Product Details

• Actors: Martin Donovan, Matt Malloy, Merritt Nelson, Julie Sukman, Mary B. Ward
• Directors: Hal Hartley
• Producers: Surviving Desire
• Format: Import, PAL
• Language: English
• Region: Region 4 (Read more about DVD formats.)
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: AV Channel
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000PSPTE4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,436 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Australia released, PAL/Region 4 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 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Short Film, SYNOPSIS: Made for PBS' American Playhouse, Surviving Desire is a romantic comedy starring Martin Donovan and Mary Ward. He's an uninspired college literature professor. She's a kooky student, and the only member of Donovan's class who doesn't doze off during his lectures. The comedy relies upon the inevitable pairing of two vague, aimless, but very recognizable campus types. The videocassette version of Surving Desire is filled out with two other short subjects directed by Hal Hartley. ...Surviving Desire

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I believe you are sincere & good at heart...", February 7, 2000

By 

no23 (Great Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving Desire [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was the third Hartley film I saw & has remained my favourite. For me it holds all the quintessential characteristics of a Hartley film despite it not being feature length.Martin Donovan as usual gives a flawless performance as do the rest of the cast. Things to look out for......the bartender & the'dance routine'. GENIUS!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love isn't a strong enough word, February 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Surviving Desire [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I first saw Surviving Desire when I was 15. It was on the local PBS and the whole world stopped. I called the TV station to see what it was that I has watched. When they told me, I immediately wanted to buy it. I searched for 6 years. No one new what I was talking about, much less who Michael Donovan was, and my searches always remained fruitless. Surviving Desire changed my views on movies as a whole. When I saw it, I realized there was no excuse for crappy movies. The relationships between characters was so intimate in a very sterile way. I suggest all persons interested in fine cinema, who have a love for indie films and can appreciate something non-mainstream NEED to see this movie!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Typical brilliant Hal Hartley, May 29, 2002

By 

Gordon Skene - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surviving Desire (DVD)

"Survivng Desire", along with the three shorts are some of Hartley's earliest work. But even at this early stage, Harley's gifts are clearly visable. I first saw the shorts some years ago as part of the PBS series "Alive from Off Center" and was mesmerized. Hal Hartley is one of America's truly great directors and his ability to pull such engaging performances out of his cast is a complete pleasure to watch. His style of film making probably most closesly resembles that of Robert Bresson, in its setup and excecution. But Hartley's point of view is totally original and for that, every one of his films has been a completely rewarding experience...