Customer Reviews

Winter People

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A period story set in the North Carolina hills in what appears to be a place right smack dab in the middle of the Hatfields and McCoys--this time Wrights and Campbells. A shy sensitive widowed clock maker, Wayland Jackson, played by Kurt Russell on his way through the mountains with his only daughter becomes stuck in a creek and ends up sticking around for longer than he bargained. There he meets the elusive Collie Wright (Kelly McGillis's character) who with her only son seems to be living alone off from the small town. Immediately you sense a spark between the two but as the story progresses you realize there is a dark looming secret which threatens both lives. It appears Ellie's family has an ancient hatred that runs deep for their neighbors and would shootem' just as look at'em. Enter dark loomy character which is the babe's father and he's from the other side of the mountain. He is the exact opposite of our shy clock maker and Ellie knows this. Perhaps when some see the performances as cheesy or over acted they've never actually met any mountain folk, and thusly are insistent that the histrionics are over played. If you have been to the mountains and can feel the spirit of them then I think you will love this picture. It is about the give and take, the act of forgiveness and of course true love.

John Ehle is an excellent regional writer and "Winter People" is probably the best of his works. The movie adaptation holds true to the book and for the critical viewer tired of cliques, car chases, and shallow characters, this film is a rare luxury. There are no stock characters in this film. And the storyline is different ... holding you tight to your armchair to the very end. The acting is tremendous: Kurt Russell is finally challenged to a multi-part role befitting his talented depths. The symbolic uses of the clock and the bear-killing rite are intriguing elements in the film. "Winter People" is an under-rated film.

This is a powerful tale of a love that emerged during a difficult time in history, and in a place where trouble and conflict were a way of life.

Kurt Russell leaves his small surburban home town when his clock making career fails during the depression, in search of a new start. His car breaks down on a lonely, mountain road where he meets Kelly Mc Gillis, who offers him shelter in her back-woods cabin for the night.

He soon learns of her complicated, forbidden relationship with a man who is from a rival family clan, and becomes involved in protecting her from him and his family.

With his clock making skill, Russell's character is able to bring hope to the town by restoring the clock in the church steeple. The restoration of the clock, like the relationship that develops between the Russell and Mc Gillis characters, bring light to an otherwise dark world with little hope.

It is a simple and powerful story of changing the destiny of lives in rural America. It seemed to go unnoticed, but is a favorite of many of my own friends.

If you didn't see this the one week it was at the show, you probably missed this excellent drama, set in the depression era. Mountain folk, mountain morals, mountain laws, a mountain woman single mother (Kelly McGillis) and a city man watchmaker widower (Kurt Russell) are the elements of this heartbreaking and heartwarming romance.

This is a very slow paced movie, so you have to be in the mood, but don't try to find out more about it than I have told you so you can experience it completely. Pick a rainy day when you can turn off all distractions and immerse yourself into this tale of Americana. You will feel like youv'e found a secret treasure.

I loved this film. It always appealed to me each and every time I viewed it. If you're in the mood for getting in touch with all your emotions, this movie is a MUST! McGillis and Russell are brilliant actors; there's no question about that.

The innocent intensity coupled with the best backwooods life style community setting brings the present so gracfully back to the hatfields and Mcoy fueds that for the first time unveils this intense proud independent allmost starving yet amazingly fruitful communtitys. their decions they are facd to make on a second by second basis are Never easy but always fill with pride secrets and survival. Truly a beautful filming,intence unuseual sit on the edge of your seat dramaamazingly with no sex or violence. Lonleyness hardships excitedment tears and laughfter is what Winter people are about. Someone stole my only copy and I really wish I could find it again as i would frame it on my wall next to Trains planes and automobiles. Which of course is a totaly opposite movie. The best "comedy" ever made.

I really enjoyed this movie. Its setting in the mountains during the early 30's was quite entertaining. It's sort of like a 20th century version of red badge of courage. I would recommend it.

This was a very memorable, unusually compelling movie with outstanding performances by Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis. What a great movie! Kurt Russell was absolutely fabulous... almost as good as in Tombstone.

At a time when movies are out for big action scenes and what film makers perceive as "real Life" Winter People is appealing for it's simplicity. Set in a time and place where times were hard and people were private and family oriented, Winter People tells the tale of love between two people from different worlds who are thrown together by fate.

This is probably one of the simplest and sweetest love stories I have ever seen. This woman loved a man whom she was forbidden to love, had his child and then by accident fell in love with another man. She made the ultimate sacrifice by giving her child to the Man who hated her family the most. The ending was just wondeful. I taped this movie from the satellite and have watched it so much it is almost worn out. I would love to be able to buy this movie.