BARNESTORMING

ENCHANTED APRIL

Oscar- nominated ENCHANTED APRIL was written by Peter Barnes from a novel by Elisabeth Von Arnham, directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and starred Dame Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Alfred Molina, Richard Broadbent, and Josie Lawrence.

It received Oscar nominations for Barnes (Best Screenplay from material adapted from another medium, and for costume design.

ENCHANTED APRIL was listed as one of President Bill Clinton's favourite films. (New York Times, Sunday, April 13, 1997,"All the Presidents' Movies", by Irv Letovsky).

Barnes wrote the script as a favour to producer Ann Scott. He turned it down originally because he thought that it was a woman's story and should be written by a woman. She insisted so he agreed.

A small budget film, no one in Hollywood was interested in funding it. Miramax stepped in after seeing the finished rushes. Of course, after its huge success, Hollywood now looks for an "Enchanted April" type script.

Barnes feels it isn't really representative of his writing, but the humour has unmistakable Barnesian touches.

ENCHANTED APRIL is available internationally on video cassette.