YUREK BOGAYEVICZ

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB

USA, 1987.  Magnus Films, Vestron Pictures.  Story by Yurek Bogayevicz, Agnieszka Holland, Screenplay by Agnieszka Holland.  Cinematography by Bobby Bukowski.  Produced by Yurek Bogayevicz, Gabor Dettre, Zanne Devine.  Music by Greg Hawkes.  Production Design by Lester Cohen.  Costume Design by Hali Breindel.  Film Editing by Julie Sloane.  

Sally Kirkland gives a terrific performance in this enjoyable comedy-drama as a former Czech movie star who was exiled from her home country for political reasons, and now lives in New York City. Her ex-husband from her home country is successfully making commercials, while she is living with a new lover and looking for work as a middle-aged actress.

After getting a gig working as an understudy in a play, she meets a new immigrant from Czechoslovakia (Paulina Porizkova) who has come to America to make it as a model and actress. Kirkland takes her in but soon grows jealous of the immediate success that Porizkova’s beauty and talent attracts, while she sits on the top shelf and is ignored by the world.

It’s a wonderful character study with a lot of heart and depth, and the two actresses do a terrific job with the material.

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Actress (Sally Kirkland)

Golden Globe Award:  Best Actress-Drama (Sally Kirkland)