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Synopsis
In
Krapp's Last Tape, which
was written in English
in 1958, an old man reviews his life and assesses his predicament.
We learn about him not from the 69-year-old man on stage, but from
his 39-year-old self on the tape he chooses to listen to. On the
'awful occasion' of his birthday, Krapp was then and is now in the
habit of reviewing the past year and 'separating the grain from
the husks'. He isolates memories of value, fertility and nourishment
to set against creeping death 'when all my dust has settled'.
'Perhaps
my best years are gone. When there was a chance of happiness. But
I wouldn't want them back. Not with the fire in me now. No, I wouldn't
want them back.'
– Krapp's Last Tape
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Director
Atom
Egoyan's writing and direction for film, television and theatre
have been acclaimed throughout the world. He has won numerous awards
including the Grand Prix and the International Critics' Award at
the Cannes Film Festival and two Academy Award nominations. His
films include Felicia's Journey,
the award-winning The Sweet
Hereafter; Exotica;
Calendar; The Adjuster, Speaking Parts, Family Viewing and Next of Kin.
'I
am fascinated by human interaction with technology. Beckett explores
the contrast between memory and recorded memory as Krapp reminisces
on his 69th birthday, struggling to reconcile perception and reality.
Technology is an enormous issue today, so Beckett's themes are hugely
relevant. The human inability to communicate in reality is brought
into sharp focus.'
– Atom Egoyan
Interview
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Cast
The
vast credit list of John
Hurt in film, theatre, and television has earned him a number
of awards worldwide, including three BAFTAs and two Oscar nominations.
His film credits include: Alan Parker's Midnight
Express (Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor, and a
nomination for an Oscar); David Lynch's The
Elephant Man (British Academy Award for Best Actor; Golden Globe
and Oscar nomination for Best Actor); Ridley Scott's Alien
(BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor); Stephen Frears' The Hit; John Irvin's Champions;
and 1984. Most recently
his performance in Love and
Death on Long Island earned him a nomination for the Best Actor
of the Year Award from the British Film Critics' Circle. He most
recently starred in Captain Correlli's Mandolin.
Interview
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