Country: USA
Year: 1993
Duration: 117'
Set in a small town in Oregon, The Bed You Sleep In uses an instance of domestic conflict as the kernel for a broader examination of the present socio-political climate of America, a climate in which distrust is a given, in which community dialogue has collapsed. Obliquely sketching in the economic and cultural background of the area (Toledo), the film holds back its central theme, relying largely on visual means, until in its central scene, the film's main character Ray, sits with his wife, Jean, and is read a letter from his daughter recently out of home, gone to university. The letter accuses Ray of having abused his daughter in her youth. The film provides no proof or indication whether the accusation is true or false. But from this a tragedy unfolds. As usual for a work of Jon Jost the film functions less through the mechanisms of plot-story, and more through weave of imagery, sound and music.
Biography
film director
Jon Jost
Jon Jost was born in Chicago in 1943. He grew up in Georgia, Kansas, Japan, Italy, Germany and Virginia. Expelled from college in 1963, he began making self-taught 16mm films. After being released from prison for avoiding the draft, he helped to start the Chicago branch of Newsreel, the New Left film production and distribution group. He is the first recipient of the John Cassavetes Award, and has been the subject of a 1991 film retrospective assembled by the Museum of Modern Art.
FILMOGRAFIA
Speaking Directly (some American notes) (16mm, 1973), Angel City (16mm, 1976), Last Chants for a Slow Dance (Dead End) (16mm, 1977), Chameleon (Camaleonte, 1978), Stagefright (1980-81), Slow Moves (1983), Bell Diamond (16mm, 1985), Plain Talk & Common Sense (uncommon senses) (16mm, 1986-88), Rembrandt Laughing (16mm, 1988), All the Vermeers in New York (Tutti i Vermeers di New York, 1989-90), Sure Fire (1988-90), Frameup (1993), The Bed You Sleep In (1993).
Cast
& Credits
Regia, sceneggiatura, fotografia e montaggio: Jon Jost.
Sound: Jon Jost, John Murphy.
Music: Erling Wold.
Cast and characters: Tom Blair (Ray), Ellen McLaughIin (Jean), Kathryn Sannella (Beth), Marshall Gaddis (Doug), Thomas Morris (Zealot), Brad Sheiton (Scott), Glea Humphreys, Miki Whittles, Fred Rorie.
Director of Production: Henry S. Rosenthal.
Produzione e vendita all'estero: Complex Corporation, 535 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, California 94103, +1-415-8648123, fax +1-415-8648726.
Sound: Jon Jost, John Murphy.
Music: Erling Wold.
Cast and characters: Tom Blair (Ray), Ellen McLaughIin (Jean), Kathryn Sannella (Beth), Marshall Gaddis (Doug), Thomas Morris (Zealot), Brad Sheiton (Scott), Glea Humphreys, Miki Whittles, Fred Rorie.
Director of Production: Henry S. Rosenthal.
Produzione e vendita all'estero: Complex Corporation, 535 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, California 94103, +1-415-8648123, fax +1-415-8648726.
