The War Zone
Encyclopedia
The War Zone is a 1999
drama film
written by Alexander Stuart, based on his novel, and directed by Tim Roth
. The film takes a blunt look at incest
and sexual violence in an English
family.
Upon its release, the movie won nine awards and 10 nominations.
) is a teenager distraught due to his family's move from London
to the Devonshire countryside, where he misses his old friends. He begins to uncover a secret sexual relationship between his 18-year-old sister, Jessie (Lara Belmont
), and their father (Ray Winstone
). The tension between Tom and Jessie worsens as he reveals his knowledge of the incest.
Cunliffe and Belmont were discovered through an open casting call. Neither of them had any acting training.
1999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
drama film
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...
written by Alexander Stuart, based on his novel, and directed by Tim Roth
Tim Roth
Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for...
. The film takes a blunt look at incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
and sexual violence in an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
family.
Upon its release, the movie won nine awards and 10 nominations.
Plot
Tom (Freddie CunliffeFreddie Cunliffe
Freddie Cunliffe is a young British television/film actor. He has had minor TV and film roles over the years, and is best known for his work on the BBC's one-off drama Bella and the Boys, in which he played the role of Martin opposite Billie Piper as Bella.Another TV role was in The Bill, in which...
) is a teenager distraught due to his family's move from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to the Devonshire countryside, where he misses his old friends. He begins to uncover a secret sexual relationship between his 18-year-old sister, Jessie (Lara Belmont
Lara Belmont
Lara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor...
), and their father (Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
). The tension between Tom and Jessie worsens as he reveals his knowledge of the incest.
Cast
- Ray WinstoneRay WinstoneRaymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
(Dad) - Lara BelmontLara BelmontLara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor...
(Jessie) - Freddie CunliffeFreddie CunliffeFreddie Cunliffe is a young British television/film actor. He has had minor TV and film roles over the years, and is best known for his work on the BBC's one-off drama Bella and the Boys, in which he played the role of Martin opposite Billie Piper as Bella.Another TV role was in The Bill, in which...
(Tom) - Tilda SwintonTilda SwintonKatherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
(Mum) - Colin FarrellColin FarrellColin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
(Nick) - Aisling O'Sullivan (Carol)
- Kate AshfieldKate AshfieldKate Ashfield is a British actress, best known for her award-winning roles as Jody in the Anglo-German film Late Night Shopping, as Sadie MacGregor in the British film This Little Life and as Liz in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.-Biography:Ashfield was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England...
(Lucy) - Megan Thorp (Baby Alice)
- Kim WallKim WallKim Wall is an American Actress. She is probably best known for starring in the 1988 sequel Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland.-Career:...
(Barman) - Annabelle ApsionAnnabelle ApsionAnnabelle Apsion is an English actress, best known for playing Monica Gallagher in the hit television comedy-drama Shameless, which she played intermittently between 2004 and 2006, before becoming a regular cast member for the show's fourth series in 2007. She left the show in 2008 in order to...
(Nurse)
Cunliffe and Belmont were discovered through an open casting call. Neither of them had any acting training.
Critical acclaim
The film received mostly positive reviews, and was nominated for many critics' awards.Awards and nominations
| Festival/awarding body | Award/nomination |
|---|---|
| 1999 Berlin International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978... |
C.I.C.A.E. Award - Tim Roth (won) |
| 2000 Bodil Awards Bodil Awards The Bodil Awards are the major Danish film awards given by Denmark's National Association of Film Critics . The awards are presented annually at a ceremony in the Imperial Cinema in Copenhagen. Established in 1948, it is one of the oldest film awards in Europe... |
Best Non-American Film - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (nominated) |
| 1999 British Independent Film Awards British Independent Film Awards The Moët British Independent Film Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating achievement in independently funded British film and cinema. Nominations and jury are announced at the beginning of November with the award ceremony taking place in late November or early December.-History:The British... |
Most Promising Newcomer - Lara Belmont Lara Belmont Lara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor... (won) Best British Independent Film (nominated) Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film - Ray Winstone Ray Winstone Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over... (nominated) Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film - Lara Belmont (nominated) |
| 1999 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | CFCA Award Most Promising Actress Lara Belmont Lara Belmont Lara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor... (nominated) |
| 1999 European Film Awards | Best Film - Dixie Linder, Sarah Radclyffe Sarah Radclyffe Sarah Radclyffe , sometimes credited as Sarah Radcliffe is a British film producer.She began working as associative producer in the late 1970s on movies like The Tempest by Derek Jarman... (nominated) European Discovery of the Year - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (won) |
| 1999 Edinburgh International Film Festival Edinburgh International Film Festival The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival... |
Best New British Feature - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (won) |
| 1999 Festróia - Tróia International Film Festival | Tróia Award - First Works Section - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (won) |
| 1999 Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival | Jury Award - Best Director - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (won) Jury Award - Best First Feature - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (won) Jury Award - Spirit of Independents - Lara Belmont Lara Belmont Lara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor... (won) |
| 1999 Independent Spirit Awards Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards , founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glass pyramids containing suspended shoestrings representing the paltry budgets of independent films. In 1986, the event was renamed the Independent Spirit... |
Independent Spirit Award Best Foreign Film - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (nominated) |
| 1999 Valladolid International Film Festival | Silver Spike - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (won) Golden Spike - Tim Roth Tim Roth Simon Timothy "Tim" Roth is an English film actor and director best known for his roles in the American films,Legend of 1900, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Four Rooms, Skellig, Planet of the Apes, The Incredible Hulk and Rob Roy, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for... (nominated) |