A literate—and literary—motion picture that's been unjustly forgotten, this 1987 drama focuses on the relationship between writer Gertrude Stein (played by Linda Bassett) and her companion, Alice B. Toklas (Linda Hunt). Set in the 1930s, Waiting for the Moon doesn't hew terribly close to the historical record—screenwriter Mark Magill and director Jill Godmilow fashion a narrative partly from known facts and partly from clues scattered throughout Stein's writing—but the result is a genuinely engrossing film that dabbles in biography while serving up a strong narrative. Godmilow's take on the Stein-Toklas relationship largely unfolds against the backdrop of a particularly momentous summer, when the women played host to the era's foremost intellectuals and literary lions, among them Ernest Hemingway, brilliantly played here—quite against type—by Bruce McGill (Animal House's “D-Day”). Although some of the historical and cultural references may sail past modern viewers, those who enjoy deeply personal, life-affirming stories will find much to appreciate here. DVD extras include an introduction by director Godmilow and a collectible booklet. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Waiting for the Moon
Facets, 101 min., PG, DVD: $29.95 Volume 21, Issue 4
Waiting for the Moon
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: