[.ca] Winter People (Widescreen)

Under-rated film.:
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.

Quiet film about give and take, forgiveness and love.:
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.

Do you love mountains in the fall?:
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.