Waking the Dead *** (2000, Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Janet McTear, Molly Parker, Paul Hipp, Sandra Oh, Hal Holbrook) – Classic Movie Review 2119

Billy Crudup stars as a 1970s aspiring politician, congressional candidate Fielding Pierce, who begins to lose his grip on reality when visions of his first love, Sarah Williams (Jennifer Connelly) — who died nine years earlier — begin to haunt him.

The idealistic Sarah was killed in an explosion while assisting members of the Chilean resistance. Fielding has got on with his life and he is now in the middle of a congressional election.

Based by screenwriter Robert Dillon on the novel by Scott Spencer, director Keith Gordon’s moving, passionate and intelligent 2000 mystery romantic drama is clearly a labour of love for all concerned.

Also in the cast are Ed Harris, Janet McTear, Molly Parker, Paul Hipp, Sandra Oh, Hal Holbrook, Bill Haughland, Nelson Landrieu, Ivonne Coll and Maxine Guess.

Filmed in Montréal, Canada, it flopped at the US box office, taking only $327,000.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2119

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