Besieged (1998) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Shandurai is an African woman who has come to Europe, and is now the housekeeper for shy Englishman Jason Kinsky. The two of them live in his palatial villa outside of Rome, he composing music on his piano, she studying medicine in her spare time. Jason falls in love with Shandurai, but she rejects

Cast & Crew

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Bernardo Bertolucci

Thandie Newton

David Thewlis

Claudio Santamaria

John C Ojwang

Massimo De Rossi

Film Details

Also Known As

Asediada, Assedio, L', Siege, The

MPAA Rating

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Romance

Release Date

1998

Production Company

Bbc Films; Recorded Picture Company

Distribution Company

FINE LINE/FINE LINE FEATURES; 20th Century Fox International; Alamode Film; Alliance Releasing; Bac Films Distribution; Fine Line Features; Lev Films; Lider Films; Medusa Film; New Line Home Entertainment; Rosebud Sa Motion Picture Enterprises

Location

Italy; Kenya

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 32m

Synopsis

Shandurai is an African woman who has come to Europe, and is now the housekeeper for shy Englishman Jason Kinsky. The two of them live in his palatial villa outside of Rome, he composing music on his piano, she studying medicine in her spare time. Jason falls in love with Shandurai, but she rejects him, as she is married to a political prisoner whom she has been unable to contact since his arrest. The relationship of housekeeper and employer gradually reveals its secrets in an atmosphere of emotional intensity.

Director

Bernardo Bertolucci

Cast

Thandie Newton

David Thewlis

Claudio Santamaria

John C Ojwang

Massimo De Rossi

Cyril Nri

Paul Osul

Veronica Laz¿r

Gianfranco Mazzoni

Mario Dimazzetti Pietralata

Andrea Quercia

Chief Pianist At Concert

Alexander Menis

Children At Concert

Natalia Mignosa

Children At Concert

Lorenzo Mollica

Children At Concert

Elena Perino

Children At Concert

Fernando Trombetti

Children At Concert

Veronica Visentin

Children At Concert

Stefano Arnaldi

Andrea Quercia

Crew

A Ambrosino

Song ("Cuore Matto")

Fausto Ancillai

Re-Recording Mixer

Salvatore Anversa

Steadicam Operator

Maurizio Argentieri

Stefano Arnaldi

Music Arranger/Performer

Johann Sebastian Bach

Music ("Prelude In E Flat Minor (From 'The Well-Tempered Clavier')")

Fabiola Banzi

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Music ("32 Variatios In C Minor")

Bernardo Bertolucci

Coro Bondeko

Song Performer ("Mambote Na Nye")

Coro Bondeko

Lucy Boulting

Casting (London)

Serena Canevari

1st Assistant Director

Yahya Chavanga

Assistant Director (Africa Unit)

Frederic Chopin

Music ("Waltz In E Major")

Fabio Cianchetti

Director Of Photography

John Coltrane

Song Performer ("My Favorite Things")

Ry Cooder

Song Performer ("Diaraby (Traditional)")

Massimo Cortesi

Elisabetta Deleonardis

Roberto Denigris

Camera Operator

Suzanne Durrenberger

Script Supervisor

Ginevra Elkann

3rd Assistant Director

Ali Farka Toure

Song Arranger & Performer ("Diaraby (Traditional)")

Andrea Filosa

Production Manager

Fabien Gerard

Script Supervisor

Edvard Grieg

Music ("Sonata From Op 7 In E Minor 2nd Movement")

Oscar Hammerstein Ii

Song ("My Favorite Things")

Lenny Juma

Casting Director (African Unit)

Paul Kalle

Song ("Full Option")

Salif Keita

Song Performer ("Sina")

Salif Keita

Dan Kiarie

Metka Kosak

Costume Designer

Metka Kosak

Henrique Laplaine

2nd Assistant Director

James Lasdun

Emanuele Lomiry

Luigi Melecchi

Production Manager (Africa Unit)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Music ("Fantasy In D Minor K 397")

Jimmy Mukora

Location Manager (Africa Unit)

M Munan

Song ("Le Voyageur")

S Mutela

Song ("Maria Valencia")

John C Ojwang

John C Ojwang

Song Performer ("Nyumbani")

Clare Peploe

Associate Producer

Clare Peploe

Sandro Peticca

Roberta Petrini

C Polloni

Song ("Maria Valencia")

Ben Pont

Jenny Pont

Production Coordinator (African Unit)

Jacopo Quadri

Richard Rodgers

Song ("My Favorite Things")

Barbara Ruggeri

Production Coordinator

G Savino

Song ("Cuore Matto")

Alexander Scriabin

Music ("Study Op 8 No 12 In D Sharp Minor")

Gianni Silvestri

Production Designer

Cinzia Sleiter

Alessio Vlad

Papa Wemba

Song Performer ("Maria Valencia" "Le Voyageur")

Papa Wemba

Film Details

Also Known As

Asediada, Assedio, L', Siege, The

MPAA Rating

Genre

Adaptation

Drama

Romance

Release Date

1998

Production Company

Bbc Films; Recorded Picture Company

Distribution Company

FINE LINE/FINE LINE FEATURES; 20th Century Fox International; Alamode Film; Alliance Releasing; Bac Films Distribution; Fine Line Features; Lev Films; Lider Films; Medusa Film; New Line Home Entertainment; Rosebud Sa Motion Picture Enterprises

Location

Italy; Kenya

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 32m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Nominated for two 1999 David di Donatello Awards including Best Film and Best Director.

Released in United States Spring May 21, 1999

Limited Release in United States May 21, 1999

Released in United States on Video November 9, 1999

Released in United States September 1998

Released in United States November 1998

Released in United States 1999

Released in United States February 1999

Released in United States March 1999

Released in United States May 5, 1999

Shown at San Sebastian International Film Festival (out of competition) September 17-26, 1998.

Shown at Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Closing Night) in Greece November 13-22, 1998.

Shown at Filmfest DC in Washington, DC April 21 - May 2, 1999.

Shown at Miami Film Festival (closing night) February 19-28, 1999.

Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 4-14, 1999.

Shown at Cleveland International Film Festival (World Tour) March 18-28, 1999.

Film was originally made for Italian television.

Released in United States Spring May 21, 1999

Limited Release in United States May 21, 1999

Released in United States on Video November 9, 1999

Released in United States September 1998 (Shown at San Sebastian International Film Festival (out of competition) September 17-26, 1998.)

Released in United States November 1998 (Shown at Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Closing Night) in Greece November 13-22, 1998.)

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Filmfest DC in Washington, DC April 21 - May 2, 1999.)

Released in United States May 5, 1999 (Shown in New York City (DGA Theater) as part of series "IFP's/Director's Take" May 5, 1999.)

Released in United States March 1999 (Shown at Cleveland International Film Festival (World Tour) March 18-28, 1999.)

Released in United States March 1999 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival March 4-14, 1999.)

Released in United States February 1999 (Shown at Miami Film Festival (closing night) February 19-28, 1999.)

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