Words and Pictures
A flamboyant English teacher (Clive Owen) and a new, stoic art teacher (Juliette Binoche) collide at an upscale prep school. A high-spirited courtship begins and she finds herself enjoying the battle. Another battle they begin has the students trying to prove which is more powerful, the word or the picture. But the true war is against their own demons, as two troubled souls struggle for connection.
Director:
Fred Schepisi
Cast:
Juliette Binoche, Clive Owen, Keegan Connor Tracy
Screenplay:
Gerald Di Pego
Screening Date:
May 10, 2014
Running Time:
111 minutes
| Excellent | Very Good | Good | Fair | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70.4% | 20.4% | 7.4% | 1.9% | 0.0% |
“Finally an adult love story. Ms. Binoche is a marvel. Must see it again to pick up all the nuances. Ms. Binoche did the artwork? Marvelous! The students have futures as actors. The blond boy should try out for SNL.”
“Refreshing to have an intelligent and biting dialogue. This picture contained the perfect words.”
“Wonderful to have the English language used correctly and interestingly.”
“Beautiful film! Thank You.”
“Wonderful and thoughtful. It is great to see a movie where I can think, be amused and stimulated. I am gay but would change if I can spend an afternoon with Juliette Binoche.”
“Wonderful! Juliette Binoche was perfection.”
“Oh if only my fellow teachers were half as charming as Juliette and Clive, in fact for many of the men I think they should drink more.”
“A tribute to film!”
“Fabulous! I loved it! Brilliant!”
“Fake fireworks between the two. A bit pretentious. Too bad all the linguistics were old hat… would liked to have learned something.”
“Wonderful Film!”
“Thank you Fred Schepisi for crafting films that are smart, skillfully scripted and with significant subject matter. That’s alliteration.”
“Great film to end the season with!”
“An intelligent, beautifully done film. How lovely!”
“Loved the film visually and especially the battle between words and pictures. Nice to see actual sense of a classroom. Nice challenge to open kids up to their own thinking and not just to go quickly to the Internet. I felt so fearful that he would destroy her art in a drunken stupor and of course he did but it moves him to a better place.”
“Well intentional but sophomoric. Yet it does have it own interest.”
“Wonderful film! Re-awakening and highlighting the importance of the arts. Great words by the screenwriter. An apt film for the times. How interesting that it was music that brought them back together. Great use of music soundtrack. I would have left out that last kiss. Just the traded barbs and then holding each other would have been enough. Will tell everyone I know to see this film. I loved this film! An artful battle of men vs. women too. Great question: what do you do when the fire in the belly goes out. Even though you knew they would be getting together. Sort of a battle of the sexes, it was a fresh take on it.”
“A wonderful new treatment of an age old debate. Beautifully filmed, written, acted and resolved.”
“Definitely the best film of MEA’s year!”
“John and Paul first of all thank you so much for this year’s film’s guest and discussions. Being an MEA member has brought pleasure and entertainment and stimulating ideas. I look forward to next year. This film I am sorry to say I didn’t like. I totally respect the talent and production values, but found the screenplay hokey and the plot to be cliché.” Jeanne K
“Loved it! Saved the best for last!”
Recognized Navid – the terrorist from HOMELAND as the principal. Terrorist as Principal. Yep, that’s about right!”
“An old-fashioned film but with modern dialogue and even some surprises. Great kids, solid story, two gorgeous leads, what’s not to like?”
“Great film to end the season with! Thank you!! Its about time we had a winner!”
“Teacher meets teacher, teacher loses teacher, teacher finds teacher. Yes it’s an age old plot but the script is wonderfully literate and Owen and Binoche are just simply amazing!”
If you'd like to know more about the film...
Check out this interview from 2014 Dallas Internartional Film Festival with our director, Fred Schepisi! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLNXwZy8e_E
Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche make love and war in 'Words and Pictures' -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87deI2Tf4h0
