Junebug

Details

The debut feature of director Phil Morrison, Junebug, released by Eureka Entertainment Limited on 21st August 2006, garnered a host of awards for actress Amy Adams (Catch Me If You Can; Pumpkin), including the Special Jury Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2006 Academy Awards. Junebug also stars Embeth Davidtz (Mansfield Park; Schindler's List), Alessandro Nivola (Laurel Canyon; Jurassic Park III), Ben McKenzie (The O.C.) and Celia Weston (The Village).

When "outsider art" dealer Madeleine (Embeth Davidtz) and her new husband George (Alessandro Nivola) travel from Chicago to North Carolina in order for Madeleine to close a deal with a reclusive artist, they decide to extend the trip to include a visit to George's family who live in the area and whom Madeleine has never met. On arrival, Madeleine is introduced to the family unit - prickly mother Peg (Celia Weston), taciturn father Eugene (Scott Wilson), angry young brother Johnny (Ben McKenzie) and Johnny's sweetly childlike and garrulous wife Ashley (Amy Adams), who is due to give birth to her first child.

Although awe-struck Ashley immediately takes to her glamorous and sophisticated sister-in-law, the other members of George's family are less than receptive and Madeline's presence in the household soon begins to expose the fragility of the family dynamics as hidden resentments and anxieties surface. As tensions mount, Madeleine has to rely on Ashley to help her navigate the social minefield of family dinners, church meetings and Ashley's baby shower.

Boasting a major breakthrough performance by Amy Adams, Junebug's cult-appeal credentials include a music score by US indie-rock favourites Yo La Tengo and a cameo appearance by singer-songwriter Will Oldham (Matewan) of Palace Brothers/Bonnie "Prince" Billy fame.