OPENING NIGHT

Year: 1977
UK: BFI Distribution
Cast: Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, John Cassavetes, Joan Blondell, Paul Stewart, Zohra Lampert, Laura Johnson, John Tuell, Ray Powers, John Finnegan, Katherine Cassavetes, Louise Finch
Director: John Cassavetes
Country: USA
UK: 144 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language
UK Release Date: 15 June 2007 (Limited Re-release - London, BFI and Barbican)
UK Distributor

Synopsis

Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) is an actress playing the lead role in a Broadway play as a middle-aged woman of declining sexual power. Fearful of aging and that it will only result in any future casting as an older woman, she is haunted by the memory of a young fan who was tragically killed and who she identifies with as herself when younger.

Questioning the depressing script, Myrtle's personal dilemma at her current situation comes to a fore while she struggles in the face of reality, both in character and offstage, attempting to try and recapture some meaning of hope in her life.