When I read the script of “The Yellow Handkerchief,” I immediately fell in love with the humanity of the piece and in particular the way Erin Dignam had drawn these wonderful, complex characters whom I felt I could reach out and touch. Here was a movie that went into the very depths of the souls of these characters. I also loved the fact that they behaved in turns stupid, impetuous, wise, ridiculous, but always with a generosity of spirit and a sense of adventure that I think surprised even them. Life hadn’t been kind to them; nevertheless, they had gained a wisdom few of us achieve. says director Udayan Prasad.

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Academy Award® winner William Hurt, Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart and Eddie
Redmayne star in this provocative and penetrating look into the motives of the human heart. The film, written by Erin Dignam and shot by Academy Award® winning cinematographer Chris Menges, was directed by Udayan Prasad (My Son The Fanatic) and produced by the multiple Academy Award® winner Arthur Cohn.

Brett Hanson (William Hurt) is an ex-convict, just released from prison after serving six years for manslaughter and now adrift in a world of new freedoms and responsibilities. Finding initial difficulties in reconciling himself to a troubled past, Brett crosses paths with lonely and troubled teenager Martine (Kristen Stewart) and her new ride Gordy (Eddie Redmayne). The trio head out in the same car and direction – Martine to cut loose and get away from her family, Gordy to get closer to Martine, and Brett who must decide whether he wants to return to his troubled past and an uncertainty with May (Maria Bello) the woman that he left behind.

Once on the road, the trio find their relationships forging and changing in myriad ways, but it is Brett's story and his need to reconcile his past to his future that drives the two young people to reassess their own passages as well.


Filmmakers Comments

Arthur Cohn (Producer): “The Yellow Handkerchief” is a beautiful love story, with a global emotional impact. I like to engage myself in projects where an audience can identify with the main characters – their hopes and their fears – so the question of a big budget vs. a small budget film does not arise. For me the only concern is that the audience all over the world will feel for the main protagonists and will identify with their concerns. The remake of “The Yellow Handkerchief” is such an endeavor – it has a global message that one should never give up. I trust that people will love this film and identify with it as a result of its sincere emotions.

Lillian Birnbaum (Executive Producer): I love the heat in Louisiana, the wind, the smell. I love the timeless quality of the locations - the juxtaposition of enormous industrial facilities and the lushness of the landscape. In “The Yellow Handkerchief“ nature’s forces and its volatility become protagonists in their own right. The film is also an all-American story: Never to give up, never to give in. Life is full of chances. We should always believe in the power of love...

Eef Barzaley (Composer): I first saw “The Yellow Handkerchief” late last year in music supervisor Sue Jacob's office. It was only a rough cut of the film but it got under my skin and I knew I really wanted to be involved. There is a poetic loneliness and longing to this movie that I identify with. I like the naked humanity and I've been hashing out themes like that in my own music for years.

About the Cast

William Hurt (Brett): William Hurt trained at Tufts University and New York's Juilliard School of Music and Drama. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards®, including the most recent nomination for his supporting role in David Cronenberg's “History of Violence.” Hurt received Best Supporting Actor accolades for the role from the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle and the New York Film Critics Circle.

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In “The Yellow Handkerchief” he plays an ex-convict, opposite Maria Bello.

William Hurt was recently seen in MGM's “Mr. Brooks,” a psychological thriller
opposite Kevin Costner, directed by Bruce Evans, in “Vantage Point” opposite Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver and Forrest Whitaker, as well as in “Into the Wild,” directed by Sean Penn and starring Marcia Gay Harden, Catherine Keener and Vince Vaughn. In 2006 Hurt was seen in “The Good Shepherd” written by Eric Roth and directed by Robert DeNiro. Also in 2006, Hurt starred in James Marsh’s film “The King” with Gael Garcia Bernal.

In 2005, Hurt was seen in “Syriana,” directed by Stephen Gaghan and starring George Clooney, Matt Damon and Amanda Peet.


Maria Bello (May): In a remarkably short time, Maria Bello has established herself as a leading actress with a formidable and dazzling presence. A cool, incredibly literate blonde, Maria has captivated audiences with her many diverse roles in such films as “The Cooler” (Golden Globe and SAG Nomination) “A History of Violence” (NY Film Critics win) “World Trade Center” “Thank You For Smoking” and most recently “The Jane Austen Book Club.” Upcoming, Maria has the darkly devastating Alan Ball film “Nothing is Private” to be released May 2008. Currently, she has recently retuned from China after filming “The Mummy 3” with Brendan Fraser which will be released at the beginning of August 2008.

Eddie Redmayne (Gordy): Born in London, Eddie Redmayne attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Art History. It was while at college that a scout from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre recruited Redmayne to appear in the 400th anniversary production of "Twelfth Night." His role as Viola opposite Mark Rylance got him favorable reviews from critics, as well as an acting agent.

In “The Yellow Handkerchief” Mr. Redmayne plays the quirky and nerdy Gordy. Eddie Redmayne made his screen debut in 2006 in Robert De Niro's dramatic thriller “The Good Shepard” starring Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie.

Most recently, Mr. Redmayne was seen in Universal‟s “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” directed by Shekhar Kapur, with Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen. In 2008 he will star in “The Other Boleyn Girl”, based on the hit novel of the same name and produced by Scott Rudin, starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. Eddie also stars in Tom Kalin's “Savage Grace,” which screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007. Eddie plays the son of would-be Hollywood starlet, Barbara Baekeland, played by Julianne Moore.

In 2007 he also wrapped “Powder Blue” where he stars with Jessica Biel and Forest Whitaker.

Kristen Stewart (Martine): Kristen Stewart was introduced to worldwide audiences with her outstanding performance alongside Jodie Foster in “Panic Room.”

In “The Yellow Handkerchief” she plays Martine, a lonely girl in search of love…

Stewart stars in Sean Penn's “Into The Wild”. She will be seen in “Adventureland”,
opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jesse Eisenberg for director Greg Mottola. She will soon be seen in a starring role in the independent film “The Cake Eaters” for director Mary Stuart Masterson, and a supporting role in “What Just Happened” alongside Robert De Niro and Sean Penn for director Barry Levinson.

Stewart's additional film credits include “In The Land of Women,” “The Messengers,” “Zathura,” “Speak,” “Fierce People,” “Catch That Kid,” “Undertow,” “Cold Creek Manor,” and “The Safety of Objects.”

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