Possession

"The past will connect them. The passion will possess them."

2002 1h 42m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 198

DramaMysteryRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Maud Bailey, a brilliant English academic, is researching the life and work of poet Christabel La Motte. Roland Michell is an American scholar in London to study Randolph Henry Ash, now best-known for a collection of poems dedicated to his wife. When Maud and Roland discover a cache of love letters that appear to be from Ash to La Motte, they follow a trail of clues across England, echoing the journey of the couple over a century earlier.

“The past will connect them. The passion will possess them.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Gwyneth Paltrow
Maud Bailey
Aaron Eckhart
Roland Mitchell
Jeremy Northam
Randolph Henry Ash
Jennifer Ehle
Christabel LaMotte
Lena Headey
Blanche Glover
Holly Aird
Ellen Ash
Toby Stephens
Fergus Wolfe
Trevor Eve
Cropper

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Neil LaBute
Writers: Laura Jones, Neil LaBute, David Henry Hwang
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 40% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Neil LaBute, shot by Jean-Yves Escoffier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gabriel Yared. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Claire Simpson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart and Jeremy Northam carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The past will connect them. The passion will possess them.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Neil LaBute directs. Jean-Yves Escoffier behind the camera. Gabriel Yared scores. Claire Simpson cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 40% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 24 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Neil LaBute, shot by Jean-Yves Escoffier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Gabriel Yared. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Claire Simpson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart and Jeremy Northam carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "The past will connect them. The passion will possess them.".
9IMDB entry: tt0256276 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jean-Yves Escoffier
Original score: Gabriel Yared
Editing: Claire Simpson
Production design: Luciana Arrighi
Costume design: Jenny Beavan
Makeup / hair: Kay Georgiou
Sound: Mark Taylor
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $25,000,000
Box office: $10,113,733
Return: 40% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Possession (2002)

Also by

Neil LaBute

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

JPV8522023-07-11
★ 7/10
Kind of comfort food for romance-dramas. The film features fine performances and good chemistry between Paltrow and Eckhart. I've seen this one a few times over the years and still find it enjoyable. 3.5/5

Production companies