Violence [4:12]
12. Nothing [6:04]
13. Touched [4:01]
14. Memories [5:19]
15. Advice [4:55]
16. Distraction [4:42]
17. View [4:48]
18. Pawn [4:36]
19. Everything [3:09]
20. Butterfly [4:25]
21. Leaving [5:04]
22. Mourning [4:06]
23. Perspectives [6:07]
24. End Credits [3:31]

Menu

Side #1 --
Play Movie
Special Features
Interview Fiona Shaw
Interview Deborah Wamer
Dramatic Reading
Subtitles
Trimark

Editorial Reviews

Like an exquisite ice sculpture, The Last September is beautiful to look at but icy to the touch. Drawn from Elizabeth Bowen's novel, September is impeccably designed and shot and filled with first class performances by a first rate cast. Yet it's so remote and detached that emotional involvement is precluded, which leads to disengagement and disinterest, despite admiration for its many exceptional parts. Director Deborah Warner has worked with her production crew to bring a meticulously detailed period look to the piece, and the atmosphere they create is simply marvelous. The cinematography by Slawomir Idziak is simply stunning, infused with an "aged in wood" glow that perfectly captures the melancholy autumn feel of the tale, and which perfectly captures the feel of the viewer eavesdropping on the scenes being played. In the crucial lead role Keeley Hawes employs every resource at her command, which she needs to do to keep up with the likes of the inimitable Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith and Fiona Shaw. Shaw is the standout, though all are wonderful; her "first among equals" status deriving from the fact that her character is the most interesting. And that points up the big flaw with September; despite the fact that the cast and creative team expend such effort in bringing nuance and detail to the proceedings, it is nuance and detail that serves to individualize without illuminate. Actions happen but the motivations and context are murky and vague, dulling the impact. What is left is an extremely handsome shell, easy to watch and admire but lacking in substance and force.