Stars: James Wilby, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Rupert Graves, Anjelica Huston, Judi Dench, Alec Guinness

Director: Charles Sturridge

Summary: The story of a devoted couple who inadvertently invite an idle socialite to stay. He triggers off a series of events which will change the course of all their lives, starting with the husband running off to the Amazon where he is held prisoner by a strange half-caste.

Tony and Brenda appear to have the perfect marriage - living in the fashionable England of the 30's in a Victorian country estate. But when Tony invites the dashing, yet penniless young socialite John Beaver for a weekend stay, he unknowingly ignites a series of shattering events - passion, infidelity, death. Based on Evelyn Waugh's 1937 novel. Academy Award Nominations: Best Costume Design.

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Reviewed by: davybozal24-7
Posted on April 12, 2006 10:03 PM

Tony and Brenda Last ( James Wilby and Kristin Scott Thomas ) appear to be the perfect married couple - with money , a great country house and an adored son , John Andrew . When Tony inadvertently invites John Beaver ( Rupert Graves ) , an idle and penniless young socialite , to stay for the weekend , he sets in motion a series of events which drastically disrupts the course of all their lives . A Handful of Dust which was directed by Charles Sturridge in 1988 also stars Judi Dench , Alec Guinness and Anjelica Huston .

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Adapted from Evelyn Waugh's Jazz Age satire, A Handful of Dustis a brutal story of a failed marriage with shattering consquences. James Wilby stars as a country gentleman, Tony Last, who loves rattling around his expansive estate, Hetton Abbey.

Tony's wife, Brenda (Kristin Scott Thomas), however, pines for London's excitement and commences an affair in the city with penniless aristocrat John Beaver (Rupert Graves). The fallout of Brenda's betrayal includes a family tragedy and creative divorce settlement ultimately undone when fed-up Tony goes on a naturalist trek through Brazil and becomes the hostage of a mad, illiterate explorer (Alec Guinness). One might wonder whether it's more appropriate to laugh or tremble at these events, and director Charles Sturridge's handsome, graceful production ingeniously accommodates the story's streaks of dark comedy and horror. With brief, memorable supporting roles for Anjelica Huston and Stephen Fry.----Tom Keogh

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Trailers, About The Film, Biographies, Scene Selection, Commentary Interview With Charles Sturridge And James Wilby
Year:	1988
Release Date:	September 19, 2005
Runtime:	114 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	P P A 1673 R D
Keywords:	Dust, General, Handful, Drama
Genre:	Drama