A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998)

  • R
  • 09/18/1998 (US)
  • Drama
  • 2h 7m

The city of lights. A famous American author and the decade that changed a generation...forever.

Overview

This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotional slice-of-life story. Jones is portrayed here as Bill Willis, a former war hero turned author who combats alcoholism and is starting to experience health problems. Living in France with his wife, daughter, and an adopted son, the family travels an unconventional road which casts them as outsiders to others. Preaching a sexual freedom, his daughter's sexual discovery begins at an early age and betrays her when the family moves to Hanover in America. Her overt sexuality clashes with the values of her teenage American peers and gives her a problematic reputation. Meanwhile, her brooding brother copes with his own interior pain regarding his past, only comfortable communicating within the domestic space.

James Ivory

Director, Screenplay

Kaylie Jones

Novel

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Screenplay

Cast

Kris Kristofferson's headshot

Kris Kristofferson

Bill Willis
Leelee Sobieski's headshot

Leelee Sobieski

Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 14
Jane Birkin's headshot

Jane Birkin

Mrs. Fortescue
Barbara Hershey's headshot

Barbara Hershey

Marcella Willis
Dominique Blanc's headshot

Dominique Blanc

Candida
Virginie Ledoyen's headshot

Virginie Ledoyen

Billy's Mother
Jesse Bradford's headshot

Jesse Bradford

Billy Willis, Age 14
Isaach de Bankolé's headshot

Isaach de Bankolé

Mamadou

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