Savage Grace

For the speed metal musical group, see Savage Grace (band).

Savage Grace
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tom Kalin
Produced by	Pamela Koffler
Screenplay by	Howard A. Rodman
Based on	Savage Grace by Natalie Robins and Steven M.L. Aronson
Starring	Julianne Moore Stephen Dillane Eddie Redmayne Elena Anaya Unax Ugalde Belén Rueda Hugh Dancy
Music by	Fernando Velázquez
Cinematography	Juan Miguel Azpiroz
Editing by	John F. Lyons
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release date(s)	May 18, 2007 (2007-05-18) (Cannes Film Festival) May 28, 2008 (2008-05-28) (United States, limited release)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	France Spain United States
Language	English

Savage Grace is a 2007 film directed by Tom Kalin and written by Howard Rodman, based on the book Savage Grace by Natalie Robins and Steven M.L. Aronson. The story is based on the dysfunctional, allegedly incestuous relationship between heiress and socialite Barbara Daly Baekeland and her son, Antony. The film stars Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne, Elena Anaya and Hugh Dancy.

It was an official selection at the 2007 London Film Festival, the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The true story of Barbara Daly Baekeland (Moore), her husband Brooks Baekeland (Dillane), heir to the Bakelite plastics fortune, and their only child Antony (Redmayne). The story begins with Antony's birth and follows the family to the time of his arrest for the murder of his mother.

Critical reception

Critics gave the film mixed reviews. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 38 percent of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 89 reviews — with the consensus that "though visually compelling, the lamentable characters in Savage Grace make for difficult viewing." Metacritic, another review aggregator, reported the film had an average score of 51 out of 100, based on 28 reviews.

Peter Bradshaw writing in The Guardian gave the film four out of five stars, describing it as "a gripping, coldly brilliant and tremendously acted movie."

Accolades

It was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay in 2008.

Sam Green

Barbara Baekeland's former lover, Sam Green (played by Dancy in the film), wrote an article pointing out events in the film that did not match reality. Referring in particular to the scene of Barbara, her son Antony, and Sam having a ménage à trois, he wrote, "it is true that almost 40 years ago I did have an affair with Barbara, but I certainly never slept with her son, and nor did she, to the best of my knowledge. Nor am I bisexual... She started telling people she had had an incestuous relationship with her son as a way of 'curing' him of homosexuality ... But I don't believe she had sex with Tony. I think she simply enjoyed shocking people."

External links

• Savage Grace at the Internet Movie Database
• Savage Grace at AllRovi
• Savage Grace at Box Office Mojo
• Savage Grace at Rotten Tomatoes
• Savage Grace at Metacritic