Search - Lianna on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Nudity, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language, Profanity Movie Release: 1983 DVD Release: 09/16/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 53 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Drama, Erotic Drama, Gay & Lesbian Films, Feminist Film

After helping to kick-start the independent film movement in America with The Return of the Secaucus Seven, John Sayles wrote, directed, and edited his second feature, about a woman who finds herself staring life over after coming out of the closet as a lesbian. Lianna (Linda Griffiths) is a woman in her early thirties who's married to Dick (Jon DeVries), who teaches film at a college in Boston. Lianna first met Dick when she was a student in his class, and while she's grown more assertive and independent with time, Dick has become bitter and difficult, though he tries to be patient with their two children, Spencer (Jesse Solomon) and Theda (Jessica Wight MacDonald). Lianna, who dropped out of college when she married Dick, has begun taking classes again, and strikes up a close friendship with one of her professors, Ruth (Jane Hallaren); Dick, however, would prefer that she spend her time helping him with research on his upcoming thesis. When Lianna discovers Dick has been having an affair with one of his students, she begins to wonder about her future with him as well as her own feelings, and one evening, after dinner and conversation with Ruth, Lianna discovers her new friend has romantic feelings toward her -- and that she feels the same way toward Ruth. When Lianna confronts Dick with the news of her relationship with Ruth, he's livid and makes her leave the house, forcing her to start a new life for herself as she comes to terms with her own sexuality. Comic actor Chris Elliott makes his screen debut in Lianna in a small role as a lighting technician for a dance troupe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Linda Griffiths - Lianna
Jane Hallaren - Ruth
David de Vries - Dick
Jo Henderson - Sandy
Jessica Wight MacDonald - Theda

This collaborative DVD release from MGM and IFC Films of John Sayles' second feature film gives a fine and under-appreciated picture a well-crafted presentation. Lianna has been given a letterboxed transfer to disc in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1, which has also been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. While the image is occasionally a bit soft and grainy due to its origins on 16 mm film stock, the color balance and contrast are excellent, and this looks decisively better than the film's previous VHS releases. The original sound mix has been preserved in Dolby Digital Mono, and optional subtitles feature the dialogue in English or Spanish. Among the bonus materials is a short documentary on the making of Lianna, in which Sayles and his producer Maggie Renzi discuss the thematic challenges of making a film about a woman coming out as a lesbian, as well as the practical obstacles of low-budget independent moviemaking. Sayles also contributes an intelligent and perceptive commentary track, in which he talks about the nuts and bolts of making the picture, his approach to characters and screenwriting, and how he came to make a groundbreaking film about a woman coming out. If the DVD edition of Lianna isn't overloaded with extras, what's there is quality stuff that genuinely enhances the film, and it's a great presentation of a film that's well worth seeing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide