Gideon's daughter - DVD - Stephen Poliakoff with Bill Nighy and Miranda Richardson .

Stephen Poliakoff has the tendency to make films that are too broadly themed and to get a trifle bogged down in his own creation.He has avoided this hole that he digs for himself , however, with the wonderful Gideon's Daughter.It's themes are simple; trust and letting go. Hold on to only those things that really matter. Understated and without the complexities than can swamp Polikoff's work, I'm thinking particularly of Friends and Crocodiles here, Gideon's Daughter is a really little gem.As usual, actors Miranda Richardson and Bill Nighy shine out boldly. Wonderful performances from both of these.Buy this and I can assure you that you won't simply want to watch it once. Perfect Strangers [2001] [DVD

I love Bill Nighy, and he didn't disappoint in this film. Great performance by Emily Blunt, who plays his daughter; very different from the part she played in a Devil wore Prada, and I didn't know she was an accomplished singer. A mix of humour and sadness makes this a film that draws you in and, as it says on the tin, focuses on two people with sadness in their lives turn to each other to overcome it.

Brilliant all the usual Stephen Poliakof touch stones, nazis, british upper class appeasement. As usual Poliakof attracts a stellar cast an the production values are every but as good as one has come to expect.

A sequel to Friends and Crocodiles, but also can be watched as a 'stand alone'. I think I enjoyed this one best of the two. I don't usually bother with the extras, but found the actor's interviews quite illuminating. I would recommend.

This arrived in great condition and it's a good film. I'm very happy with my purchase.Thank you.

this is without a doubt a fantastic moving family story, of mid life crisis,superbly acted, and can bring on tears. the intense concentration on the face of the dark skinned girl at the school concert is without parallel, and couldn't be planned or acted.

From Poliakoff - excellent storytelling and acting

I always enjoy Poliakoff and Bill Nighy

Stephen Poliakoff is amazing. I love all his movies. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful and his plots are spellbinding. And of course his actors are perfect too. His insight into the characters is superb.

"Gideon's Daughter" is a film written and directed by the brilliant Stephen Poliakoff. Poliakoff's movies focus on a slice of life at a particular moment in history; he tries to capture what is then happening in England and how it might affect the future. The second disk in this set explores his philosophy in depth and how it impacts his films.In this movie, Poliakoff captures the emptiness of celebrity culture, particularly at the time of Princess Diana's death, when it had reached unheard of heights. Bill Nighy, one of England's best actors, portrays a PR guru who is at the pinnacle of his career, and whose "guidance" just everyone wants. Ironically, Nighy's character is divorced from all those around him, grieving over the broken relationship with his hostile daughter. He is also immersed in a new relationship with Miranda Richardson. His unresponsiveness is interpreted by different people to meet their own expectations, so the farther he drifts from PR, the more they clamor for his help.This is an outstanding film, beautifully acted, superbly written that is totally absorbing. Highly recommended.

Given the fact that this film caused only minor sensation when it was released, I thought it might not have been up to Mr. Poliakoff's usual standards; but I was wrong. I believe this to be one of his better efforts, and so thought it deserved to get more attention. After all, how could he have missed, having Bill Nighy, Amanda Richardson, and Emily Blunt to play the parts of the principal characters? The story was timely, the acting superb, and the overall production first rate. I suggest you watch it soon, if you haven't already done so. And besides, Emily was heart-stoppingly beautiful, as always.

multifaceted entertainment

Enjoyable study of the family dynamic, examining two families injured through the loss of members.Ensemble cast made for complex relationships.Well worth a viewing.