The Long Weekend (O' Despair)

The Long Weekend (O' Despair) (stylized onscreen in lowercase) is a 1989 American low-budget drama film written, produced, edited and directed by Gregg Araki, and starring Brett Vail. The film follows three couples, one gay, one lesbian and one heterosexual, spending a weekend together.

The Long Weekend (O' Despair)
Directed byGregg Araki
Written byGregg Araki
Produced byGregg Araki
StarringBrett Vail
Edited byGregg Araki
Distributed byDesperate Pictures
Release date
  • 1989 (1989)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5,000

Cast

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  • Bretton Vail as Michael
  • Maureen Dondanville as Rachel
  • Andrea Beane as Leah
  • Nicole Dillenberg as Sara
  • Marcus D'Amico as Greg
  • Lance Woods as Alex

Production

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Araki shot The Long Weekend in black and white on a budget of $5,000.[1]

Reception

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The New York Times reviewer Vincent Canby congratulated Araki for making an attractive-appearing film on a minuscule budget but found the film hard to watch. Faulting the film's "extremely self-conscious, neo-sitcom dialogue", Canby felt that Araki's ingenuity as a filmmaker was not matched by his talent.[1]

The Long Weekend (O' Despair) won the 1989 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Independent-Experimental Award.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Canby, Vincent (June 21, 1990). "Review/Film; Sex in Fact and Fiction on a Twin Bill". The New York Times. New York City.
  2. ^ "Do the Right Thing wins honors". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California: Tribune Publishing. Associated Press. December 21, 1989.
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