Cold Comfort Farm

"She discovered a new branch of her family tree... the one with all the nuts."

1995 1h 35m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 80

ComedyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In this adaptation of the satirical British novel, Flora Poste, a plucky London society girl orphaned at age 19, finds a new home with some rough relatives, the Starkadders of Cold Comfort Farm. With a take-charge attitude and some encouragement from her mischievous friend, Mary, Flora changes the Starkadders' lives forever when she settles into their rustic estate, bringing the backward clan up to date and finding inspiration for her novel in the process.

“She discovered a new branch of her family tree... the one with all the nuts.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Eileen Atkins
Judith Starkadder
Kate Beckinsale
Flora Poste
Sheila Burrell
Ada Doom
Stephen Fry
Mybug
Freddie Jones
Adam Lambsbreath
Joanna Lumley
Mary Smiling
Ian McKellen
Amos Starkadder
Miriam Margolyes
Mrs. Beetle

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Schlesinger
Writers: Malcolm Bradbury
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

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

ERA

Did you know

31 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Schlesinger, shot by Chris Seager. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Eileen Atkins and Kate Beckinsale and Sheila Burrell carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "She discovered a new branch of her family tree... the one with all the nuts.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0112701 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 80 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Schlesinger directs. Chris Seager behind the camera. Robert Lockhart scores. Mark Day cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

131 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Directed by John Schlesinger, shot by Chris Seager. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Robert Lockhart. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Mark Day shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Eileen Atkins and Kate Beckinsale and Sheila Burrell carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "She discovered a new branch of her family tree... the one with all the nuts.".
7IMDB entry: tt0112701 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 80 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Chris Seager
Original score: Robert Lockhart
Editing: Mark Day
Production design: Malcolm Thornton
Costume design: Amy Roberts
Runtime: 95 min · 1h 35m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): 6
IMDB: Cold Comfort Farm (1995)

Also by

John Schlesinger

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2024-05-02
★ 7/10
I'm not sure "Flora" (Kate Beckinsale) really knew what to expect when she arrived at the home of her more rustic family at the eponymous location. Farmhouses always look so welcoming and inviting, but one step through the door here and she might as well have stepped back through time. With a cast of characters named as if they were inspired by Charles Dickens, John Schlesinger takes us on a darkly humorous trip through the lives (and loves) of this community. "Can someone wash my curtains?" she enquires... "I think they're red but I'd like to be sure". She's got a meagre £100 per year, but that's a fortune for many who live a life trading hens and chickens and getting up to all sorts in the hay loft. Of course, there's loads of romantic shenanigans going on too as her wealthy cousin "Charles" (Christopher Bowen) takes an unrequited shine to her whilst she prefers life with her guilt-stricken relative "Starkadder" (Eileen Atkins) whilst all are under the thumb of the reclusive "Aunt Ada" (the scene stealing Sheila Burrell). This is a society where nothing is as is seems or straightforward and any novel that "Flora" might choose to write in later life is going to be a colourful affair! The story is whimsically engaging enough but it's really the assemblage of talent here that makes this work. Freddie Jones, the cheekily expressive Miriam Margolyes, Stephen Fry, Sir Ian McKellen and Joanna Lumley (never a very versatile actress, I find) all chip into this tale of the startling hypocrisy existing between the vulgar and crass and the prim and the proper. It looks good, flows well and shows what can be done when everyone is on board for a bit of a muddy romp.

Production companies