Desperate Remedies (film)
Encyclopedia
Desperate Remedies is a 1993 New Zealand drama film
directed by Stewart Main and Peter Wells
. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard
section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival
.
Two years pass and Fraser returns, as does Lawrence. At an opera, a mise-en-abyme version of Fraser's sudden death is replayed- but the veiled female assailant turns out to be Anne, not Dorothea. Realising that Anne is her true love, Dorothea leaves Poyser to his fate, given the exposure of his financial mismanagement and gambling debts. Lawrence sees them off at the dock as they depart Hope, and Dorothea and Anne are last seen together at the vessel's helm, embracing and arm in arm.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Stewart Main and Peter Wells
Peter Wells (New Zealand)
Peter Wells is an award-winning writer and filmmaker from New Zealand.Although today he is mainly known for his fiction, Peter Wells has explored his interest in gay and historical themes, in a number of expressive drama and documentary films since the 1980s.The first and last feature film made...
. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
section at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival
1993 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :* Louis Malle * Claudia Cardinale * Inna Churikova * Judy Davis * Abbas Kiarostami * Emir Kusturica * William Lubtchansky * Tom Luddy * Gary Oldman * Augusto M...
.
Plot
Set in an overwrought nineteenth century New Zealand community seemingly on the edge of destruction, Dorothea Brooke (Ward-Leadland) is a shopkeeper and dress designer with a troubled past. She strives in vain to keep her feckless, opium-addicted sister Rose out of the clutches of her former lover, Fraser (Curtis). She is in a lesbian relationship with Anne Cooper (Chappell) but tempted by newcomer and former radical Lawrence Hayes (Smith). MP and war profiteer William Poyser (Hurst) wants her business and property to shore up his tottering career, through marriage. Dorothea, Anne and Lawrence become enmeshed in a tortured triangle, resolved when Lawrence agrees to marry Rose for convenience and to get her away from Fraser. Rose dies ravaged from her opium addiction, although Lawrence and Fraser have fought a battle onboard a vessel as passengers and both are missing, presumed dead. Dorothea has been coerced into accepting Poyser in marriage.Two years pass and Fraser returns, as does Lawrence. At an opera, a mise-en-abyme version of Fraser's sudden death is replayed- but the veiled female assailant turns out to be Anne, not Dorothea. Realising that Anne is her true love, Dorothea leaves Poyser to his fate, given the exposure of his financial mismanagement and gambling debts. Lawrence sees them off at the dock as they depart Hope, and Dorothea and Anne are last seen together at the vessel's helm, embracing and arm in arm.
Cast
- Jennifer Ward-LealandJennifer Ward-LealandJennifer Ward-Lealand, ONZM, is a New Zealand actress who has appeared on many films and television shows such as The Ugly and Shortland Street as well as the Australian comedy series Full Frontal....
- Dorothea Brook - Kevin Smith - Lawrence Hayes
- Lisa ChappellLisa ChappellLisa Irene Chappell is an actress and musician from Auckland, New Zealand. She is best known for playing Claire McLeod on the Nine Network drama series McLeod's Daughters.-Early life and career:...
- Anne Cooper - Cliff CurtisCliff CurtisClifford Vivian Devon "Cliff" Curtis is a New Zealand actor who has had major roles in film, including The Piano, Whale Rider, and Blow, and most recently has appeared in NBC's television series Trauma. He is also co-owner of independent film production company Whenua Films...
- Fraser - Michael HurstMichael HurstMichael Eric Hurst, ONZM is a New Zealand actor, director and writer, mostly on stage and television. He is probably best known internationally for playing Iolaus in the television programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and companion series Xena: Warrior Princess...
- Willam Poyser - Kiri Mills - Rose
- Bridget Armstrong - Mary Anne
- Timothy Raby - Mr. Weedle
- Helen Steemson - Gnits
- Geeling NgGeeling NgGeeling Ng is a New Zealand model, actress and restaurateur who is best known as the title character in David Bowie's music video "China Girl". She was a waitress when Bowie spotted her and wanted her in the video....
- Su Lim (as Geeling Ching)