THE CLEARING

Year: 2004
USA: Fox Searchlight
Cast: Robert Redford, Helen Mirren, Willem Dafoe, Alessandro Nivola, Matt Craven, Melissa Sagemiller, Wendy Crewson, Larry Pine, Diana Scarwid, Elizabeth Ruscio, Gwen McGee, Sarah Koskoff, Graciela Marin, Mike Pniewski, Geoff McKnight, Tom E Acuragi, Audrey Wasilewski, Peter Gannon, Jacqi Loewy, Matt Miller, Mark Emery Moore, Joel Nunley, Ted Manson
Director: Pieter Jan Brugge
Country: USA
USA: 95 mins
UK: 90 mins
USA Rated: R for brief strong language
UK Certificate: 12
USA Release Date: 2 July 2004 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 21 February 2005 (DVD release)

Synopsis

Wayne (Redford) and Eileen Hayes (Mirren) appear to be living perfect lives. But all illusions are shattered when Wayne, a successful businessman, is kidnapped by a man (Dafoe) in broad daylight from the Hayes' elegant mansion on their Pittsburgh estate.

Eileen is concerned when her husband doesn't return home and eventually calls the FBI. Under the microscope of a probing investigation and her own painstaking introspection, Eileen also becomes a victim as she begins to learn things about her husband that challenge her feelings for him. As frightening an adventure as Wayne Hayes has embarked on, the greater drama for him is rescuing his marriage.

Suddenly the man who, at one point in his life, prided himself on being a cunning negotiator finds his fate resting in the hands of a kidnapper who has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Will Wayne succeed in the most important negotiation ever... for his life?

The film marks the directorial debut for Academy Award®-nominated producer Pieter Jan Brugge (THE INSIDER). The original story was conceived by Brugge and first-time screenwriter Justin Haythe, who wrote the screenplay. Palmer West and Jonah Smith (THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) produced through their company Thousand Words, along with Brugge.

The DVD hosts some fascinating deleted scenes and a stills gallery.

DVD EXTRAS

Special Features:
Commentary by debut director Pieter Jan Brugge (Producer of Heat, The Insider), screenwriter Justin Haythe and film editor Kevin Tent
6 Deleted scenes with optional director's commentary
Full length screenplay and film stills
'Inside Look' at forthcoming Searchlight films; Sideways, Hide And Seek