William Hurt & Maria Bello in the movie The Yellow Handkerchief

Pete Hamill's Reader's Digest story "The Yellow Handkerchief" inspired Yoji Yamada's appealing 1977 film of the same name, and now it has become the basis for a new movie, also of the same name but not really a remake.

Screenplay writer Erin Dignam and director Udayan Prasad have taken the plot outline of the Yamada film and created original characters in a rural post-Katrina Louisiana, captured in evocative images by master cinematographer Chris Menges.

This "Yellow Handkerchief" is a gentle, low-key road movie, centering on the eternal need to love and to trust, and suffused in the humanist spirit that has won its veteran producer, Arthur Cohn, three Oscars.

Cohn has assembled a quartet of gifted actors who are captivating under Prasad's perceptive direction.

Eddie Redmayne's Gordy, a skinny, sweet-natured kid with wanderlust, passes through a tiny town in his vintage convertible and gives a lift to pretty teenager Martine (Kristen Stewart of "Twilight"), upset over an overly aggressive boyfriend and eager for a change of scenery, and to Brett (William Hurt), a middle-age man of much kindness and concern for these two young people, but not eager to talk about himself.

We gradually learn Brett's story in flashbacks as he is swept over by memories of his passionate romance with the sensuous, earthy May (Maria Bello).

As Gordy heads toward New Orleans, we discover that his passengers -- as well as himself -- long for a connection with someone. As the travelers affect one another, it becomes clear that, even though he's awkward with girls, Gordy is a resilient and resourceful kid, in some ways more mature than the seemingly poised Martine, who is well aware of her sexual appeal and who regards Gordy as a nerd.

Flashbacks of Brett's memories reveal that he and May are in need of each other, but issues of trust have May struggling.

"The Yellow Handkerchief" is adept at making a viewer care what happens to these very likable people.

 

A love story at its core, THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF is about three strangers of two generations who embark on a road trip through post Katrina Louisiana. The trio head out together, each motivated by his/her own reasons: Brett (William Hurt, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE) must decide whether he wants to return to the uncertainty of his life and his ex-wife May (Maria Bello, WORLD TRADE CENTER) for whom he longs, Martine (Kristen Stewart, TWILIGHT: NEW MOON) yearns to escape her family, and Gordy (Eddie Redmayne, ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE) hopes to get close to Martine.

A deeply humanistic and emotionally rich film, THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF is directed by Udayan Prasad, produced by six-time Academy Award winner Arthur Cohn, and is loosely based on a short story by renowned writer Pete Hamill.

 

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for sexual content, some violence, language and thematic element).

Running time: 1:42.

Cast: William Hurt (Brett Hanson), Maria Bello (May), Kristen Stewart (Martine), Eddie Redmayne (Gordy).

Credits: Directed by Udayan Prasad; written by Erin Dignam; produced by Arthur Cohn. A Samuel Goldwyn Films release.

The Yellow Handkerchief Movie Review - William Hurt & Maria Bello