Evening

As Constance (Natasha Richardson) and Nina (Toni Collette) gather at the deathbed of their mother, Ann (Vanessa Redgrave), they learn for the first time that their mother lived an entire other lifetime during one evening 50 years ago. In vivid flashbacks, the young Ann (Claire Daines) spends one night with a man named Harris (Patrick Wilson), who was the love of her life.

Critics find the film beautifully photographed and rich in talented performances, but its elliptical structure and overwrought dialogue make it a dull, unfocused adaptation.

• Ann's deathbed recollections of the 1950s Newport weekend alternate with daughters' present-day bedside scenes
• Ann's secret love for Harris shapes her later life and her daughters' lives
• the Newport wedding scenes emphasize period costume and elegant settings

• The Hoursshared intergenerational family drama with dual-timeline memory structure and elegiac tone
• The Notebookshared bittersweet reflection on a dying woman's lost romance told through memory and a summer past
• Atonementshared lush period romance textures and mother-daughter emotional reckoning

Director

Lajos Koltai

Release Date

2007-06-09

Runtime

117 min

Rating

5.8 / 10 (186)

What is Evening about?

A dying mother's memories of a fateful 1950s Newport summer resurface as her daughters grapple with the secret love that shaped her life.

What is Evening like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Evening as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is Evening violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Evening.

What did critics think of Evening?

Critics find the film beautifully photographed and rich in talented performances, but its elliptical structure and overwrought dialogue make it a dull, unfocused adaptation.

Which films are like Evening?

Films with a similar feel include The Hours, The Notebook, and Atonement.

How long is Evening?

Evening runs 117 minutes.

Where can I watch Evening?

In United States, Evening is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.