Winter Passing
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| Winter Passing | |
|---|---|
 Promotional movie poster |
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| Directed by | Adam Rapp |
| Produced by | David Koplan P. Jennifer Dana |
| Written by | Adam Rapp |
| Starring | Ed Harris Zooey Deschanel |
| Music by | John Kimbrough, The Eagles |
| Cinematography | Terry Stacey |
| Editing by | Meg Reticker |
| Release date(s) | 2005 |
| Running time | 98 min. |
| Country | U.S. |
| Language | English |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Winter Passing is a 2005 American film written and directed by first-timer Adam Rapp, also known for his work on the show The L Word. The film stars Zooey Deschanel and Ed Harris, with supporting performances by Will Ferrell, Amelia Warner, and Deidre O'Connell. The film was released in 2005 to mixed reviews.
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[edit] Summary
Deschanel plays Reese Holdin, a depressed twenty-something living in New York City and trying to make a living as an actress. In the beginning of the film, Reese is in a production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Reese is lost and emotionally dead. She uses sex, cocaine, and even self-inflicted pain to either feel emotion or escape from her life. When a book publisher approaches her, we learn that Reese is the daughter of a famous author named Don Holdin (Harris), and her mother Mary recently died. Reese did not attend the funeral, but a series of love letters written between Don and Mary were left to her. The publisher offers to pay $100,000 to obtain the set of letters.
There is obvious tension within the family, but Reese decides to travel back home to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, probably in need of the money. She returns to find her house occupied by Corbit (Ferrell) and Don's former student, Shelley (Warner), while her father lives, writes, and drinks in his garage. Reese clashes with the too-perfect Shelley, who she suspects might be sleeping with her father. She eventually comes to terms with her father's companion, after learning of the death of Shelly's parents and Don's support through Shelly's bout with endometriosis. She also bonds with Corbit, a wannabe musician who has trouble playing guitar and singing at the same time. He is also a devout Christian (formerly with a Christian rock band named Punching Pilate), and an all around handyman, who innocently vies for Reese's attention. She feels out of place at home and fights with her father about her childhood, where she seemed largely ignored. She eventually discovers the box of letters she had been seeking, and comes to know her parents through the emotional communiques. Reese contemplates publishing the letters with Shelly.
Don Holdin is still grieving over the death (suicide by hanging) of his wife. Near the end of the movie, Reese discovers him passed out on the floor of the garage, apparently after he overdosed on alcohol and sleeping pills. He recovers in the hospital, where Reese reads his newest novel, which she found buried in the backyard. The experience brings her closer to her father, and she returns to New York more hopeful, the box of letters carefully buried in her father's back yard.
[edit] Influences
Some discussion has existed about the story being loosely based on J.D. Salinger's life and family. The last name "Holdin" could refer to the character of Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye. Don Holdin is a recluse who refuses to see visitors and has not published a work in almost twenty years. The discord in the Holdin family, especially as it affected Reese, could be seen as similar to Margaret A. Salinger's life and published memoirs, Dream Catcher. Salinger was known for his relationships with younger, often teenage women (Joyce Maynard being the most famous). It is suggested by Reese that her father and Shelley, who is 23, are sleeping together. This is the only film to speak of Traverse City, Michigan, and was featured in its 2006 Film Festival for that.
[edit] Trivia
- When subtitles are put on "Holdin" is spelled "Holden"
- The song that Corbit sings at the open mic night is "I Can't Tell You Why" by The Eagles.
- Adam Rapp's brother, Anthony Rapp, famous for his role as Mark in the musical Rent makes a cameo appearance in the movie.
