The Death and Life of John F. Donovan

118

127 minutes – Drama
Language: English
Festival release date: September 10, 2018 (TIFF)
Release date: August 23, 2019
Canadian distributor: Les Films Séville, eOne Entertainment

Ten years have passed since the death of an American TV star, the titular John F. Donovan, played by Kit Harington. A young actor working on a teen drama called Hellsome High, reflects on the written correspondence he conducted with the fallen performer. Thandie Newton plays a journalist who interviews the next generation actor about his dealings with Donovan. Meanwhile, in a circular fashion, an 11-year old boy, Rupert, played by Jacob Tremblay, a fan of Hellsome High writes letters to the show’s cast. This film is the English-language debut for the multi-award-winning Xavier Dolan.

The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, poster, movie

Crew:

Producer:

Xavier Dolan
Nancy Grant
Lyse Lafontaine
Michel Merkt

Co-Producer:

Barry Ryan
Peter Carlton

Supervising Producer:

Dan DeFilippo (New York unit)

Line Producer:

Fernando D.Maldonado (New York unit)

Director:

Xavier Dolan

Screenwriter:

Xavier Dolan
Jacob Tierney

Cinematographer:

André Turpin

Editor:

Xavier Dolan

Composer:

Gabriel Yared

Production Designer:

Anne Pritchard
Colombe Raby

Art Director:

Pierre Perrault
John El Manahi (New York unit)
James Price (UK)

Costume Designer:

Stacey Berman (New York unit)

Cast: Roles:

Kit Harington
Jessica Chastain
Bella Thorne
Kathy Bates
Susan Sarandon
Jared Keeso
Thandie Newton
Jacob Tremblay
Natalie Portman
Ben Schnetzer
Chris Zylka
Emily Hampshire
Michael Gambon
Sarah Gadon
Ari Millen
Leni Parker
Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse
Katy Breier
Alison Louder
Hamza Haq
Randy Thomas
Pat Kiely
Jane Wheeler
Douglas Rankine
Ellen David
Pierre-Luc Lafontaine
Aphra Williams
Jo Wheatley
Sangita Patel
Manuel Tadros
Brent Skagford

John F. Donovan
Moira McCallister-King
Jeanette
Barbara Haggermaker (John’s manager)
Grace Donovan (John’s mother)
James Donovan
Audrey Newhouse
Rupert Turner
Sam Turner (Rupert’s mother)
Rupert Turner (Adult)
Will Jefford Jr.
Amy Bosworth
Narrator
Liz Jones
Big Billy
Bonnie
Moira’s assistant
Trish
Hellsome High actress
Journalist #4
Lawyer
James, the Director
Aunt Anne
Policeman
Adam’s Mother
Douche
Photographer
Commuter
Journalist
Salim
Editor #1