Other Voices, Other Rooms (1997)

An insightful coming of age tale based on the semi-autobiographical novel by renowned author Truman Capote. In the deep south of the 1930's 13 year-old Joel Sansom arrives at a downtrodden plantation to reunite with the father who hasn't known him for nine years. Once there he is met by the frustrated mistress of the house and his rather weird cousin who eventually becomes his best friend. While discovering his new home family secrets and a paralyzed man in the attic of the old mansion Joel begins to slowly mature against the background of his environment. Strangely though his dad seems to be absent and distant throughout.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 631008055893 Manufacturer No: CQC558 Product Description

Filming Capote's First Novel

"Other Voices, Other Rooms'

Filming Capote's First Novel

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

When the film of Truman Capote's first novel, "Other Voices, Other Rooms, came out in 1995, it was considered to be very radical. It is the story of the bridge between two cultures. In the spirit of Capote's Alabama, the film was filmed in the Deep South and reflects the beauty and the idiosyncrasies of the region. This was the book that gave Capote fame, even before "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and he ever again was able to write again the way he did then. He was much too busy becoming a celebrity. Once he had tasted fame, Capote was more intent on being famous than having a reason to be so. It really wasn't until his great novel "In Cold Blood" that his fame was justified. Yet he made a wonderful dive into the literary world with "Other Voices, Other Rooms".
The story he tells, both in the book and in the film adaptation is as if an old folk song became a gorgeous operatic aria. It is perfect ad its beauty was never repeated. The way it melded differentiation and alienation of the exotic and the elegant gave new definitions to the words.
The homosexuality in "Other Voices, Other Rooms" is covert but it is there. At the time the film was being made could not yet bring such material to mass audiences and because its a major theme of the book and could not be seen in the film, the result is ultimately hurt and if you have read the novel, you realize how missing the subject is.
The name Capote has come to signify that there will be something strange, something unclear. If there is a young man in the story, it is safe to assume that whatever happens is going to happen to him. Because of that, it is very difficult to adapt any of the Capote's opus for the screen. The storyline must not be offensive to the audience. But this was before the rise of the new gay cinema. If the same movie were to be made today, I am willing to bet that it would be much different.
The screenplay of the film is beautiful as is the cinematography. In dealing with an issue of child molestation as does the novel upon what the movie is based, certain guidelines had to be adhered to. There did not have to be a scene on film of what happened but the implication could have been talked about. It wasn't and this hurt the film greatly. This does not mean that the film is not good. It is wonderful but it is more wonderful if you read the book both before and after viewing the movie.
The movie has the feel that it was made exclusively for the small screen, for television. It is one of those typically Southern gothic dramas and it is set in the 1930's when the legends of the South were, for lack of a better word, legendary. A young man is in search of his father who is known to be ailing. The ill father is being cared for by two eccentric cousins played by Anne Thompson and the very good looking and outrageous, Lothaire Bluteau (star of "Jesus of Montreal" and "Bent" and a fine character actor who gives a "tour de force" performance). The character lives somewhat in the past depending on "the kindness of strangers" and it is his performance that makes this movieorthwhile.
A movie made of a book that has layered subplots is a special challenge and is hard to transfer to film and I can only wonder why the film was even attempted. But since the film was made, we can be thankful for what we have. Sensible coming of age films are challenging and difficult to make because of the emotions involved in reaching manhood. Using a classic novel as basis is even more difficult. The novel is one of the best ever to deal with gay coming of age and that is the issue that is subverted in the film. There is really nothing gay about the movie, except by very, very shy allusion and then only if you know to look for it. One critic called it a "mellow drama". I have to disagree. It is a melodrama, yes, but it is beautiful to watch and Bluteau is mesmerizing. Sure the book is better but if the movie makes you want to read Capote, then it has done something worthwhile. In the meantime, you can luxuriate and see a film that captures the south and has a wonderful performance by an actor who has been much underrated.
May 18, 2007

Bluteau is the best for Randolph.

It was impressed by a perfect acting of Lothaire Bluteau.
The original novel was said that making into a film was difficult.
This time, the subject of the movie is not boy Joel but cousin Randolph.
And, I think that it succeeded because Bluteau acted him mysteriously and beautifully. January 21, 2007

An elegant adaptation to an American Literary Masterpiece

I saw Other Voices, Other Rooms at the Hamptons International Film Festival where I think it won an award. Lothaire Bluteau, who won the Canadian Academy Award for Best Actor, gives a complex and inspired performance. The Film is really stollen by April Turner, who plays Zoo, the African American woman who inspires Joel to leave the madness and claustrophibia of Skully's landing.

The New York Times said this was one of the best Southern Films in several decades, and I can't agree more. Don't miss this one! January 15, 2004

Languid adaptation of Capote classic

"Other Voices, Other Rooms" was Truman Capote's first novel, published in the late 40s when he was twenty-four. Lyrical and poetic, it was an auspicious debut and hinted at greater works to come. It is the story of a thirteen year old boy who is sent to live with his estranged father in rural Alabama. Upon arriving in the sleepy little town, the locals direct him to a dilapadated mansion on the outskirts of town where he doesn't find his father at first but instead an eccentric pair of cousins who seem to be lost in time.

Part coming-of-age drama with some mystery thrown in, this would be a difficult book for anyone to film. The director does a decent job and the movie is not as bad as I first thought it would be. The film achieves the effect of depicting the hot and lazy atmosphere where time seems to stand still. Production values and cinematography are excellent.

This is basically a character study and therefore strong actors are needed to pull it off. Unfortunatley, this is an area where the film suffers. David Speck as young Joel is physically ideal and has a wonderfully expressive face but he could have been better coached with his lines. Anna Levine as the odd Any Skully is made up to look like a Bette Davis drag queen and she also delivers bad line readings. On the plus side, Lothaire Bluteau as gay cousin Randolf Skully fares much better and commands every scene he is in. April Turner as Zoo, a black servant who longs to move up North and see snow, is very good and her scenes always lend a breath of fresh air when the film starts to falter.

There are no extras on the dvd and the film is presented in full frame format. January 12, 2004

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