UK
Synopsis
Director's Biography
Following Gumshoe, Frears found a home in television, working continuously directing plays by British greats such as Alan Bennett, Tom Stoppard and Peter Prince. In 1985, he was back on the movie scene with The Hit starring John Hurt and Terence Stamp. It was in 1985 that Frears won international recognition and acclaim for his highly original, My Beautiful Laundrette which propelled him and a then unknown actor called Daniel Day-Lewis into the limelight; in 1987 Frears directed a scathing satire on British society, Sammy and Rosie Get Laid and Prick Up Your Ears, based on author Joe Orton's memoirs.
Frears' next feature films came from the United States - Dangerous Liaisons (1988), starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich, for which he won a Cesar for Best Foreign Film, The Grifters (1990), which received an Academy Award nomination for a Best Director, followed by the comedy drama Accidental Hero (1992), starring Dustin Hoffman and Andy Garcia.
In 1993 Frears achieved another critical success, directing the adaptation of Roddy Doyle's modest story The Snapper, a BBC television production which soon transferred to the cinema screen.
Never one to steer away from a challenge, Frears teamed up with John Malkovich once more, directing him and co-star Julia Roberts in Mary Reilly (1996) and taking the helm on another Roddy Doyle favourite The Van (1996). Hi Lo Country (1998) saw Frears move into Westerns. An endearing tale of two men set against sweeping prairie Backdrops starring Woody Harrelson and Patricia Arquette.
Next came the box office success Hi Fidelity (2000), based on Nick Hornby's best-selling novel, starring John Cusack as the uptight, luckless owner of a record shop recounting his top five break-ups, followed by Jimmy McGovern's moving drama Liam, about a family during the Depression.
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Stephen Frears
Written by: Steven Knight
Produced by: Tracey Seaward, Robert Jones
Cinematography: Chris Menges
Editing: Mick Audsley
Production Design: Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski
Costume Design: Odile Dicks-Mireaux
Make-Up & Hair: Jenny Shircore
Original Score: Nathan Larson
Cast: Sophie Okonedo (Juliette), Benedict Wong (Guo Yi ), Zlatko Buric (Ivan), Sotigui Kouyaté (Shinti), Abi Gouhad (Shinti's Son), Audrey Tautou (Senay), Jean-Philippe Ecoffey (Jean-Luc), Sergi Lopez (Sneaky), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Okwe)
Nominations and Awards
- European Film 2003
- European Actor 2003
- European Screenwriter 2003
- European Cinematographer – Prix Carlo Di Palma 2003
- Feature Film Selection 2003