Siesta (film)

Claire, a young American, wakes up in a distressed state at an airport with no recollection of recent events. As she gradually pieces together her memories, she suspects she may be connected to a murder. Flashbacks reveal she was involved in risky activities, including jumping into a safety net for an event organizer named Del and participating in orgies with acquaintances. The film focuses on Claire's journey through Madrid as she tries to unravel the mystery of her past and uncover shocking truths about herself.

• Ellen Barkin as Claire
• Gabriel Byrne as Augustine
• Julian Sands as Kit
• Isabella Rossellini as Marie
• Martin Sheen as Del
• Alexei Sayle as Cabbie
• Grace Jones as Conchita
• Jodie Foster as Nancy
• Anastassia Stakis as Desdra
• Gary Cady as Roger

The screenplay was written by Patricia Louisianna Knop, based on a novel by Patrice Chaplin. The film was shot on location in Spain, released by Lorimar Motion Pictures, and debuted in New York City on November 11, 1987. Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis performed on the score for the film, Music from Siesta, which was written and arranged by frequent Davis collaborator Marcus Miller.{{cite web|website=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/dec/23/jazz.shopping3|title=Miles Davis/ Marcus Miller, Music From Siesta|first=John|last=Fordham|date=December 22, 2005|accessdate=July 15, 2022}}

The film was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature in 1988, for Director Mary Lambert.{{cite web|website=Film Independent|url=https://www.filmindependent.org/spirit-awards/history/|title=37 Years of Nominees & Winners, 1986–2022|accessdate=July 15, 2022}}

Siesta received mixed reviews. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 14% approval rating based on 7 reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/siesta|title=Siesta|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes}} It was hailed as "this year's Blue Velvet" by Susan Linfield, editor of American Film. New York Times film critic Janet Maslin called it "the kind of excitingly bad, artily experimental film that has become an endangered species... Still, Miss Lambert's first feature has a game, mischievous spirit and a ripe bohemianism that are appealing."{{cite web|website=The New York Times|first=Janet|last=Maslin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/11/movies/film-exoticism-in-siesta.html|title=Film: Exoticism in 'Siesta'|date=November 11, 1987|accessdate=July 15, 2022}} Critic Roger Ebert wrote that "The film is finally overwhelmed by its own ambition, not to mention one too many gimmicks in its plot, but it goes down swinging."{{cite web|website=RogerEbert.com|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/siesta-1988|title=Siesta|first=Roger|last=Ebert|date=February 5, 1988|accessdate=July 15, 2022}} However, Sheila Benson of The Los Angeles Times called the film “a monumentally bad, awesomely wrongheaded, pretentious conceit."

{{Reflist}}

• Maslin, Janet (November 11, 1987). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/11/movies/film-exoticism-in-siesta.html Film: Exoticism in 'Siesta']". The New York Times. Retrieved on May 4, 2009.

• {{IMDb title|0093969}}
• {{rotten tomatoes|siesta|Siesta}}
• {{Mojo title|siesta}}

{{Mary Lambert}}

Category:1987 films

Category:1987 directorial debut films

Category:1987 drama films

Category:1987 independent films

Category:1980s American films

Category:1980s English-language films

Category:American drama films

Category:American independent films

Category:Films based on British novels

Category:Films directed by Mary Lambert

Category:Films scored by Marcus Miller

Category:English-language independent films

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