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Five Corners (film)

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Five Corners
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTony Bill
Written byJohn Patrick Shanley
Produced byForrest Murray
Starring
CinematographyFred Murphy
Edited byAndy Blumenthal
Music byJames Newton Howard
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 1987 (1987-05) (Cannes Film Festival)
  • September 11, 1987 (1987-09-11) (Finland)
  • January 22, 1988 (1988-01-22) (USA)
Running time
90 min
Country
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5.5 million[1]
Box office$969,205[2]

Five Corners is a 1987 American independent crime drama film, directed by Tony Bill, written by John Patrick Shanley, and starring Jodie Foster, Tim Robbins, John Turturro, and Rodney Harvey. The film depicts 48 hours in the lives of a group of four young New Yorkers in the 1960s.

Five Corners was released in limited theatres in the United States on January 22, 1988. The film received generally positive reviews from critics but was a financial disappointment, grossing $969,205 in its limited run against a budget of $5.5 million. At the 4th Independent Spirit Awards, Foster won for Best Female Lead, while Turturro was nominated for Best Supporting Male.[3]

It has been misconstrued as a public domain film and pirated by many distributors who released poor quality VHS and DVD printings. However, as per The Copyright Office, copyright is registered under Paragon Entertainment Corporation.

Plot

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In 1964, in the Bronx, a high school teacher is fatally shot in the back with an arrow. A man offers two seemingly intoxicated young women to two teenage boys, even offering cash to take the women off his hands. Later, these women awaken in an unfamiliar apartment, nude beneath the sheets. The following day, the boys inform the girls of their teacher's murder, explaining why they were available to take them on the car ride.

Heinz, recently released from prison after serving time for attempted rape, returns to his old neighborhood to reunite with his ailing mother and to reignite his twisted relationship with Linda, his near-rape victim. Harry, who had previously protected Linda during the near-assault, has since adopted a non-violent stance in response to violence, influenced by the murder of his policeman father and the non-violent protests against racism advocated by Dr. Martin Luther King. Having embraced Buddhism and pacifism, Harry seeks to join Dr. King's movement, complicating his task of protecting Linda once again.

Heinz summons Linda to meet him in a park at midnight, and though hesitant, she complies, fearing his potential for danger. Arriving at the rendezvous, Linda finds a board for defense and conceals it. Heinz presents her with a gift - two stolen penguins from the Bronx Zoo. However, she informs him that he must return them as penguins require special care. Enraged by what he perceives as rejection, Heinz kills one of the penguins. In the ensuing struggle, Linda manages to fend him off and escapes with one of the penguins.

Subsequently, Heinz takes an unconscious Linda to a rooftop, where police secure the building. A sharpshooter has a clear shot at Heinz but refrains from firing, fearing for Linda's safety. Ultimately, Heinz meets his demise from a mysterious arrow to his back.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ellsworth-Jones, Will. "HandMade in America." Sunday Times [London, England] 8 Feb. 1987: 51. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
  2. ^ "Five Corners". Box Office Mojo.
  3. ^ Fox, David J. (March 27, 1992). "The Little Award Show That Could". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
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