''Bereft'' is a 2004
television film
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 Terrestr ...
written by
Peter Ferland and directed by
Tim Daly
James Timothy Daly (born March 1, 1956) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Joe Hackett on the NBC sitcom '' Wings'' and his recurring role as drug-addicted screenwriter J.T. Dolan on ''The Sopranos.'' He starred as Pete ...
and
J. Clark Mathis. ''Bereft'' is the first film Daly directed. It stars
Vinessa Shaw
Vinessa Elizabeth Shaw (born July 19, 1976) is an American film actress and model. She began her career as a child actress, making her feature film debut in the slasher film ''Home Sweet Home (1981 film), Home Sweet Home'' (1981). She had her b ...
,
Michael C. Hall
Michael Carlyle Hall (born February 1, 1971) is an American actor and musician. He is known for playing Dexter Morgan, the titular character in the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' and David Fisher (Six Feet ...
,
Tim Blake Nelson
Timothy Blake Nelson (born May 11, 1964) is an American actor, writer, and director. Described as a "modern character actor", his roles include Delmar O'Donnell in ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' (2000), Gideon in ''Minority Report (film), Minori ...
,
Marsha Mason
Marsha Mason (born April 3, 1942) is an American actress and theatre director. She has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in '' Cinderella Liberty'' (1973), '' The Goodbye Girl'' (1977), '' Chap ...
, and
Edward Herrmann
Edward Kirk Herrmann (July 21, 1943 – December 31, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer. He was known for his portrayals of Franklin D. Roosevelt in both the miniseries '' Eleanor and Franklin'' (1976) and 1982 film musical '' An ...
. Set in
Vermont
Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...
, ''Bereft'' tells the story of a young widow haunted by the memory of her dead husband, while trying to date again.
Plot
A woman has a hard time embracing reality after a personal tragedy. Molly (
Vinessa Shaw
Vinessa Elizabeth Shaw (born July 19, 1976) is an American film actress and model. She began her career as a child actress, making her feature film debut in the slasher film ''Home Sweet Home (1981 film), Home Sweet Home'' (1981). She had her b ...
) is a young widow having a hard time putting her life back together after her husband's death. Molly obsesses over the leftover artifacts of his life, and she believes that his spirit walks the house they used to share, though her attempts to photograph the ghost are a failure. Molly supports herself by working at a photo shop, where the manager (
Amy Van Nostrand
Amy Van Nostrand (born April 11, 1953) is an American actress. She has appeared on Broadway in '' The Hothouse'' by Harold Pinter; off-Broadway, she appeared in Pearl Theatre's ''Dance With Me''.
Early years
Van Nostrand was born in Providence ...
) is convinced Molly needs to remarry, and isn't shy about dropping hints. But Molly seems to have built an emotional wall around herself until she meets an uncouth neighbor (
Tim Blake Nelson
Timothy Blake Nelson (born May 11, 1964) is an American actor, writer, and director. Described as a "modern character actor", his roles include Delmar O'Donnell in ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' (2000), Gideon in ''Minority Report (film), Minori ...
) who lives in the neighborhood with his uncle. While she doesn't think much of him at first, Molly in time makes friends with the man, and under his spell, she develops a daring and impulsive streak.
Cast
*
Vinessa Shaw
Vinessa Elizabeth Shaw (born July 19, 1976) is an American film actress and model. She began her career as a child actress, making her feature film debut in the slasher film ''Home Sweet Home (1981 film), Home Sweet Home'' (1981). She had her b ...
as Molly
*
Tim Blake Nelson
Timothy Blake Nelson (born May 11, 1964) is an American actor, writer, and director. Described as a "modern character actor", his roles include Delmar O'Donnell in ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' (2000), Gideon in ''Minority Report (film), Minori ...
as Denis
*
Tim Daly
James Timothy Daly (born March 1, 1956) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Joe Hackett on the NBC sitcom '' Wings'' and his recurring role as drug-addicted screenwriter J.T. Dolan on ''The Sopranos.'' He starred as Pete ...
as Uncle "Happy"
*
Amy Van Nostrand
Amy Van Nostrand (born April 11, 1953) is an American actress. She has appeared on Broadway in '' The Hothouse'' by Harold Pinter; off-Broadway, she appeared in Pearl Theatre's ''Dance With Me''.
Early years
Van Nostrand was born in Providence ...
as Jodi
*
Edward Herrmann
Edward Kirk Herrmann (July 21, 1943 – December 31, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer. He was known for his portrayals of Franklin D. Roosevelt in both the miniseries '' Eleanor and Franklin'' (1976) and 1982 film musical '' An ...
as Lloyd
*
Sam Daly
Samuel Pierce Daly (born March 24, 1984) is an American actor. He is the son of actor Tim Daly and actress Amy Van Nostrand, and grandson of actor James Daly. His aunt is actress Tyne Daly. Daly attended Moses Brown School where he started to s ...
as Kenny
*
Patrick Burleigh as Joel
*
Marsha Mason
Marsha Mason (born April 3, 1942) is an American actress and theatre director. She has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in '' Cinderella Liberty'' (1973), '' The Goodbye Girl'' (1977), '' Chap ...
as Helen
*
Ari Graynor
Ariel Geltman Graynor (born April 27, 1983) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series ''The Sopranos'' (2001), ''Fringe'' (2009-2010), ''Bad Teacher'' (2014), '' I'm Dying Up Here'' (2017), and '' Monsters: ...
as Louise
*
Michael C. Hall
Michael Carlyle Hall (born February 1, 1971) is an American actor and musician. He is known for playing Dexter Morgan, the titular character in the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' and David Fisher (Six Feet ...
as Jonathan
External links
*
2004 films
2004 television films
2004 comedy-drama films
American comedy-drama television films
Films scored by Mark Snow
Films set in Vermont
2004 directorial debut films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films
English-language comedy-drama films
{{2000s-US-film-stub