The Wife

“It is a fascinating and bravura performance from Glenn Close, in this hugely enjoyable dark comedy from director Björn Runge.”
- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

After nearly forty years of marriage, Joan and Joe Castleman are complements. Where Joe is casual, Joan is elegant. Where Joe is vain, Joan is self-effacing. And where Joe enjoys his very public role as Great American Novelist, Joan pours her considerable intellect, grace, charm, and diplomacy into the private role of Great Man's Wife.

Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for his acclaimed and prolific body of work. Joe's literary star has blazed since he and Joan first met in the late 1950s.

THE WIFE interweaves the story of the couple's youthful passion and ambition with a portrait of a marriage, thirty-plus years later--a lifetime's shared compromises, secrets, betrayals, and mutual love.
– Sony Pictures Classics

CAST
Glenn Close as Joan Castleman
Jonathan Pryce as Joe Castleman
Max Irons as David Castleman
Christian Slater as Nathanial Bone
Harry Lloyd as young Joe Castleman
Annie Starke as young Joan Castleman
Elizabeth McGovern as Elaine Mozell
Johan Widerberg as Walter Bark
Karin Franz Körlof as Linnea

CREW
Producers Claudia Bluemhuber, Pierce Tempest and Meta Louise Foldager
Screenplay by Jane Anderson
Original book written by Meg Wolitzer
Director of cinematography Ulf Brantås
2nd operator Stellan Runge
Edited by Lena Runge
Production Design Mark Leese

Q&A with Glenn Close, Björn Runge and Jane Anderson at a CFI Member screening

BJÖRN’S THOUGHTS

Providence and clement conditions prevailed when I was offered this script in January of 2014. A month later I flew to New York for a breakfast meeting with Glenn Close at the Café Cluney in Greenwich Village. I instantly became fond of Glenn and dare to say that we developed a deep and intuitive connection that proved valuable, a key to our collaboration. Right there, right then, after scrambled eggs, she asked me if I would direct this film.

Working with Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce was an exhilarating experience. We also had a marvelous crew: everyone pulled together to create an extraordinary film. My closest associates, film editor Lena Runge and director of photography Ulf Brantås, and I felt as we were sailing with a fair wind, something we have not always been spoilt by.

On a private, personal level the work with this production literally saved my life. In the early summer of 2014 I was diagnosed with cancer and balancing on an emotional tightrope.

It all turned around when I arrived to Glasgow in August 2016 for preproduction duties, not least scouting locations; somehow I knew I would survive this ordeal. To me, the whole process involving The Wife proved a veritable healing session...

And how uplifting was not the formidable, energizing reception of our hard, but merry work!

How I long to work with actors with actors like Glenn, Jonathan, Annie and Christian again, soon!

Nominations

Oscar Academy Awards - Best performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Glenn Close)
BAFTA - Best Leading Actress (Glenn Close)
AACTA International Awards - Best Lead Actress (Glenn Close)
Houston Film Critics Awards - Best Actress (Glenn Close)
Washington DC Area Film Critics Awards - Best Actress (Glenn Close)
Women’s Image Network Awards - Outstanding Film Written by a Woman (Jane Anderson)
Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Awards - Best Performance Actress (Glenn Close)
London Critics Circle Film Awards - Actress of the year (Glenn Close)
Film by the Sea International Film Festival - Film and Literature Award (Björn Runge)

Awards

Golden Globes - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Glenn Close)
Screen Actors Guild (SAG) - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Glenn Close)
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards - Best Actress (Glenn Close)
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards - Best Actress (Glenn Close)
Capri Hollywood - Best Supporting Actor (Jonathan Pryce)
CineLibri International Book and Film Festival - award for masterful literary adaption (Björn Runge)
Santa Barbara International Film Festival - Modern Master Award (Glenn Close)
Hollywood Film Award - Actress of the Year (Glenn Close)