Barney’s Version
Winter 2011 Features series
Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 4:00pm
Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 7:00pm
Acadia Cinema's Al Whittle Theatre
450 Main Street, Wolfville, NS
Directed by Richard J. Lewis
Screenplay by Michael Konyves
Based on the book by Mordecai Richler
Starring Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike and Jake Hoffman
Rated 14A ·
2h 12m
Canada, Italy
English
Barney’s Version
Based on Mordecai Richler’s award winning novel – his last and arguably best – Barney’s Version is the warm, wise and witty story of the politically incorrect life of Barney Panofsky (Paul Giamatti), who meets the love of his life (Rosamund Pike) at his wedding – but she is not the bride.
A candid confessional, told from Barney’s point of view, the film spans three decades and two continents, taking us through the different “acts” of his unusual history.
There is his first wife, Clara (Rachelle Lefevre), a flame-haired, flagrantly unfaithful free sprit with whom Barney briefly lives the bohemian life in Rome. The “Second Mrs. P.,” (Minnie Driver), is a wealthy Jewish Princess who shops and talks incessantly, barely noticing that Barney is not listening. And it is at their lavish wedding that Barney meets, and starts pursuing, Miriam (Rosamund Pike), his third wife, the mother of his two children, and his true love.
With his father, Izzy (Dustin Hoffman) as his sidekick, Barney takes us through the many highs, and a few too many lows, of his long and colorful life. Not only does Barney turn out to be a true romantic, he is also capable of all kinds of sneaky acts of gallantry, generosity and goodness when we – and he – least expect it. His is a gloriously full life, played out on a grand scale. And, at its center stands an unlikely hero – the unforgettable Barney Panofsky.