Passion Fish

Play trailer

Passion Fish

R,

1992,

2h 14m,

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

100%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

After soap opera actress May-Alice Culhane (Mary McDonnell) has a car accident, she is paralyzed and forced into a wheelchair. She retreats to her family's vacant home in Louisiana and indulges in alcohol and self-pity. When nursing aides come to help, May-Alice unleashes her anger, prompting each to quit. Chantelle (Alfre Woodard), a nurse who desperately needs the job, arrives determined to change May-Alice's outlook. As the two women become friends, they help each other cope with challenges.

Edward Guthmann

San Francisco Chronicle

Jan 11, 2023

4/4

Set In Louisiana bayou country, John Sayles' new character drama -- his best by far -- stars Mary McDonnell as a soap-opera actress who returns to her childhood home after a paralyzing accident.

Go to Full Review

Alyx Vesey

Bitch Media

Jan 9, 2021

I hope that films that share Passion Fish's politics continue to be made and improved upon. I just hope more directors of color, and female directors of color in particular, get to make them.

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/4

This is a tough, muscular story about a headstrong woman who wants things to go her way.

Go to Full Review

Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

May 29, 2018

Passion Fish drifts slowly by, like the turgid waters of Louisiana's bayous. Yet with his novelist's eye and story sense, and two brilliantly paired actresses, John Sayles pulls us ever deeper into the lives of a bitter paraplegic actress and her nurse.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Oct 8, 2006

A-

A tightly-focused narrative about interior struggles and unexpected changes, the film is a cynical anti-Reagan story about monetary success and class distinctions, a political fable about female survivors.

Go to Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Jan 30, 2006

4/5

Read all reviews

John Sayles

Director

Mary McDonnell

May-Alice Culhane

Alfre Woodard

Chantelle

David Strathairn

Rennie

Vondie Curtis-Hall

Sugar LeDoux

Nora Dunn

Ti-Marie

One True Thing

85%

71%

One True Thing

Watchlist

Avanti!

79%

76%

Avanti!

Watchlist

Georgy Girl

82%

71%

Georgy Girl

Watchlist

Tuesdays With Morrie

71%

84%

Tuesdays With Morrie

Watchlist

Indochine

74%

84%

Indochine

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After soap opera actress May-Alice Culhane (Mary McDonnell) has a car accident, she is paralyzed and forced into a wheelchair. She retreats to her family's vacant home in Louisiana and indulges in alcohol and self-pity. When nursing aides come to help, May-Alice unleashes her anger, prompting each to quit. Chantelle (Alfre Woodard), a nurse who desperately needs the job, arrives determined to change May-Alice's outlook. As the two women become friends, they help each other cope with challenges.

Director: John Sayles
Producer: Sarah Green, Maggie Renzi
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Distributor: Films Number One
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 11, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 10, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Surround

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings