Winter Solstice

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Winter Solstice

R,

2005,

1h 33m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

62%

78 Reviews

Tomatometer

43%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

78 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

It's been five years since a wife and mother was killed in a car crash, but her surviving husband, Jim Winters (Anthony LaPaglia), can't bridge the gap that has grown between him and his teenage sons. Pete (Mark Webber), who was with his mother when she died, is doing badly in school. Gabe (Aaron Stanford) talks of leaving town and pushes his sympathetic girlfriend away. But when Jim helps move new neighbor Molly (Allison Janney) into her home, the first possibilities of healing begin to stir.

Critics Consensus

A deliberately paced, realistic portrait of a family's grief and healing.

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Janice Page

Boston Globe

May 13, 2005

2/4

Ultimately undercut by its fictional elements and its flat characters.

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Michael Booth

Denver Post

May 6, 2005

3/4

This movie deserves to be seen -- and learned from. It captures the moments in which each of us stares out across an emptiness, searching for a connection that will keep us from falling.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

May 1, 2005

2/5

The chill in the air is deadening for the viewer.

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Adam Smith

Radio Times

Apr 9, 2026

4/5

Those who can't abide movies without action and incident should stay away, but for those who prefer their drama painted in the subtlest shades, this is a delight.

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Bruce Feld

Film Journal International

Mar 1, 2007

Audiences may not get too excited about devastated people who conduct their social lives at the local Dairy Queen.

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Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

Nov 18, 2005

Winter Solstice is an intense drama and all the action is internal. LaPaglia is such a fine actor and every nuance of his bottled up Jim comes through, as he struggles to not only be a good father, but to find a direction in his own life.

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Josh Sternfeld

Director

Anthony LaPaglia

Jim Winters

Aaron Stanford

Gabe Winters

Mark Webber

Pete Winters

Allison Janney

Molly Ripkin

Michelle Monaghan

Stacey

Stateside

25%

60%

Stateside

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53%

39%

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Synopsis

It's been five years since a wife and mother was killed in a car crash, but her surviving husband, Jim Winters (Anthony LaPaglia), can't bridge the gap that has grown between him and his teenage sons. Pete (Mark Webber), who was with his mother when she died, is doing badly in school. Gabe (Aaron Stanford) talks of leaving town and pushes his sympathetic girlfriend away. But when Jim helps move new neighbor Molly (Allison Janney) into her home, the first possibilities of healing begin to stir.

Director: Josh Sternfeld
Producer: Doug Bernheim, John Limotte
Screenwriter: Josh Sternfeld
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Sound Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 18, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 12, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $319.2K
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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