Evening (2007)

Director:

Lajos Koltai

Writers (WGA):

Susan Minot (screenplay) and
Michael Cunningham (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Her greatest secret was her greatest gift.

Plot:

A drama exploring the romantic past and emotional present of Ann Grant and her daughters, Constance and Nina. As Ann lays dying, she remembers, and is moved to convey to her daughters, the defining moments in her life 50 years prior, when she was a young woman. Harris is the man Ann loves in the 1950s and never forgets.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | 1950s | Nurse | Deathbed | Gay Kiss

Cast

Claire Danes	...	Ann Grant
Toni Collette	...	Nina Mars
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Ann Lord
Patrick Wilson	...	Harris Arden
Hugh Dancy	...	Buddy Wittenborn
Natasha Richardson	...	Constance Haverford
Mamie Gummer	...	Lila Wittenborn
Eileen Atkins	...	The Night Nurse
Meryl Streep	...	Lila Ross
Glenn Close	...	Mrs. Wittenborn
Ebon Moss-Bachrach	...	Luc
Barry Bostwick	...	Mr. Wittenborn
David Furr	...	Ralph Haverford
Sarah Viccellio	...	Lizzie Tull
Cheryl Lynn Bowers	...	Peach Howze
Chuck Cooper	...	Ray
Timothy Kiefer	...	Karl Ross
Jon DeVries	...	Deaver Ross (as Jon Devries)
David Call	...	Pip
Robert Walsh	...	Matt
David Robson	...	Ethan
Kara F. Doherty	...	Chloe / Constance Age 6 (as Kara Doherty)
Chris Stack	...	Phil Mars
Maxine Prescott	...	Great Aunt Roo
Margaret Coen	...	Constance Age 4
Annie Wardwell	...	Nina Age 4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Anthony	...	The Plunge Group (uncredited)
Whitney Avalon	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Ellen Becker-Gray	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Brian Bradshaw	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Michael Anthony Coppola	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Blaise Corrigan	...	Hit and run driver (uncredited)
John Currie	...	Ring Bearer (uncredited)
Elizabeth Dings	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Bonnie-Kathleen Discepolo	...	Upper East Side Lady (uncredited)
Domenic Fuggetta	...	The Plunge Group (uncredited)
Gabe Goodman	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Rob W. Gray	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Allyssa Maurice	...	The Plunge Group (uncredited)
Diane Needham	...	Irish Maid (uncredited)
Americo Presciutti	...	Jazz Club Musican (uncredited)
Jerry Quinn	...	Piano player (uncredited)
Laurence Richardson	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Heath Stewart	...	The Plunge Group (uncredited)
Kal Thompson	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Donald Warnock	...	Wittenborns' Next-Door Neighbor (uncredited)

Directed by
Lajos Koltai

Writing credits (WGA)
Susan Minot		(screenplay) and
Michael Cunningham		(screenplay)
Susan Minot		(novel)

Produced by
Michael Cunningham	....	executive producer
Jill Footlick	....	executive producer
Michael Hogan	....	executive producer
Robert Kessel	....	executive producer
Susan Minot	....	executive producer
Luke Parker Bowles	....	co-producer
Thomas A. Reilly	....	associate producer (as Tom Reilly)
Jeff Sharp	....	producer (as Jeffrey Sharp)
Claire Taylor	....	co-producer
Nina Wolarsky	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

Cinematography by
Gyula Pados		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Allyson C. Johnson

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith		(as Suzanne Crowley)

Production Design by
Caroline Hanania

Art Direction by
Jordan Jacobs

Set Decoration by
Catherine Davis

Costume Design by
Michelle Matland		(co-costume designer)
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Tricia Heine	....	key makeup artist
J. Roy Helland	....	hair designer
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup designer
Jerry Popolis	....	hair department head
Karen Specht	....	key hair stylist
Bradley Stenson	....	department head makeup
Louie Zakarian	....	special makeup effects artist
Frank Barbosa	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Paula Dion	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Diane Dixon	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Christine Fennell	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Stephanie Accetta	....	unit production manager (as Steph Accetta)
Jennifer Lane	....	post-production supervisor
Nellie Nugiel	....	unit production manager
Judy Richter	....	production supervisor: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Greenway	....	second second assistant director
Deanna Leslie	....	second assistant director (as Deanna Leslie Kelly)
Thomas A. Reilly	....	first assistant director (as Tom Reilly)

Art Department
Brian Buckley	....	set dresser (as Brian W. Buckley)
Jason Case	....	set dresser (as Jason Pontes)
Jessica Case	....	set dresser
Doug Cluff	....	charge scenic artist (as Douglas Cluff)
Melissa Cooperman	....	second assistant property master
Peter K. Dunbar	....	leadman: New York
Elizabeth Fisher	....	art department production assistant (as Elizabeth Anne Fisher)
Eric Jerman	....	set dresser
Robin Everett McGuirl	....	art department production assistant
Brian McKenzie	....	set dresser
Ann Miller	....	property master
Janine Moore	....	art department coordinator
Paul Peabody	....	construction foreman
Scott T. Pina	....	construction coordinator
Michael Ramsey	....	art department production assistant
Helen Rasmussen	....	assistant set decorator
John Ryder	....	picture car coordinator
Will Scheck	....	on-set greensperson: New York
Robert Schleinig	....	lead man
Elizabeth Schlitten	....	first assistant property master
Karl Shefelman	....	storyboard artist
Andrew Spagnoli	....	set dresser
Steven Sparfven	....	set dresser
Meaghan E. Stone	....	lead greensperson
John H. Storey	....	scenic foreman (as J.H. Storey)
Debra Sugarman	....	on-set dresser
Katie Tower	....	graphic designer (as Katherine Tower)
Bill Wieters	....	on-set scenic artist
Peter Wilcox	....	gang boss (as Peter A. Wilcox)
Peter Wilcox	....	propmaker (as Peter A. Wilcox)
Erik Malkovich	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Randy L. Parisian	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Giovanni Rodriguez	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Debra Sugarman	....	character artwork (uncredited)
Cleo Wang	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor (as Gina R. Alfano)
David Boulton	....	adr recordist
Timothy R. Boyce Jr.	....	cableperson: New York (as T.R. Boyce Jr.)
Rachel Chancey	....	foley editor
Krissopher Chevannes	....	adr recordist
Harry Higgins	....	sound re-recordist
Bobby Johanson	....	adr recordist
Thomas Kodros	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Lenny Manzo	....	utility sound
David Paterson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Patterson)
David Paterson	....	supervising sound editor (as Dave Paterson)
Mary Ellen Porto	....	dialogue editor
Joel Reidy	....	boom operator
Steve Schwartz	....	first assistant sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Shane Stoneback	....	sound re-recordist
Robert Troeller	....	sound mix technician (as Bob Troeller)
Tom Williams	....	sound mixer
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer (uncredited)
Jay Peck	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
J.C. Brotherhood	....	special effects supervisor (as JC Brotherhood)
Chris Jordan	....	special effects foreman: New York
John Ruggieri	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Sarah Barber	....	visual effects production assistant: Mr. X Inc
Michael Becki	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc
Shawn Broes	....	digital intermediate editor: Modern VideoFilm
Rene Clark	....	digital imaging: Modern VideoFilm
Adrian Colbert	....	digital intermediate scanner: Modern VideoFilm
Anand Dorairaj	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc
David Fix	....	senior systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Zachary J. Gans	....	visual effects production assistant: Mr. X Inc
Robert Greb	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc
Kristopher Gregg	....	digital imaging: Modern VideoFilm (as Kris Gregg)
Annu Gulati	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc
Nicholas Hasson	....	iq artist: Modern VideoFilm (as Nick Hasson)
Victoria Holt	....	visual effects coordinator: Mr. X Inc
Mark Intravartolo	....	visual effects artist: inferno, Modern VideoFilm
Ethan Lee	....	visual effects rigging: Mr. X Inc
Mai-Ling Lee	....	modeler and texture artist: Mr. X Inc
Shun Sing Edward Lee	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc. (as Edward Lee)
Jim Maxwell	....	matte painter: Mr. X Inc.
Sarah McMurdo	....	digital producer: Mr. X Inc
Sean Mills	....	modeler and texture artist: Mr. X Inc
Mateo Novacovici	....	systems administrator: Mr. X Inc
Matt Ralph	....	3D animator: Mr. X Inc
Dominic Remane	....	visual effects lighting: Mr. X Inc
Darcy Reno	....	systems administrator: Mr. X Inc (as Darcy Bangsund)
Carolyn Shelby	....	visual effects tape operator: Mr. X Inc (as Caroline Shelby)
Brendan Taylor	....	on-set lead: Mr. X Inc
Ed Thompson	....	digital imaging: Modern VideoFilom
Aaron Weintraub	....	visual effects supervisor: Mr. X Inc
Fiona Campbell Westgate	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc
Colin Withers	....	senior technical supervisor: Mr. X Inc
Wojciech Zielinski	....	modelling supervisor: Mr. X Inc

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator (as George Aguilar)
Blaise Corrigan	....	stunt coordinator
Geoffrey Dowell	....	stunts (as Geoff Dowell)
Samantha MacIvor	....	stunts
Stephen Mann	....	stunts
Thomas T. O'Brien	....	safety dive master
Christopher Place	....	stunts (as Chris Place)
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
Thomas T. O'Brien	....	safety diver (uncredited)
Christopher Place	....	stunt double: Patrick Wilson (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Leonard Applefield	....	electrician
Rick Beausoileil	....	grip (as Rick Beausoleil)
Jason Bowen	....	generator operator
Eric Boyle	....	grip
Robert Bullard	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert Clark	....	electrician
Brian Corbett	....	grip
Jerry DeBlau	....	chief lighting technician
Kenneth Dodd	....	best boy electric (as Ken Dodd)
Dru Dunnaway	....	grip
Brant S. Fagan	....	Steadicam operator
Cynthia Fand	....	grip
James V. Gartland	....	dolly grip
Peter Girolami	....	rigging gaffer
Michael Hadley	....	electrician (as Michael A. Hadley)
Sean Hadley	....	electrician (as Sean Kevin Hadley)
John Halligan	....	best boy grip: Paris
John Hamilton	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as John R. Hamilton)
Matt Harrington	....	best boy rigging grip (as Matthew Harrington)
Elizabeth Heslep	....	camera loader (as Liz Heslep)
Christian J. Hollyer	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Christian Hollyer)
Sal Lanza	....	key grip
John Levy	....	video assist operator
John R. Loyd	....	grip
Robin MacLeod	....	grip
Phil Nason	....	electrician
Gene Page	....	still photographer
Michael Peterson	....	electrician (as Michael J. Peterson)
Mark Price	....	grip
David Puopolo	....	grip
Blackford 'Boots' Shelton	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Boots Shelton)
Gregory W. Smith	....	Steadicam operator: New York (as Greg Smith)
Elliott Snell	....	electrician
William Trautvetter	....	camera operator (as Bill Trautvetter)
Aaron Tyburski	....	rigging electric
Thomas Yostpille	....	key rigging grip
Andrew Zuch	....	video playback operator (as Andy Zuch)
Joshua Barnatt	....	set electrician (uncredited)
Robert Beinhocker	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Rick Cardillo	....	electrician (uncredited)
Brant S. Fagan	....	camera operator: Super Technocrane (uncredited)
Josh Friz	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Ryan Gibeau	....	electrician (uncredited)
Zack Gorman	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Ed Lalli	....	additional electrician (uncredited)
Ed Lalli	....	additional grip (uncredited)
JD Leedham	....	additional rigging grip (uncredited)
Rob Massey	....	epk director of photography (uncredited)
Michael Peterson	....	electrician (uncredited)
Dave Provenzano	....	grip (uncredited)
Peter Rippe	....	electrician (uncredited)
David C. Romano	....	grip (uncredited)
Travis Trudell	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sondra James	....	adr voice casting
Jessica Kelly	....	casting assistant
Anne Mulhall	....	casting: Rhode Island
Anne Mulhall	....	extras casting: Rhode Island
Paul Schnee	....	casting assistant
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting: New York
Marny Smith	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gina Castellano	....	costume coordinator
Nina Cinelli	....	set costumer
David Davenport	....	costume supervisor
Nicole Greenbaum	....	set costumer
Donna Maloney	....	costume supervisor
Janna Pederson	....	stitcher
Janna Pederson	....	tailor
Ann Powderly	....	stitcher
Ann Powderly	....	tailor
Jonathan Schwartz	....	costume department assistant
Benjamin Wilson	....	set costumer
Megan Asbee	....	costume production assistant (uncredited)
Margaret Palmer	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Joe Finley	....	digital intermediate colorist: Modern VideoFilm
Terry Haggar	....	color timer
Patrick McGuinn	....	project manager: video dailies, Technicolor New York
Ben Perez	....	video colorist: Technicolor New York
Carrie Puchkoff	....	first assistant editor: dailies
Pat Repola	....	vice president feature post-production: Modern VideoFilm
Zara Roberts	....	digital intermediate post supervisor: Modern VideoFilm
Gina Sansom	....	post-production assistant
David A. Smith	....	first assistant editor
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor: Technicolor New York
Alexis Wiscomb	....	post-production coordinator: delivery
Jason Spencer	....	editor intern (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Adam Bytof	....	musician: cello
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek	....	orchestrator
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek	....	score producer
Christopher Kennedy	....	music editor
Krzysztof Kit	....	musician: oboe
Agnieszka Kopacka	....	musician: piano
Bogna Kowalska	....	orchestra contractor
Deb Lapidus	....	vocal coach
Sylwia Mierzejewska	....	musician: violin
Leszek Mozdzer	....	musician: piano
Rafal Paczkowski	....	music score mixer
Enis Rotthoff	....	assistant to composer
Justyna Steczkowska	....	musician: singer (as Justyna Streczkowska)
Marek Szpakiewicz	....	orchestrator
Piotr Tatarski	....	assistant to composer
Janusz Wawrowski	....	musician: violin
Tadeusz Wicherek	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Roland A. Allard	....	driver
Stephan Atamian Jr.	....	driver
Oscar Beguiristain	....	driver
Charles Bessette	....	driver
John 'Bubba' Branch	....	transportation co-captain
Richard R. Busardo	....	driver (as Richard Busardo)
Sam Cardarelli Jr.	....	driver (as Samuel W. Cardarelli Jr.)
Mike Easter	....	transportation captain (as Michael C. Easter)
George Forte	....	driver
George M. Gagnon	....	driver
Kenny Gaskins	....	transportation co-captain: New York
Ernie Hallquist	....	driver
Ronald R. Harrison	....	driver
James Healey	....	driver (as James P. Healey)
Keith Kalohelani	....	driver
Gino Lucci	....	representative: picture car company, New York
John McLaughlin	....	driver: honeywagon
Daniel Nason	....	driver
Harry R. Ogden	....	driver
Wade Pytka	....	driver
Nicholas Ricamo	....	driver
John Ryder	....	car wrangler
Antonio G. Silva	....	driver
Ronald J. Vincent	....	driver

Other crew
Sheila Allen	....	production accountant
Natalie Angel	....	production coordinator
Anthony Bonello	....	set production assistant
Patrick D. Boyd	....	second assistant chef
Barbara Branch	....	first assistant accountant
Wilson Braun	....	assistant: Lajos Koltai
Eamonn Burke	....	assistant: Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Richardson
Troy Caldwell	....	first assistant chef
Autumn Clark	....	office production assistant: New York
Clementine Teniqua Crawford	....	assistant: Jeff Sharp
Robert Darwell	....	legal services: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
Patrick Donovan	....	production secretary
Anthony Dorre	....	caterer: New York
Gleanna Doyle	....	animal wrangler
Henry Fernaine	....	production executive
Jane Finn-Foley	....	assistant: Jill Footlick
Mike Fitzgerald	....	production assistant
Natsu Furuichi	....	production associate
Philippe Gallichet	....	chef
Dave Ginsberg	....	assistant location manager: New York (as David Ginsberg)
Jonathan Golfman	....	legal services: Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
Franky Guttman	....	assistant: Jeff Sharp
Tina Hamilton	....	asset manager
Charles Harrington	....	location consultant (as Charlie Harrington)
Corri Hopkins	....	location assistant: New York
Crystal Jenney	....	office production assistant
Jon M. Johnson	....	parking coordinator: New York (as Jon Johnson Sr.)
Matthew J. Kotowski	....	set production assistant
Ashley Kravitz	....	clearance services
Amy Leigh Johnson	....	unit publicist
Patrick Mahoney	....	craft service (as Patrick J. Mahoney)
Adam McCarthy	....	location manager
Carlos Medeiros	....	set production assistant
Rob Meisenholder	....	payroll accountant
Ashley Morris	....	assistant: Claire Danes
Daniel Murray	....	set production assistant (as Daniel C. Murray)
Thomas T. O'Brien	....	dive master
Chris Michael Peterson	....	choreographer
Christina Pitassi	....	second assistant accountant
Luke Poling	....	assistant production coordinator
Heather Quam	....	medic
Joe Robinson	....	production secretary
Phil Rodowsky	....	combined dialogue continuity and spotting: Oncore Productions
Todd Rodowsky	....	combined dialogue continuity and spotting: Oncore Productions
Whitney Rothe	....	set production assistant
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach (as Howard Samuelson)
Andrew Saxe	....	location manager: New York
Ken Schiff	....	craft service
Dee Schuka	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post Inc.
George Sheanshang	....	legal council: Hart Sharp
Robin Squibb	....	script supervisor
Chris Walsh	....	location assistant (as Christopher Walsh)
Colin Walsh	....	assistant location manager
David H. Angell	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mimi Coleman	....	location coordinator (uncredited)
Terry Conforti	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Shannon Dennard	....	location scout: New York (uncredited)
Alan Francis	....	photo double: Patrick Wilson (uncredited)
Scott Franklin	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Mark Killian	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Kowalczyk	....	craft service assistant (uncredited)
Thomas T. O'Brien	....	lead diver (uncredited)
Jeff Pinette	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jillian Roache	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jesse Rosenblatt	....	legal services: rights (uncredited)
Joe Russo	....	epk producer (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group (uncredited)

Thanks
Steven Feinberg	....	grateful acknowledgment

Production Companies

• Hart-Sharp Entertainment
• MBF Erste Filmproduktiongesellschaft
• Twins Financing (produced in association with)

Distributors

• Focus Features (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2007) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Showgate (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Telexcel/ImpactoCine (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (DVD)
• Paradise Group (2007) (Russia) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Mr. X (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Cinema Catering  catering
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Filmtools  expendables
• Modern VideoFilm  digital intermediate
• Oncore Productions  combined dialogue continuity and spotting
• Orbit Digital  high-definition preview services
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Polish Radio Studios, The  music recorded at
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton  legal services
• Sound One Corporation  adr recorded at (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recorded at (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sound and More  music mixed at
• Tax Credit Finance  tax credit brokering
• Technicolor New York  video dailies
• The Polish Radio Orchestra  score performed by
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

Spuren eines Lebens (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements, sexual material, a brief accident scene and language.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:6 | Ireland:12A | Hong Kong:IIA | Germany:6 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-7 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

85th St. and West End Avenue, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment

Trivia:

According to The Hollywood Reporter (9/14/06): "director Jonathan Caouette (Tarnation (2003)) had been in preliminary discussions to direct, and Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn was discussed for the lead role, but those deals never developed."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In a scene in which characters get ready to drive away from the mansion, they are shown fastening seat belts with a shoulder strap. Shoulder straps were not introduced until much later than the mid '50's.

Quotes:

Ray: Mistakes are beautiful, baby. Mistakes are part of the fun.

Movie Connections:

References Dracula (1931)

Soundtrack:

Perdido

An Illustration of Complex Characters

If you cannot enjoy a chick flick, stop right now. If, however, you enjoy films that illustrate complex characters and provide extraordinary acting, read on.

Ann Grant Lord is dying. Her two daughters arrive to be at her bedside. Ann begins talking about people from her past of whom the daughters are unaware, and they question as to whether these lost acquaintances are real or imagined. They come to realize that these people from their mother's past are, indeed, real.

The story shifts, basically, between 1953 and circa 2000 with a few glimpses at Ann's life between those years. It was in 1953 that Ann met the love of her life and experienced her life's greatest tragedy.

One of Ann's two best friends from college, Lila, is being married. Ann's other best friend is Lila's brother, Buddy. Lila and Buddy are the children of a rich Newport family, whereas Ann is a cabaret singer living in Greenwich Village who wants to be a free spirit but is still bound by many of those 1950's conventions.

Soon after Ann arrives to be maid of honor at Lila's wedding, she meets the person who will become the pivotal character in the lives of the three - Harris. He is the adult son of a former servant of the family who grew up with Lila and Buddy and has gone on to become a physician in a small New England town. Ann immediately becomes enamored of Harris which adds a complication to the fact that Lila has always been in love with Harris and continues to be. Buddy, also, is in love with Harris, but being 1953, he has redirected that homosexual desire for Harris to his good friend, Ann for he cannot admit to himself that he has a sexual craving for another man. Buddy exhibits his inner frustration outwardly by being the alcoholic, wise-cracking bad boy of the family - much to the chagrin of his very proper and uptight parents.

Needless to say, all of these expressed and repressed emotions lead to tragedy - after all this is a chick flick.

In the present time, Ann's daughters have become distant from their mother and are suffering their own life realizations and doubts. Constance is working to emotional exhaustion trying to keep up her roll as perfect mother and wife. Nina, having always felt inferior, cannot maintain a relationship.

Stir all of these relationships into a span of fifty years, and you get an intriguing look at society, its values, and its effects upon the personalities and actions of the complex people involved.

All of the acting in Evening is excellent, but there are some extraordinary performances and scenes - along with two unique family relationships - that make this film so very, very special.

Claire Danes plays the 1950's Ann, and she does it in a style that clearly shows an intelligent woman of those times who is conflicted by what she is supposed to do as opposed to what she wants to do. Her performance is not easily forgettable.

Vanessa Redgrave plays the dying Ann whose mind shifts from the present, to the past, to flights of fantasy, and of course, Redgrave pulls it all off with sterling style.

Natasha Richardson - Redgrave's real daughter - plays Ann's daughter, Constance, in the film. The scenes between this real life mother and daughter playing fictional mother and daughter are an insightful treat to watch.

Toni Collette plays Ann's other daughter, Nina. Nina spends a good deal of her time being depressed and feeling sorry for herself while shutting out a good man who loves her as well as her mother and sister. Collette is perfect for a part such as this, but I have never seen her give a bad or unbelievable performance no matter what part she plays.

Mamie Gummer plays 1950's Lila and shows us a woman even more conflicted of her expected role in life than her good friend, Ann. She is very good.

Meryl Streep - Gummer's mother - plays present day Lila. What is there to say about Meryl Streep other than she always gives an insightful and rewarding performance.

Director Lajos Koltai states in the DVD extras that he sought out Glenn Close to play the relatively small part of Lila's mother because he felt she was the only actress he could think of to play one scene in the film. He certainly was right, and Close's performance in that one scene etches it in your mind. All the other scenes in which Close is Lila's very proper mother, and you get another performance to treasure.

There are three other scenes in the film, combined with the one featuring Close described above, that make the whole movie worth watching. On Lila's wedding day, Ann comes into her room and crawls into to bed with her friend to discuss Lila's misforgivings about her upcoming wedding to a man she clearly does not love. This scene is repeated fifty years later when Lila comes and crawls into bed with her dying friend Ann to talk about the lives they have lived. In this latter scene, Streep and Redgrave are enthralling.

The other memorable scene - at least to me - is when Buddy declares his love for Ann. Hugh Dancy as Buddy gives us a heartbreaking performance of a young man torn apart by his conflicting sexual feelings. His performance is superior.

Chick flick? Yes. A very special film with unbelievable acting, directing, and scenery? Definitely. I cannot recommend Evening too much.