Sunshine State

[J.A.F._Doorhof]

From: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Edie Falco sparks the film! Angela Bassett is stunning!. John Sayles lets it rip! Peter Travcrs, Rolling Stone

John Sayles has a large, rich imagination and mines an abundance of comic and dramatic gold. Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Jane Alexander, Angela Bassett, Gordon Clapp, Edie Falco, Miguel Ferrer, Timothy Hutton, James McDaniel and Mary Steenburgen Star in Director John Sayles' Sunshine State Due on DVD and Videocassette on November 19

Culver City, Ca. Sept. 10, 2002 -- Sunshine State, acclaimed director John Sayles' 13th film, will be released on DVD and videocassette on November 19, 2002 by Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (CTHE). This personal drama features a sterling ensemble cast featuring Oscar-nominee Angela Bassett (What's Love Got To Do With It, Passion Fish), double-Emmy Award winner Edie Falco ("The Sopranos," Bullets Over Broadway) and Oscar-winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People, Taps).

Rounding out the cast is four-time Oscar nominee Jane Alexander (All The President's Men, Kramer vs. Kramer), Mary Alice (A Perfect World, Bonfire of the Vanities), Gordon Clapp (Return of the Secaucus Seven, Rules of Engagement), Miguel Ferrer ("Twin Peaks," Robocop) and James McDaniel ("NYPD Blue," Malcolm X).

Set in Plantation Island Florida, Sunshine State unfolds during the weeklong Buccaneer Days Festival, a new "tradition" created by the local Chamber of Commerce. But local real estate developers are changing the modest beachside community into an upscale, manicured resort for winter-weary Northerners. The long-time locals are divided on whether to cash in or stand their ground. Plantation Island, like its residents, is in transition. There's Marly (Falco) running her father's motel and hating every minute of it. Lester and Greg (Ferrer and Perry Lang, The Big Red One) will stop at nothing to buy the motel, and Dad (Ralph Waite, "The Waltons," Cliffhanger) will never sell. Mom (Alexander) is living in her own dream world down at the Community Theater when she's not off at the Audubon meetings, saving what's left of the natural habitat. Marly is wasting away in Margaritaville, dodging her ex-husband (Richard Edson, Platoon,), losing her golf pro (Marc Blucas, We Were Soldiers) and tempted by the new guy in town (Hutton) - even though he is definitely working for the other side.

Then we have Desiree (Bassett) back for her first real visit home since she left under a cloud 25 years ago. She doesn't trust her mother Eunice (Alice) and won't be drawn into staying in the black enclave of Lincoln Beach, even though family friend Dr. Lloyd (Bill Cobbs, Silkwood) works her pretty hard. Her trophy husband Dr. Reginald Perry (McDaniel) does his best to fit in, but he's worried about the old boyfriend Flash Phillips (Tom Wright, City of Hope). And nobody's comfortable with the boy Eunice has taken in, a young arsonist named Terrell (Alex Lewis in his screen debut).

Chamber of Commerce stalwart Francine Pinckney (Steenburgen) keeps a smile on her face and pom poms high, championing Buccaneer Days through its course. She's too busy to see much of her husband, banker Earl (Clapp) whose gambling debts are giving him problems of his own.

Welcome to Florida!

Sunshine State is a Sony Pictures Classics release in association with Anarchists' Convention production. Produced by Maggie Renzi. Written, directed and edited by John Sayles.

Sunshine State DVD Features Include
Director's Commentary
Digitally Mastered Audio and Video Widescreen Presentation
Audio: English 5.0
Subtitles: English, French
Theatrical Trailers
Interactive Menus
Scene Selections

MPAA Rating: PG-13
Color Closed Captioned
Running Time: 141 minutes
#07906
UPC Code: 0-43396-07906
DVD SLP: $24.95 VHS #08085
UPC Code: 0-43396-08085-0
VHS Spanish Subtitled #08087
UPC Code: 0-43396-08087-4
DVD Order Date: 10/17/02
Street Date: 11/19/02 VHS
Order Date: 10/29/02
Street Date: 11/19/02