The Seagull (2018 film)

The Seagull
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Mayer
Screenplay byStephen Karam
Based onThe Seagull
by Anton Chekhov
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMatthew J. Lloyd
Edited byAnnette Davey
Music byNico Muhly
Anton Sanko
Production
companies
  • Mar-Key Pictures
  • KGB Media
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • April 21, 2018 (2018-04-21) (Tribeca)
  • May 11, 2018 (2018-05-11) (United States)
Running time
98 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.5 million[2]

The Seagull is a 2018 American historical drama film directed by Michael Mayer with a screenplay by Stephen Karam, based on the 1896 play of the same name by Anton Chekhov. The film stars Annette Bening, Saoirse Ronan, Corey Stoll, Elisabeth Moss, Mare Winningham, Jon Tenney, Glenn Fleshler, Michael Zegen, Billy Howle and Brian Dennehy. Filming began in June 2015 in New York City, much of it shot in Monroe, New York, 50 miles north of New York City, and the world premiere took place at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018, prior to general release on May 11, 2018, through Sony Pictures Classics.

Synopsis

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Set in Russia in the early 1900s, an aging actress named Irina Arkadina pays summer visits to her brother Pjotr Nikolayevich Sorin and her son Konstantin at a country estate. On one occasion, she brings her lover Boris Trigorin, a successful novelist. Nina, a free and innocent girl on a neighboring estate, who is in a relationship with Konstantin, falls in love with Boris.

Cast

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Production

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On May 13, 2015, it was announced that Michael Mayer would direct the adaptation of Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull, scripted by Stephen Karam.[3] Saoirse Ronan and Annette Bening would star along with Corey Stoll and Billy Howle.[3] Producers are Leslie Urdang, Tom Hulce and Robert Salerno.[3]

Filming began on June 29, 2015, in New York City,[4] with much of the film shot on location at Arrow Park in Monroe, NY.[5]

Release

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In October 2017, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film in North and Latin America, Germany, Scandinavia, Greece, Eastern Europe and Asia excluding China, Korea and Japan.[6] The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018. It was released on May 11, 2018.[7]

Critical response

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On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67%, based on 126 reviews, with an average of 6.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The latest iteration of The Seagull does little to distinguish itself from other Chekhov adaptations but provides a pleasing showcase for its sterling cast."[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[9]

A.O. Scott reviewing the film for The New York Times found the cast for the film to be very well selected for their roles but the film as a whole to be disappointing stating: "Ms. Bening, Ms. Moss and Ms. Ronan in particular are superb, as you also probably didn’t need me to tell you. Each one finds the individuality that Chekhov, with uncanny sympathy and sly gallantry, imparted to his female characters. The cast is great. The play is great. But this is still a bad movie, because it has no clear or coherent idea of how to be one".[10]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Sant Jordi Awards April 30, 2019 Best Actress in a Foreign Film Annette Bening (also for Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool) Nominated [11]
Women's Image Network Awards February 22, 2019 Outstanding Film Produced by a Woman Leslie Urdang Won [12]
Chlotrudis Awards March 19, 2019 Best Production Design Jane Musky Nominated [13]
CineLibri International Book and Movie Festival October 24, 2018 Grand Prize for the Best Literary Adaptation The Seagull Nominated [14]

References

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  1. ^ "The Seagull". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "The Seagull (2018)". The Numbers. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Barraclough, Leo (May 13, 2015). "Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening to Star in Adaptation of Anton Chekhov's 'The Seagull' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Daniels, Nia (June 30, 2015). "Principal photography underway on The Seagull". KFTV. Media Business Insight. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  5. ^ "Tribeca: 'The Seagull' Stars Talk Bringing Chekhov to the Big Screen". Hollywood Reporter. 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  6. ^ McNary, Dave (October 24, 2017). "Saoirse Ronan, Annette Bening's 'The Seagull' Flies to Sony Classics". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  7. ^ "The Seagull". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  8. ^ "The Seagull (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Seagull Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  10. ^ Scott, A.O. (May 9, 2018). "Review: In 'The Seagull,' a Great Play, a Great Cast and Yet ..." The New York Times. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  11. ^ RTVE, PRENSA (2019-04-30). "RNE entrega los 63º Premios Sant Jordi de Cinematografía". RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  12. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (2018-12-21). "Women's Image Awards nominations: 'Mary Queen of Scots,' 'Little Women' lead". GoldDerby. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  13. ^ "2019, 25th Annual Awards". Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  14. ^ "CineLibri 2018". Cinelibri - Кино-литературен фестивал. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
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