Apartment Zero [1988] (theatrical version)

Apartment Zero (1989) downloaded from Cinemageddon.org



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094667/




Directed by Martin Donovan



Writing credits

Martin Donovan (story)



Martin Donovan (screenplay) and David Koepp (screenplay)



Apartment Zero is a political thriller from Argentina. Directed by Martin Donovan and starring Hart Bochner and Colin Firth, the film is suffused with homoerotic overtones and moments of black comedy. The film was produced in 1988 and premiered at film festivals throughout 1989.



Hart Bochner ... Jack Carney

Colin Firth ... Adrian LeDuc

Dora Bryan ... Margaret McKinney

Liz Smith ... Mary Louise McKinney

Fabrizio Bentivoglio ... Carlos Sanchez-Verne

James Telfer ... Vanessa

Mirella D'Angelo ... Laura Werpachowsky

Juan Vitali ... Alberto Werpachowsky

Cipe Lincovsky ... Mrs. Treniev

Francesca d'Aloja ... Claudia

Miguel Ligero ... Mr. Palma

Elvia Andreoli ... Adrian's Mother

Marikena Monti ... Tango Singer

Luis Romero ... Projectionist

Oca Spirito ... Woman in Cinema 1



The doppelgänger or double is a recurring motif of Apartment Zero. Adrian and Jack bear a physical resemblance (which Jack planned to exploit to escape the country). A character comments that Jack is a double of someone from his past. Jack and "Michael Weller" are a doubled pair, as are Jack and the murdered gay man. By film's end, instead of Jack becoming Adrian, Adrian instead has become Jack.



Another motif is classic films, especially films which have some connection to gay culture. Adrian runs a revival house. He and Jack play a movie game together frequently. Adrian's apartment is decorated with framed portraits of movie stars, including a number who were, or are perceived as being, gay or bisexual (including James Dean and Montgomery Clift). Adrian's choice of films also reflects a gay interest, including a Dean film festival and Compulsion, based on the Leopold and Loeb murder case.



Hart Bochner is currently starring as Zach, boyfriend of Molly Kagan (Debra Messing), on USA Television's The Starter Wife.



AWARDS

Cognac Festival du Film Policier



1990 Won Critics Award Martin Donovan

1990 Won Special Jury Prize Martin Donovan





Seattle International Film Festival



1989 Won Golden Space Needle Award Best Film



Sundance Film Festival



1989 Nominated Grand Jury Prize Dramatic Martin Donovan