The Well Movie Review 1997

Repression, isolation, and tragedy set in barren rural Australia. Drab, middleaged Hester (Rabe) hires spirited teenager Katherine (Otto) to help out on her bleak farm. Hester soon becomes emotional dependent on Katherine, who eventually convinces her to sell the property so they can travel to Europe. (Yes, "The Servant" will come to mind.) But a car accident (caused by Katherine) claims the life of a mystery man and Hester decides to hide the body in an unused well. Then they discover all their money has been stolen, probably by their dead friend, and just who's going down the well to retrieve it? Based on a novel by Elizabeth Jolley.

Distribution

Wellspring Media, A Division of Genius Products, Inc., 2230 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90904, Phone: (310)453-1222, Fax: (310)453-0074, URL: http://www.wellspring.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 101 minutes.
Originally from Australian.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Suspense, Female Bonding, The Help: Female, Farm Livin'

Screenplay

Laura Jones

Cast

Pamela Rabe, Miranda Otto, Paul Chubb

Cinematography

Mandy Walker

Director

Samantha Lang

Music

Stephen Rae

Producer

Sandra Levy, Errol Sullivan, Australian Film Finance Corp., Southern Star Productions

Awards

Australian Film Inst. 1997: Actress (Rabe), Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec.