The Law of Enclosures (film)
Encyclopedia
The Law of Enclosures is a Canadian
drama film, released in 1999. The film was written and directed by John Greyson
, and based on the novel The Law of Enclosures
by Dale Peck
.
The novel traced the marital relationship of Henry and Beatrice, characters based on Peck's real-life parents, over the course of their lives from their courtship as young adults to their 40th wedding anniversary
. For the film adaptation, Greyson set the events in 1991 against the backdrop of the first Gulf War
, with Henry and Beatrice's younger and older selves all coexisting in a single time frame.
Sarah Polley
and Brendan Fletcher
played Henry and Beatrice as a young couple, with Diane Ladd
and Sean McCann
playing the older characters. Greyson also set the film in Sarnia, Ontario
. The film's cast also included Kristen Thomson
, Rob Stefaniuk
, Shirley Douglas
and Jasmine Guy
. The score was written by Don Pyle
and Andrew Zealley.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
drama film, released in 1999. The film was written and directed by John Greyson
John Greyson
John Greyson is a Canadian filmmaker, whose work frequently deals with gay themes. Greyson is also a video artist, writer and activist; he is currently a professor at York University, where he teaches film and video theory and film production and editing.-Background:Greyson was born the son of...
, and based on the novel The Law of Enclosures
The Law of Enclosures
The Law of Enclosures is a 1996 novel by Dale Peck, which was adapted into the 1999 film The Law of Enclosures by Canadian director John Greyson....
by Dale Peck
Dale Peck
Dale Peck is an American novelist, critic, and columnist. His 2009 novel, Sprout, won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Children's/Young Adult literature, and was a finalist for the Stonewall Book Award in the Children's and Young Adult Literature category.-Biography:Peck was raised in Kansas,...
.
The novel traced the marital relationship of Henry and Beatrice, characters based on Peck's real-life parents, over the course of their lives from their courtship as young adults to their 40th wedding anniversary
Wedding anniversary
-Official recognition:In the Commonwealth realms, one can receive a message from the monarch for 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries, and any wedding anniversary after that...
. For the film adaptation, Greyson set the events in 1991 against the backdrop of the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, with Henry and Beatrice's younger and older selves all coexisting in a single time frame.
Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley
Sarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
and Brendan Fletcher
Brendan Fletcher
Brendan Fletcher is a Canadian actor.-Life and career:Fletcher was born in Comox Valley, British Columbia and went to junior high school at Lake Trail in Courtenay, British Columbia....
played Henry and Beatrice as a young couple, with Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd is an American actress, film director, producer and published author. She has appeared in over 120 roles, on television, and in miniseries and feature films, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore , Wild at Heart , Rambling Rose , Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors, 28 Days , and...
and Sean McCann
Sean McCann (actor)
Sean McCann is one of Canada's most successful character actors and has been in the business for over 40 years. Winner of the prestigious Earle Grey Award for his lifetime achievement in television, Sean McCann has appeared in over 150 movies, television shows and plays.- Notable roles and awards...
playing the older characters. Greyson also set the film in Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
. The film's cast also included Kristen Thomson
Kristen Thomson
Kristen Thomson is a Canadian actress and playwright.Thomson was born in Toronto, Ontario. She is known for her one-woman play I, Claudia, which was adapted to film in 2004...
, Rob Stefaniuk
Rob Stefaniuk
Rob Stefaniuk is a Canadian comedian, actor and writer who has worked in numerous television shows and films as both guest actor and series regular...
, Shirley Douglas
Shirley Douglas
Shirley Jean Douglas, OC is a Canadian television, film and stage actress and activist. Her acting career combined with her family name has made her recognisable in Canadian film, television and politics.-Personal life:...
and Jasmine Guy
Jasmine Guy
Jasmine Guy is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the television sitcom A Different World.-Biography:...
. The score was written by Don Pyle
Don Pyle
Don Pyle is a Canadian record producer and musician, who has been a member of a number of bands.His first, from 1979 to 1981, was a punk band called Crash Kills Five. They released one EP in 1980, What Do You Do At Night?. It was in this four piece band that he first played with two members, Reid...
and Andrew Zealley.
Cast
- Sarah PolleySarah PolleySarah Polley is a Canadian actress, singer, film director, and screenwriter. Polley first attained notice in her role as Sara Stanley in the Canadian television series, Road to Avonlea...
as Beatrice - Brendan FletcherBrendan FletcherBrendan Fletcher is a Canadian actor.-Life and career:Fletcher was born in Comox Valley, British Columbia and went to junior high school at Lake Trail in Courtenay, British Columbia....
as Henry - Diane LaddDiane LaddDiane Ladd is an American actress, film director, producer and published author. She has appeared in over 120 roles, on television, and in miniseries and feature films, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore , Wild at Heart , Rambling Rose , Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors, 28 Days , and...
as Bea - Sean McCannSean McCannSean McCann may refer to:* Sean McCann , Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, succeeding Dermot Earley* Sean McCann , Canadian television actor...
as Hank - Kristen ThomsonKristen ThomsonKristen Thomson is a Canadian actress and playwright.Thomson was born in Toronto, Ontario. She is known for her one-woman play I, Claudia, which was adapted to film in 2004...
as Myrah - Rob StefaniukRob StefaniukRob Stefaniuk is a Canadian comedian, actor and writer who has worked in numerous television shows and films as both guest actor and series regular...
as Stanley - Shirley DouglasShirley DouglasShirley Jean Douglas, OC is a Canadian television, film and stage actress and activist. Her acting career combined with her family name has made her recognisable in Canadian film, television and politics.-Personal life:...
as Myra - Victor Cowie as Stan
- Sharon Bajer as Doctor
Award
- 2002 Brendan Fletcher won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role at the Genie Awards