Product Details

• Actors: Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, Stuart Wilson, Krystia Mova, Jonathan Vega
• Directors: Roman Polanski
• Producers: Death And The Maiden
• Format: Import, PAL
• Language: English
• Subtitles: French
• Region: Region 2 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Films Sans Frontiers
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B000FTGOJ2

Editorial Reviews

France released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), French ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Although its origin is made too clear by a stage-bound production, this adaptation of an Ariel Dorfman play poses profound ethical and philosophical questions and boasts riveting performances from its cast, representing a highlight in the comeback stage of director Roman Polanski's career. Although this is primarily a three-character piece, Gerardo (Stuart Wilson) is superfluous to a degree, standing in as he does for the audience. Death and the Maiden is really a duet between Paulina (Sigourney Weaver) and Dr. Miranda (Ben Kingsley), and the actors do not disappoint, navigating the peaks and valleys of an emotional roller-coaster ride. A monument to anger and pain, Weaver is electrifying, while Kingsley convincingly portrays lethal cunning as a man literally thinking for his life. If the film has a flaw, it's the visually static aspects of the storytelling. Polanski should have sought more visual ways to open up the play's action (a climactic scene atop a bluff is a welcome relief from the confining one-room setting), but this is a small quibble. Just as a documentary can be compelling as nothing more than a series of talking heads as long as those heads are saying something interesting, so too can a play adaptation work grandly in cinematic form when the source material is this richly rewarding.
SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, Fantasporto Awards, ...Death And The Maiden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Three charecters, one place, absolutely amazing!, August 11, 2010

By 

Ankur Mukherjee - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death and the Maiden : Widescreen Edition (DVD)

A mind blowing piece of cinema indeed, one that you will rarely come across, one of the very few ones that will knock at your Tv screen and grab your attention right from the very start. Signourney Weaver does a terrific job, she is simply out of words, Ben Kingsley and Stuart wilson deliver brilliant performances, The film revolves around just the three characters but enough to keep you engaged and glued to the edge of your seat. Very unpredictable and overwhelming cinema. Brilliant direction and cast performance makes this tiny gem worth a watch.