Our Souls at Night

At the Venice Film Festival, Jane Fonda said she learned a great deal about acting from Matthias Schoenaerts, who plays her son in the film, describing his acting as both modest and passionate.

INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

The fictional Holt County where the film and Kent Haruf's novel are set is in eastern Colorado. Holt is a composite of three Colorado towns where the author grew up: Wray, Holyoke and Yuma. All of Haruf's novels are set in the fictional town of Holt.

INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

Robert Redford and Bruce Dern had previously appeared together in The Great Gatsby (1974).

INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

Both *On Golden Pond* and *Our Souls at Night* deal with themes of aging, friendship and unexpected connections, particularly through the presence of a young child who brings warmth and change into the lives of elderly protagonists. In *On Golden Pond* (1981), Norman and Ethel Thayer, an elderly couple who spend their summers at their lake house, end up looking after Billy Ray, the son of their daughter's fiancé (the daughter is played by Jane Fonda). Norman, initially grumpy and distant, bonds with the boy through the experience, softens his manner and rediscovers a sense of joy. Similarly, *Our Souls at Night* (2017) centers on two widowed neighbors, Addie (Jane Fonda) and Louis, who develop a deep friendship. When Addie's grandson Jamie comes to stay with her, Louis steps in to help care for him, creating a surrogate family dynamic. The child's presence strengthens their relationship and brings a renewed sense of purpose. Both films use the motif of caring for a young child as a catalyst for emotional growth, healing and the rekindling of love in later years. They highlight how intergenerational relationships can transform lives and offer a poignant reflection on human connection.

INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

During a Q&A at the British Film Institute Southbank in November 2018, Jane Fonda complained that Robert Redford arrived two hours late every day and did not know his lines. She also said she did not think they would work together again. (It is unclear whether Fonda was joking or genuinely scolding Redford.)

CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

The film's cast includes two Oscar winners, Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, and one Oscar nominee, Bruce Dern.

CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

This is the third film Jane Fonda and Bruce Dern have made together. Their previous films were They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) and Coming Home (1978).

EASTER EGGS & REFERENCES · SOURCED

The film's cast includes two Oscar winners, Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, and one Oscar nominee, Bruce Dern.

CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED