Wetherby

David Hare's 1985 Wetherby, a nonlinear adaptation of his acclaimed play, is an artful blend of mystery and melancholy in which a young man's sudden suicide leads a lonely schoolteacher (Vanessa Redgrave) to reexamine her own life and memories in an effort to discover why a complete stranger would kill himself in front of her. The film's unconventional time structure was innovative for its day and remains a provocative aspect of this richly-layered psychological drama, which--to be honest--is also a bit pretentious and self-consciously artsy at times, with flourishes of melodramatic music to pump up the somber atmosphere. Still, Hare's strategy is compelling, doling out details so carefully, with such well-timed precision, and Redgrave's performance is one of her finest. Not everyone's cup of tea, to be sure, but with a supporting cast that includes Judi Dench and Ian Holm, Wetherby--presented here in a solid digital transfer on DVD--is recommended, overall. (J. Shannon)