The Clearing
| The Clearing | |
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| Directed by | Pieter Jan Brugge |
| Produced by | Pieter Jan Brugge Jonah Smith |
| Written by | Justin Haythe |
| Starring | Robert Redford Helen Mirren Willem Dafoe |
| Cinematography | Denis Lenoir |
| Studio | Thousand Words |
| Distributed by | Fox Searchlight Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 2, 2004 |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
The Clearing is a 2004 American drama film and the directorial debut of Pieter Jan Brugge, who has worked as a film producer. The film is loosely based on the real-life kidnapping of Gerrit Jan Heijn that took place in the Netherlands in 1987. The screenplay was written by Justin Haythe.
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[edit] Plot
Wayne Hayes (Robert Redford), and his wife Eileen (Helen Mirren) are living the American dream in a wealthy Pittsburgh suburb, having raised two children (Alessandro Nivola, Melissa Sagemiller) and built up a successful business from scratch. He is looking forward to a peaceful retirement with Eileen. However, everything changes when Wayne is kidnapped in broad daylight by a former employee, Arnold Mack (Willem Dafoe). While Wayne tries negotiating with the kidnapper, Eileen works with the FBI to try to secure her husband's release. During the investigation, Eileen learns that Wayne has continued an extramarital affair that he promised to end months previously.
Eileen is eventually instructed to deliver the ransom to the kidnapper, but Arnold takes the money without returning her husband. As it turns out, Wayne had been murdered by Arnold the day of the kidnapping. Although Eileen's ordeal takes place over the course of a week, the film is edited to show Wayne's kidnapping as if was happening at the same time.
Arnold is eventually caught when he begins to spend the ransom money in the neighborhood where he lives. At a local grocery store, he uses a $100 bill to make a purchase. The store manager calls authorities and verifies the serial number on the $100 bill is on a watch list the FBI distributed to local businesses. In the end, Eileen receives a loving note written by Wayne before his death.
[edit] Cast
- Robert Redford – Wayne Hayes
- Helen Mirren – Eileen Hayes
- Willem Dafoe – Arnold Mack
- Alessandro Nivola – Tim Hayes
- Matt Craven – Agent Ray Fuller
- Melissa Sagemiller – Jill Hayes
- Wendy Crewson – Louise Miller
- Larry Pine – Tom Finch
- Diana Scarwid – Eva Finch
[edit] Locations
The film was shot in and around Asheville, North Carolina and Downtown Pittsburgh, PA.[citation needed]
