Themes: Innocence Lost, Sibling Relationships, Fathers and Daughters
Main Cast: Ray Winstone, Tilda Swinton, Lara Belmont, Freddie Cunliffe, Kate Ashfield
Release Year: 1999
Country: UK/DE/US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Noted actor Tim Roth made his directorial debut with this powerful drama about a family in crisis. Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) is an awkward and troubled 15-year-old boy whose isolation increases when his family moves from London to a remote community in the Devon countryside. Tom, his 18-year-old sister Jessie (Lara Belmont), his father (Ray Winstone), and his pregnant mother (Tilda Swinton) live in close quarters in a small cottage; they sometimes bathe in the kitchen, and they have grown used to casual nudity around the house. But one day, Tom sees his father in a sexual embrace with Jessie. He tries to discuss what he's seen with her, but she refuses to talk about it. Unable to stand the tension in the household after his mother takes the seriously ill baby to the hospital, Tom confronts his father, who angrily denies the truth. Tom is finally forced to take drastic action to stop his vengeful and violent father. Written by Alexander Stuart from his own novel, The War Zone received an enthusiastic response at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and was named Best New British Feature at the 1999 Edinburgh International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Sharon Howard-Field - Casting, Jina Jay - Casting, Mary-Jane Reyner - Costume Designer, Tim Roth - Director, Trevor Waite - Editor, Eric Abraham - Executive Producer, Ivana Primorac - Hair Styles, Simon Boswell - Composer (Music Score), Ivana Primorac - Makeup, Michael Carlin - Production Designer, Seamus Mcgarvey - Cinematographer, Sarah Radclyffe - Producer, Dixie Linder - Producer, Alexander Stuart - Screenwriter, Alexander Stuart - Book Author
Tom (Freddie Cunliffe) 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.
After Tom shares the secret with his mother (Tilda Swinton) - who has just given birth to a baby daughter - she confronts her husband by telephone from the hospital. Finally, Tom and Jessie murder their father in his bedroom. They retreat to a hillside bunker, distraught and traumatized. Tom asks, "What are we gonna do?" as the film ends.
Best British Independent Film (nominated)
Best Performance by an Actor in a British Independent Film - Ray Winstone (nominated)
Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film - Lara Belmont (nominated)
