Robert Altman’s ironic thriller imitating British mystery dramas stars Maggie Smith, Kelly Mcdonald, Emily Watson, Michael Gambon, and Helen Mirren.
In 1932, a group of aristocrats, celebrities, and their servants arrive at a mansion in the British countryside on an annual hunting trip. Their party is interrupted by a mysterious murder, which reveals the guests’ unsavory secrets.
Presented in a familiar genre framework, the story is filled with details—sometimes obvious and sometimes times barely noticeable—that invite the viewer to try and unravel the mystery independently. Following the rules of the genre, Altman, however, offers an ironic take on the whodunit formula and deliberately confuses the audience. Instead of the murder investigation, his main focus is on psychological portraits of the characters, their complex relationships and motivations, and the issues of class inequality and reproductive violence that permeate British society.
The film will be screened in English with Russian subtitles.
Gosford Park
Robert Altman
UK, Italy, USA, 2001. 137 min.
18+