''Open Window'' is a 2006 American drama film written and directed by Mia Goldman and starring Robin Tunney and Joel Edgerton.

Lasse Hallström Lars Sven "Lasse" Hallström (; born 2 June 1946) is a Swedish film director. He first became known for directing almost all the music videos by the pop music, pop group ABBA, but came to international attention with his 1985 feature film ''My L ...

and Todd Field served as executive producers of the film. It premiered at the

Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival has acted ...

on January 19, 2006. It aired on Showtime on July 16, 2007.

Synopsis

Izzy, a photographer, is engaged to Peter, a college professor. One night while working in her photo studio, an assailant breaks into the couple's home and Izzy is raped. In the aftermath, Izzy and Peter are left to deal with her trauma.

Cast

* Robin Tunney as Izzy * Joel Edgerton as Peter *

Cybill Shepherd Cybill Lynne Shepherd (born February 18, 1950) is an American actress, singer and former model. Her film debut and breakthrough role came as Jacy Farrow in Peter Bogdanovich's coming-of-age drama '' The Last Picture Show'' (1971) alongside Jef ...

as Arlene *

Elliott Gould Elliott Gould (; né Goldstein; born August 29, 1938) is an American actor. Gould's breakthrough role was in the film ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (1969), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The ...

as John * Scott Wilson as Eddie * Matt Keeslar as the Rapist * Shirley Knight as Dr. Ann Monohan

Production

The film was Mia Goldman's directorial debut. She had previously worked as an editor for films like '' The Big Easy'' and ''

My Big Fat Greek Wedding ''My Big Fat Greek Wedding'' is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Joel Zwick and written by Nia Vardalos. The film stars Vardalos, John Corbett, Lainie Kazan, Michael Constantine, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Andrea Martin, and Joey Faton ...

''. The film is semi-autobiographical. The film spent four years in development; actress Robin Tunney remained attached to the film throughout. Said Goldman, "The hardest thing about making the movie was making the deal, getting the inancing Everyone told me, 'Anything that has rape in it is a

TV movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a terrest ...

.'"

Release

The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. It later screened at the 23rd

Jerusalem Film Festival The Jerusalem Film Festival (, ) is an international film festival held annually in Jerusalem, It was established in 1984 by the Director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and Israeli Film Archive, Lia van Leer, Lia Van Leer, and has since become th ...

that July.

Home media

The film was released on DVD in Australia by Flashback Entertainment, Cat. 24176

Reception

John Anderson of '' Variety'' said the film is "a righteous, genuine and emotionally precise movie", but "still goes down like medicine." ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

''s Sura Wood commended the cinematography and score, but felt the film was ultimately undermined by the weak script and characters. Matthew Gilbert of ''

The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'' found the film difficult to watch due to its subject matter, but he commended its "powerful message" and the "admirably pared-down performances by Tunney and Edgerton."

References

External links

* * {{Rotten Tomatoes, 1202507-open_window 2006 films 2006 drama films 2006 independent films 2006 directorial debut films Semi-autobiographical films Films about post-traumatic stress disorder Films about rape in the United States American drama films American independent films Films scored by Cliff Eidelman English-language drama films