Shelf Life is a 1993 American comedy-drama film directed by Paul Bartel. The final film Bartel directed before he died in 2000, it stars O-Lan Jones, Andrea Stein, and Jim Turner.[1]
| Shelf Life | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Paul Bartel |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Philip Holahan |
| Edited by | Judd H. Maslansky |
| Music by | Andy Paley |
| Distributed by | Northern Arts |
Release date |
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Running time | 81 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editFollowing the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, a Californian family head to their nuclear bunker. The film returns thirty years later and 40 feet underground with a typical day for the children, Tina, Pam and Scotty, still in the bunker, together with their now dead parents.
Cast
edit- O-Lan Jones as Tina
- Andrea Stein as Pam / Mrs. St. Cloud
- Jim Turner as Scotty / Mr. St. Cloud
- Paul Bartel as Various Apparitions
- Justin Houchin as Young Scotty
- Shelby Lindley as Young Pam
- Jazz Britany as Young Tina
Production
editThe film originated as a stage show, written and performed by Jones, Stein and Turner.[2] Bartel saw the show at the Lex Theater in Hollywood and the film went into production six weeks after the show ended. The film was shot on a very low budget.[3]
The film is dedicated "For the Garys" in reference to the founders of Filmex who died in 1992.[2]
Release
editA work-in-progress was screened at the Palm Springs Film Festival in January 1993.[2] The film was rejected by the Toronto Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival.[3]
Reception
editTodd McCarthy of Variety called it a "microcosmic commentary on vaunted family values and media generation" and that it "features some of the best direction in any of [Bartel]'s films".[2]
References
edit- ^ "Shelf Life (1992) - Paul Bartel | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ a b c d McCarthy, Todd (February 9, 1993). "Film reviews: Shelf Life". Daily Variety. p. 14.
- ^ a b Flew, Thomas (April 2022). "Lost and Found". Sight and Sound. p. 99.
External links
edit- Shelf Life at IMDb