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This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotional slice-of-life story. Jones is portrayed here portrayed as Bill Willis, a former war hero turned author who combats alcoholism and is starting to experience health problems. Living in France with his wife, daughter, and an adopted son, the family travels an unconventional road which casts them as outsiders to others. Preaching a sexual freedom, his daughter's sexual discovery begins at an early age and betrays her when the family moves to Hanover in America. Her overt sexuality clashes with the values of her teenage American peers and gives her a problematic reputation. Meanwhile, her brooding brother copes with his own interior pain regarding his past, only comfortable communicating within the domestic space.

The city of lights. A famous American author and the decade that changed a generation...forever.

Genres: Drama

Starring: Kris Kristofferson, Leelee Sobieski, Jane Birkin

Released: September 18, 1998

Runtime: 127.0

Popularity Rating: 0.857

British Screen Productions, Capitol Films, Merchant Ivory Productions

France, United Kingdom, United States of America

Bill Willis Kris Kristofferson
Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 14 Leelee Sobieski
Mrs. Fortescue Jane Birkin
Marcella Willis Barbara Hershey
Candida Dominique Blanc
Billy's Mother Virginie Ledoyen
Billy Willis, Age 14 Jesse Bradford
Mamadou (as Isaac De Bankole) Isaach De Bankole
Keith Carter Harley Cross
Madame Beauvier Macha Meril
Madame Fournier Nathalie Richard
Francis Fortescue Anthony Roth Costanzo
Bob Smith Bob Swaim
Young Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 7 Luisa Conlon
Benoit / Young Billy Willis, Age 7 Samuel Gruen
Miss O'Shaunessy Michelle Fairley
Stephane Frederic Da

Directing — Director: James Ivory
Sound — Original Music Composer: Richard Robbins
Writing — Novel: Kaylie Jones
Writing — Screenplay: James Ivory
Writing — Screenplay: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala