An Arthur Cohn production THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF
Starring William Hurt Maria Bello Eddie Redmayne Kristen Stewart
Directed By Udayan Prasad
Cinematography by Chris Menges
Produced By Arthur Cohn
Associate Producers Annette Grisard Jeannine Eckenstein Esther Grether Samuel Falk Sundance Publicity Sundance Sales contacts Block Korenbrot Public Relations Lillian Birnbaum Rebecca Fisher Cell: 310.869.0131 Cell: 323.313.2837 [email protected] [email protected] Melody Korenbrot Cell: 323.574.2223 [email protected] The Yellow Handkerchief The Story
Academy Award® winner William Hurt, Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart and Eddie Redmayne star in this provocative and penetrating look into the motives of the human heart. The film, written by Erin Dignam and shot by Academy Award® winning cinematographer Chris Menges, was directed by Udayan Prasad („My Son The Fanatic‟) and produced by the multiple Academy Award® winner Arthur Cohn.
Brett Hanson (William Hurt) is an ex-convict, just released from prison after serving six years for manslaughter and now adrift in a world of new freedoms and responsibilities. Finding initial difficulties in reconciling himself to a troubled past, Brett crosses paths with lonely and troubled teenager Martine (Kristen Stewart) and her new „ride‟ Gordy (Eddie Redmayne). The trio head out in the same car and direction – Martine to cut loose and get away from her family, Gordy to get closer to Martine, and Brett who must decide whether he wants to return to his troubled past and an uncertainty with May (Maria Bello) the woman that he left behind.
Once on the road, the trio find their relationships forging and changing in myriad ways, but it is Brett‟s story and his need to reconcile his past to his future that drives the two young people to reassess their own passages as well.
2 The Yellow Handkerchief The Cast
William Hurt…………………………………………………………….....Brett Maria Bello………………………………………………………………...May Kristen Stewart…………………………………………………………Martine Eddie Redmayne………………………………………………………....Gordy
Kaori Momoi……………………………………………………. Motel Owner Emanuel K. Cohn……………………………………………….…Male Doctor Nurith Cohn………………………………………………….…..Female Nurse Jetta Jones……………………………………………………….Garage Owner Veronica Russell……………………………………………....Pregnant Woman Grover Coulson…………………………………………………..…Farnsworth Lisha Brock……………………...…………………………...…..……Waitress Lucy Adiar Faust……………………………….……………………Snotty Girl John Gregory Willard…………………………………………………....Blonde Rebecca Newman……………………..…………………………………..Ilene Ross Britz………………………………………………………………..Friend Marshall Cain…………………………………………………...….Ferry Driver Aimee Fortier……………………………………………...…...Teenage Mother Ross Francis……………………………………………….………….Boyfriend Douglass M. Griffin………………………………..………………….Policeman Jeff Galpin…………………………………………..………...….. Policeman #2 Ashlynn Ross...... Delivery Girl Tanner Gill………………………………………………….….……Man in Rain Eric Adams…………………………………………………..… Bank Accessor Shane Tingle……………...……………………………………. Ferry Driver #2 Michael Kennedy………………..………………………………..Tony Freckles Paige Pareti…………………………………………………………Girl in Video Veronica Russell……………………………………………… Warden Genaro Bello Nock………………………………………………………..…Bello Nock Victor Brunette………………………………………………..….Chippy White Holly O‟Quinn……………………………………………….…...Female Nurse B. Martin Williams………………………………………………………….Bob Noelle Bercy…………………………………………………………...Dancer 1 Dawna Williams…………………………………………………..…….Waitress
3 The Yellow Handkerchief About the Cast
William Hurt (Brett):
William Hurt trained at Tufts University and New York's Juilliard School of Music and Drama. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards®, including the most recent nomination for his supporting role in David Cronenberg‟s “History of Violence.” Hurt received Best Supporting Actor accolades for the role from the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle and the New York Film Critics Circle.
In “The Yellow Handkerchief” he plays an ex-convict, opposite Maria Bello.
William Hurt was recently seen in MGM‟s “Mr. Brooks,” a psychological thriller opposite Kevin Costner, directed by Bruce Evans, in “Vantage Point” opposite Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver and Forrest Whitaker, as well as in “Into the Wild,” directed by Sean Penn and starring Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener and Vince Vaughn.
In 2006 Hurt was seen in “The Good Shepherd” written by Eric Roth and directed by Robert DeNiro. Also in 2006, Hurt starred in James Marsh‟s film “The King” with Gael Garcia Bernal.
In 2005, Hurt was seen in “Syriana,” directed by Stephen Gaghan and starring George Clooney, Matt Damon and Amanda Peet.
Other films Mr. Hurt starred in include M. Night Shyamalan‟s thriller, “The Village,” "Tuck Everlasting," directed by Jay Russell, Steven Spielberg's "A.I.", and “Sunshine,” opposite Ralph Fiennes, directed by Istvan Szabo.
He received a Best Actor Oscar® nomination for "Broadcast News" and "Children of a Lesser God." For "Kiss of the Spider Woman" he was honored with an Academy Award® as well as Best Actor Awards from the British Academy and the Cannes Festival. Among his other film credits are "Body Heat," "The Big Chill," "Eyewitness," "Gorky Park," "Alice," "I Love You to Death," "The Accidental Tourist," "The Doctor," "The Plague," “The Simian Line,” "Trial by Jury," "Second Best," "Smoke," "Confidences a un Inconnu" "Jane Eyre," "Michael," "Dark City,” “The Proposition” “The Big Brass Ring” and “One True Thing.”
4 Maria Bello (May):
In a remarkably short time, Maria Bello has established herself as a leading actress with a formidable and dazzling presence. A cool, incredibly literate blonde, Maria has captivated audiences with her many diverse roles in such films as “The Cooler” (Golden Globe and SAG Nomination) “A History of Violence” (NY Film Critics win) “World Trade Center” “Thank You For Smoking” and most recently “The Jane Austen Book Club.” Upcoming, Maria has the darkly devastating Alan Ball film “Nothing is Private” to be released May 2008. Currently, she has recently retuned from China after filming “The Mummy 3” with Brendan Fraser which will be released at the beginning of August 2008.
Bello‟s other film credits include: “Auto Focus,” in which she co-starred in the feature opposite Greg Kinnear, “Permanent Midnight” with Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Hurley, Paramount‟s “Payback” with Mel Gibson, “Duets” with Scott Speedman and Gwyneth Paltrow, Jerry Bruckheimer‟s “Coyote Ugly,” “Secret Window” with Johnny Depp, “Silver City” with Chris Cooper, “Assault on Precinct 13” with Ethan Hawke. Bello also starred in the film “Sisters” with Mary Stuart Masterson which is based on the Chekov play “Three Sisters” directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman.
Bello‟s extensive theatre credits include the world premiere of “The Killer Inside Me,” “Smart Town Gals,” “Big Problems,” “Urban Planning,” “A Lie of The Mind,” “His Pillow,” “Out Of Gas On Lover‟s Leap,” “Big Talk” and “Talked Away.”
In addition to her commitments on screen, Bello dedicates her time and energy working as an ambassador for the “Save the Children” charity which aides‟ children in poverty and crisis. She is also involved with LA‟s Best, “Office of the Americas” and “The American Friends Service Committee.”
5 Eddie Redmayne (Gordy):
Born in London, Eddie Redmayne attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Art History. It was while at college that a scout from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre recruited Redmayne to appear in the 400th anniversary production of "Twelfth Night." His role as Viola opposite Mark Rylance got him favorable reviews from critics, as well as an acting agent.
In “The Yellow Handkerchief” Mr. Redmayne plays the quirky and nerdy Gordy.
Eddie Redmayne made his screen debut in 2006 in Robert De Niro's dramatic thriller “The Good Shepard” starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie.
Most recently, Mr. Redmayne was seen in Universal‟s “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” directed by Shekhar Kapur, with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen.
In 2008 he will star in “The Other Boleyn Girl”, based on the hit novel of the same name and produced by Scott Rudin, starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson.
Eddie also stars in Tom Kalin‟s “Savage Grace,” which screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007. Eddie plays the son of would-be Hollywood starlet, Barbara Baekeland, played by Julianne Moore.
In 2007 he also wrapped “Powder Blue” where he stars with Jessica Biel and Forest Whitaker
Kristen Stewart (Martine):
Kristen Stewart was introduced to worldwide audiences with her outstanding performance alongside Jodie Foster in “Panic Room.”
In “The Yellow Handkerchief” she plays Martine, a lonely girl in search of love…
Stewart stars in Sean Penn‟s “Into The Wild”. She will be seen in “Adventureland”, opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jesse Eisenberg for director Greg Mottola. She will soon be seen in a starring role in the independent film “The Cake Eaters” for director Mary Stuart Masterson, and a supporting role in “What Just Happened” alongside Robert De Niro and Sean Penn for director Barry Levinson.
Stewart‟s additional film credits include “In The Land of Women,” “The Messengers,” “Zathura,” “Speak,” “Fierce People,” “Catch That Kid,” “Undertow,” “Cold Creek Manor,” and “The Safety of Objects.”
6 The Yellow Handkerchief About the Crew
Arthur Cohn (Producer):
Born in Basel, Switzerland, Arthur Cohn studied international law and was a journalist and radio reporter before turning to the world of film. His very first outing was the Oscar®-winning documentary “Sky Above, Mud Below” (1961), filmed in exotic locations among the aborigines of New Guinea. Later, he teamed with the legendary Vittorio de Sica on the director‟s last films, culminating in the now classic Oscar®- winning jewel, “The Garden of Finzi-Continis” (1972). Cohn also teamed with de Sica and actress Florinda Bolkan in the highly-acclaimed film “A Brief Vacation” (1976), winner of numerous European international awards for excellence. Cohn captured his third and fourth Oscars® with, respectively “Black And White in Colour” (1978), Jean Jacques Annaud‟s first film, a satirical anti-war story set in Africa‟s Ivory Coast, and the French-made “Dangerous Moves” (1984), a tense Cold War drama within the world of high stakes international championship chess, which starred the renowned Michel Piccoli and Liv Ullman.
During the latter period of the 80‟s, Cohn also made a notable and provocative return to feature documentary excellence with “The Final Solution” (1989), a heart-wrenching study of the Holocaust which no less than Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel has characterized as the best and most thoughtful look of any film on the subject by anyone.
In 1990, Cohn again displayed his eclectic interest by shifting topics and locales to the United States, winning his fifth Academy Award for producing the passionate saga of the six year long labor dispute and its impact on the families involved at a Minnesota meat- packing plant, “American Dream” by Barbara Kopple. Later, in 2001 Cohn received a sixth Oscar® for producing “One Day In September,” a penetrating investigative behind the scenes look of the horrific terrorist events surrounding the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
Cohn‟s 1995 drama, “Two Bits,” by James Foley, starring Al Pacino and set in Philadelphia, and his 1998 feature, “Central Station”, by Walter Salles both received many U.S and global honors. “Central Station” opened the Sundance Film Festival subsequently winning the Grand Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival, and later the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Mr. Cohn also produced “Behind the Sun” directed by Walter Salles in 2001 which was nominated for a Golden Globe.
During all this filmmaking activity on a grand scale, Cohn nevertheless found time to create – using material from 23 sources - one of the most poignant short films of our time, “Children of The Night” (1998), which tellingly depicts the tragedy of 1.3 million children who lost their innocence and then their lives during the Nazi reign of terror.
7 Cohn is a producer in the classical sense of the term: deeply involved from the very outset in every aspect of his films. From acquisition to script development through principal photography on locations throughout the world, from editing, scoring through exhibition, it is his judgment and taste that is reflected so that the finished product can only be truly described as an Arthur Cohn Production.
Lillian Birnbaum (Executive Producer):
Ms. Birnbaum‟s collaboration with Arthur Cohn dates back over 15 years. She has executive produced “Central Station“ by Walter Salles for Arthur Cohn in 1998 which won the Golden Bear in Berlin, “Behind the Sun“ by Walter Salles, in 2001 (Golden Globe nomination), and “One Day In September“ by Kevin MacDonald which won the Oscar® for Best Documentary in 2000.
Lillian Birnbaum started her career as a professional photographer which remains her other great passion to this very day. She exhibits and publishes her work on a regular basis. In 2006/2007 she directed her first documentary film, “A Bridge Between Two Worlds“, on Sir André Previn. She currently resides in Paris, France.
Udayan Prasad (Director):
Born in India, Udayan Prasad came to Britain at the age of nine. After attending art school in Leeds and the National Film and Television School, he made a number of documentaries, including “A Corner Of A Foreign Field” (1985), about Pakistanis in Britain.
He directed a number of high-prestige dramas for BBC TV, working with Britain's top writers.
His first theatrical feature was the critically acclaimed, “Brothers In Trouble” (1995), a tragi-comic story set in the Sixties of an illegal immigrant struggling to survive in a grim northern English town. “Brothers In Trouble” won the Golden Alexander Award for best first feature at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. His second theatrical feature, “My Son The Fanatic,” was selected for Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 to great critical acclaim. His latest feature, “The Yellow Handkerchief,” shot in Louisiana, starring William Hurt and produced by Arthur Cohn, will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008.
8 Erin Dignam (Screenwriter)
Ms. Dignam wrote the script of “The Yellow Handkerchief” based on the short story by Pete Hamill for Arthur Cohn. She has written and directed the film “Loved,” starring William Hurt, Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn which was nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards in 1997. She also wrote and directed the movie “Loon,” starring Jason Patric and Robin Wright.
Erin Dignam completed the script of “8,” for Wim Wenders, shot in July 2007, and the adaptation of “The Pool” for French director Yvan Attal.
Chris Menges (Cinematographer):
Chris Menges was born in Herefordshire, England, and trained by the American documentary film maker Allan Forbes. In 1962 he joined Granada Television‟s World In Action and was cameraman on many of their productions during the early 60‟s, filming in Africa, South East Asia, Asia, The Middle East, South America and Europe. In 1969 he started working with Ken Loach and in 1971 he shot his first film for Stephen Frears.
Mr. Menges is currently shooting Stephen Daldry‟s “The Reader” with Ralph Fiennes.
Selected Filmography: 2005 Notes on a Scandal Dir: Richard Eyre 2002 Dirty Pretty Things Dir: Stephen Frears 2001 The Good Thief Dir: Neil Jordan 2000 The Pledge Dir: Sean Penn 1997 The Boxer Dir: Jim Sheridan 1995 Michael Collins Dir: Neil Jordan (Nominated Academy Award ©) 1986 The Mission Dir: Roland Joffe (Academy Award ©) 1984 The Killing Fields Dir: Roland Joffe (Academy Award ©)
Christopher Tellefsen (Editor):
Feature film editor Christopher Tellefsen A.C.E., returns to Sundance for the sixth time with "The Yellow Handkerchief,” having started with Whit Stillman's “Metropolitan” in 1990, "Jumpin at the Boneyard" in 1992, "City Unplugged" in 1993, "Kids" in 1995 and "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" in 2006. Chris started his career in the New York independent film scene in the nineteen-eighties. After graduating, he was editing feature films early on, gaining recognition with the Oscar®-nominated "Metropolitan". Within a few years, he also edited Stillman‟s “Barcelona,” and two Wayne Wang films: “Smoke” and “Blue in the Face,” which he edited simultaneously, along with Larry Clark's controversial first film, “Kids.” His next work, on the David O. Russell comedy "Flirting with Disaster" influenced and inspired a new generation of comedies. He transitioned
9 into an international career with Milos Forman‟s “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” cult classic ”Gummo,” Wayne Wang's “Chinese Box” and “Analyze This” for which he was nominated for an Eddy. In London, in the late nineties, he edited “Birthday Girl” and Roger Michel's “Changing Lanes.” For “Man on the Moon,” another Milos Forman film, he received an additional Eddy nomination. In recent years Chris has edited “The Human Stain,” and M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village.”
Eef Barzelay (Composer):
His most current project is the score for “The Yellow Handkerchief.”
Singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay, known as the creative force and former frontman for the critically acclaimed band Clem Snide, was once described as a “cross between Hank Williams and Nick Drake.” Recently, Eef toured with Ben Folds showcasing new material from his forthcoming solo album. As a film composer, Eef has enjoyed success from his mesmerizing musical score for the film “Rocket Science,” which won the 2007 Sundance Film Festival Award for Dramatic Directing (Jeffrey Blitz).
Jack Livesay (Composer):
Mr. Livesay worked with Mr. Barzelay on the score of “The Yellow Handkerchief“.
He is the composer of several feature films, among others “Everything is Illuminated,” “Sherrybaby,” and worked on the HBO series “Conman.” In 2006 he received an Emmy for outstanding achievement in music.
Susan Jacobs (Music Supervisor):
Ms. Jacobs has provided the music supervision for dozens of films starting with "Shortcuts" and “Kansas City” for Robert Altman and continuing with such films as “Basquiat,” “Chinese Box,” “54,” “Gloria,” “Limbo,” “Girlfight,” “Before Night Falls,” “The Village,” “Capote,” “Sherry Baby,” “Lady in the Water”, “Little Miss Sunshine", "Things We Lost in the Fire", “Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” and “Sunshine Cleaning.” Susan started her career in music at Island Records. She was the assistant to Chris Blackwell for a number of years before going in to artist/composer/producer management.
10 The Yellow Handkerchief Filmmakers Comments
Arthur Cohn (Producer):
“The Yellow Handkerchief” is a beautiful love story, with a global emotional impact. I like to engage myself in projects where an audience can identify with the main characters – their hopes and their fears – so the question of a big budget vs. a small budget film does not arise. For me the only concern is that the audience all over the world will feel for the main protagonists and will identify with their concerns. The remake of “The Yellow Handkerchief” is such an endeavor – it has a global message that one should never give up. I trust that people will love this film and identify with it as a result of its sincere emotions.
Udayan Prasad (Director):
When I read the script of “The Yellow Handkerchief,” I immediately fell in love with the humanity of the piece and in particular the way Erin Dignam had drawn these wonderful, complex characters whom I felt I could reach out and touch. Here was a movie that went into the very depths of the souls of these characters. I also loved the fact that they behaved in turns stupid, impetuous, wise, ridiculous, but always with a generosity of spirit and a sense of adventure that I think surprised even them. Life hadn‟t been kind to them; nevertheless, they had gained a wisdom few of us achieve.
My great good fortune was to have Chris Menges and his team behind the camera and alongside them, an immensely talented and dedicated crew from Louisiana. Shaping and honing the material in the cutting room was Chris Tellefsen, another comrade in arms. In front of the camera were actors who seemed to those of us behind it, to have been born to play these roles; constantly surprising us, and no doubt themselves, with the choices they made. The characters came wonderfully to life in a way that exceeded all expectations.
Lillian Birnbaum (Executive Producer):
I love the heat in Louisiana, the wind, the smell. I love the timeless quality of the locations - the juxtaposition of enormous industrial facilities and the lushness of the landscape. In “The Yellow Handkerchief“ nature‟s forces and its volatility become protagonists in their own right.
The film is also an all-American story: Never to give up, never to give in. Life is full of chances. We should always believe in the power of love...
11 Eef Barzaley (Composer):
I first saw “The Yellow Handkerchief” late last year in music supervisor Sue Jacob‟s office. It was only a rough cut of the film but it got under my skin and I knew I really wanted to be involved. There is a poetic loneliness and longing to this movie that I identify with. I like the naked humanity and I‟ve been hashing out themes like that in my own music for years.
12