Exclusive: THAT EVENING SUN @ St.Anthony Main

  HAL HOLBROOK SURGES AGAIN AS LEAD IN

MFA’S EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT OF ‘THAT EVENING SUN’

OPENING AT ST. ANTHONY MAIN THEATRE 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN---

     Minnesota Film Arts presents Academy Award Nominated film and stage star Hal Holbrook’s latest release, “That Evening Sun,” opening at St. Anthony Main Theatre Friday, Feb. 5, for an exclusive weeklong engagement. With over a dozen wins and still more nominations; “That Evening Sun” has been called “an exceptionally fine, richly atmospheric film” (Joe Leydon, Variety).

     Based on the William Gay short story “I Hate to See the Evening Sun Go Down,” Holbrook performs as the cantankerous Abner Meecham, a nursing home runaway, who returns to his Tennessee farm to retire in peace only to discover his lawyer son’s betrayal and loss of his land to what he considers an unworthy family headed by an old enemy. Haunted by his son’s disloyalty, bereavement of his wife, and the prospect of a total disintegration of all that remains of a self-made life, Meecham obstinately draws a line in the sand, and takes up residence in an old shack opposite the tenants in his old farmhouse. Unrelenting to Meecham’s demands to vacate, the new occupant and old enemy, Lonzo Choat, retaliates in subtle and menacing ways to the old man’s intrusion. The result, a hostile standoff of irascibility and revenge.

     Critics and viewers alike have painted Holbrook’s commanding role in “That Evening Sun” as a tour-de-force deserving Academy attention. Holbrook, most notably known for his Tony-Award winning stage role as Mark Twain seemed destined for the part. Scott Teems, first time writer-director, spoke of the difficulty filling the part of an octogenarian until Holbrook’s Oscar-Nominated turn in “Into The Wild,” “There’s a very small handful of actors who can even play the role… When we saw that film, we knew we’d found our Abner.” Pete Hammond, Back Stage Magazine, describes Holbrook’s doubtless portrayal of a lonely, prideful southern man as, “no question … one of 2009's greatest performances.”

     Screen times: Fri Feb 5 - Sun Feb 7 at 1:00, 7:30, 9:45; Mon Feb 8 - Thur Feb 11 at 7:30, 9:45

     Film plays at St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Ticket prices: $8.50 General Admission, $6.00 Student/Senior, $5.00 MFA Members. Check MFA website: www.mnfilmarts.org or call 612 331-7563 for further information and upcoming programs at the new MFA venue.