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39-662: Peter Kosminsky (born 21 April 1956) is a British writer, director and producer. He has directed Hollywood movies such as White Oleander and television films like Warriors , The Government Inspector , The Promise , Wolf Hall and The State . Kosminsky was born in London in 1956 to Jewish parents. He was educated at the Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School and the University of Oxford , where he studied chemistry under John Danby of Worcester College, Oxford and

78-603: A "daring, unsympathetic performance". Lohman's work was variously described as "the year's most auspicious screen acting début", a "tremendously weighty and extended role... [taken on] with great confidence" and an "awesome performance". Pfeiffer won the Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress and the San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress , and received

117-629: A National Film Theatre audience. Writing about the season in the Daily Telegraph , Jasper Rees wrote "Peter Kosminsky has earned that rare accolade for a director of television drama: a retrospective at the BFI". Describing him as "Britain's most controversial television director" and "a pretty much unique figure in contemporary television who has devoted his career to giving the powerful sleepless nights", Rees quotes Kosminsky as saying "I'd be nervous if I were clubbable. It would be deeply dodgy if I

156-477: A better screenplay." The performances were widely acclaimed, particularly those of Pfeiffer and Lohman. The New York Times called Pfeiffer's role the "most complex screen performance of her career... at once irresistible and diabolical", while the Los Angeles Times singled out her "riveting, impeccable performance in what is literally and figuratively a killer role." Variety described it as

195-667: A blonde-again Astrid lives in NYC with Paul, tending to her art: dioramas in suitcases depicting her life up to that point. As she passes them, she closes each stating she will never visit the horrors they contain again. Pausing at the final one depicting Ingrid, Astrid reflects that although flawed, she knows her mother loves her. Principal photography for White Oleander began on April 23, 2001. Filming took place in Santa Clarita, California. Barbra Streisand turned down offers to direct

234-460: A former stripper , recovering alcoholic and born-again Christian is Astrid's first foster mother. Initially interacting well, Astrid is baptised into her church. Ingrid finds out, setting Astrid against them. Starr, believing Astrid is sleeping with her live-in boyfriend, Ray, falls off the wagon. In a drunken rage, she argues with Ray, then shoots Astrid in the shoulder. Starr and Ray disappear;

273-559: A local comic book shop. He soon shows up in LA and they renew their relationship. He accompanies Astrid to her mother's trial as she awaits her time to testify. The courtroom empties early, and she goes to see what happened. Susan explains that Ingrid instructed her to not include Astrid's testimony. Ingrid and Astrid stare at one another as she is led away. Gutted, Astrid watches as her mother is taken back to prison. Paul asks what happened, and she says her mother finally let her go. Two years later,

312-691: A member of the Policy Council of Liberty , the campaigner for human rights, a past Council member of BAFTA, a Fellow of the Royal Television Society , a founding board member of Directors UK , (the body representing working film and TV directors in the United Kingdom) and a winner of the BAFTA Alan Clarke Award for Outstanding Creative Contribution to TV. Kosminsky directed Wolf Hall (TV, 2015) for

351-639: A nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress . Zellweger was nominated for the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture . Lohman was nominated for the Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Newcomer. Marc Donato won a Young Artist Award in the category of Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor. White Oleander

390-412: A rating of 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 61 on Metacritic , indicating generally favorable reviews. Stephen Holden , writing for The New York Times , called it a "rich, turbulent adaptation," and described the performances as "superbly acted from top to bottom." Comparing it to other films on the same theme – Anywhere but Here (1999), Tumbleweeds (1999), and The Divine Secrets of

429-519: A roaring standing ovation. White Oleander (film) Fifteen-year-old Astrid Magnussen lives in Los Angeles with her free-spirited artist mother Ingrid. Too young to remember her father, she relies heavily upon her self-centered mother. Ingrid's relationship with a writer, Barry, ends when she discovers he is cheating. Murdering him with white oleander poison, Ingrid is incarcerated, leaving Astrid under social services' control. Starr Thomas,

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468-477: A script by Leigh Jackson. The series presented a fictionalised account (though said to be closely based on research), seen through the experiences of three young activists, of developments in the Labour Party and its progress into Blairism , from the party's failure to win the 1992 General Election through its election victory in 1997 to its re-election victory in 2001. The first part, "Opposition",

507-754: A script editor in the BBC Plays Department but was fired within three months of starting work. With the help of BBC2 Controller Brian Wenham with whom he had worked as a trainee, he moved sideways on short-term contract to the BBC Current Affairs Department in Lime Grove to work on programmes such as Nationwide and Newsnight , before beginning his documentary directing career in earnest in 1985 under John Fairley and John Willis at Yorkshire Television . Programmes at YTV included The Falklands War: The Untold Story ,

546-523: A two-hour documentary made with Michael Bilton to mark the 5th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the islands. In 1990, Kosminsky began work as a drama director, directing the four-hour ITV drama Shoot To Kill , written by Mick Eaton and starring Jack Shepherd , for Yorkshire Television. It was transmitted in the UK as two two-hour films on 3 and 4 June 1990, (RTS Best Single Drama – 1990). The programme

585-630: Is The Promise (2011), a 4 x 100-minute serial written and directed by Kosminsky which was transmitted across four Sundays in February 2011. It stars Claire Foy and Christian Cooke and is shot entirely on location in the Middle East. Eight years in the making, it tells the story of British soldiers stationed in Palestine during the Mandate period 1945–1948 and the impact of those events on

624-399: Is compatible with all region codes and includes all the special features from the original DVD release. Sheryl Crow 's song "Safe and Sound", from her album C'mon, C'mon was the theme song for the theatrical trailer, and also the end credits. The Project (2002 television programme) The Project is a BBC two-part 2002 television drama, directed by Peter Kosminsky from

663-698: The BBC. Based on the Booker Prize winning novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel , the six-part serial was written by Peter Straughan and stars Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell , Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII and Claire Foy as Queen Anne Boleyn . The serial was transmitted on BBC Two in January and February 2015. and on Masterpiece (TV series) in the United States later

702-597: The Bafta Craft Awards. In 2024 Kosminsky directed a six-part television dramatisation of ‘The Mirror & the Light’ for the BBC, the final part of the ‘Wolf Hall’ trilogy. It again stars Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII. In 2009 Kosminsky was awarded an honorary doctorate in Arts from Bournemouth University and profiled on The South Bank Show by Melvyn Bragg . In September 2011 he

741-461: The UK across two nights on BBC1 in November 1999. Kosminsky's collaboration with Leigh Jackson continued with The Project (2002), a two-part drama for BBC1, about New Labour . The first film – "Opposition" – deals with the Labour Party 's attempt to reform itself into New Labour, as seen through the eyes of a group of student supporters. The second film – "Government" – shows what happens to

780-579: The UK on 25 February 1997, was a factually-based depiction of sexual abuse at home and in care and provoked considerable controversy. Its string of awards included the BAFTA Award for Best Single Drama – 1997 and the FIPA D'Or in Biarritz. In 1999, Kosminsky teamed up with writer Leigh Jackson and producer Nigel Stafford-Clark to make Warriors (1999), a two-part drama for BBC Television which told

819-570: The Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002) – Holden found White Oleander to be the only one to show "how children instinctively absorb their parents' attitudes and personalities." Andrew Sarris , writing for The Observer , named it as a runner-up on his list of the ten best English-language films of 2002. Roger Ebert , writing for the Chicago Sun-Times , was critical of the film, writing, "The performances are often touching and deserve

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858-492: The children beg Astrid not to report her, so she plays along. Astrid recovers in a hospital before being moved to McKinney Children's Center (aka "Mac"). After fighting with some girls, she befriends fellow artist, Paul Trout. Astrid is placed with former actress, Claire Richards, and her producer husband, Mark. Fragile but affectionate, Claire bonds closely with Astrid, who finally thrives. One day, Astrid discovers Ingrid has been corresponding with Claire and insists on meeting. At

897-875: The current situation in Israel/Palestine. The programme was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Drama Serial of 2010/11 in April 2011 and nominated for Best Drama Serial of 2011 by the Royal Television Society in February 2012. The Promise was dubbed and transmitted by Canal+ in France in four parts as Le Serment , commencing 21 March 2011. Kosminsky has directed two feature films, Wuthering Heights (1992), (with ( Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche ), for Paramount Pictures and White Oleander (2002), (with Michelle Pfeiffer , Renée Zellweger , Robin Wright Penn and Alison Lohman ), for Warner Bros. He has been

936-534: The film and play Ingrid Magnussen. Alison Lohman wore a wig throughout filming because she had just finished playing a cancer patient in deleted scenes from the film Dragonfly (2002). The film clip Claire ( Renée Zellweger ) shows Astrid as an example of her acting career is of Zellweger's own early performance in The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994). White Oleander holds

975-555: The films he directed and three programmes resulted. The Government Inspector (2005), starred Mark Rylance and told the story of the death of biological weapons inspector Dr David Kelly and the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It was transmitted in the UK on Channel 4 on 17 March 2005 and won a series of awards including BAFTAs for Best Single Drama, Best Actor (Mark Rylance) and Best Writer (Kosminsky). Next came Britz (2007), starring Riz Ahmed and Manjinder Virk. In

1014-464: The harrowing story of the first British peacekeeping deployment to central Bosnia in 1992-3. Starring the at the time unknown actors Ioan Gruffudd , Matthew Macfadyen and Damian Lewis , the films were shown on BBC1 to considerable acclaim. BAFTA Best Drama Serial – 1999, Royal Television Society Best Single Drama – 1999 and the Prix Italia for Best Fiction Serial – 1999. It transmitted in

1053-414: The idea. Astrid surprises Ingrid one final time in prison. Her appearance has changed dramatically. In control over her mother for once, Astrid demands answers about her past in exchange for testifying that Barry committed suicide. She hammers her mom with questions about Barry, her father, Claire, and a woman named Annie, whom Astrid vaguely recalls from her toddler years. Astrid seeks letters from Paul at

1092-463: The outside shouting, sometimes rather shrilly, about things that upset me and annoy. That was my upbringing, that was my training, and that's what I'll do till I drop." On 8 May 2016, after Wolf Hall won Best Drama Series at the 2016 British Academy Television Awards , Kosminsky, who directed the show, made a speech about defending the BBC and Channel 4 from government interference. This earned him

1131-429: The prison visit, Ingrid’s jealously exploits Claire's low self-esteem and suspicions over Mark's fidelity, which worsens her depression. Later, a bad fight with Mark makes Claire consider sending Astrid back to MAC. She begs Claire not to; Claire appears to recant, but ultimately dies by suicide later that night, devastating Astrid. Astrid tells Ingrid of Claire's death, and that she was returned to MAC. Blaming Ingrid for

1170-474: The same characters when Labour comes to power in 1997. Revealing for the first time some of the tactics used by Labour to bring to an end 18 years of Tory rule, the films were immensely controversial. Leigh Jackson fell ill with cancer during the making of the programmes, but survived to see them transmitted in November 2002. In July 2003, Kosminsky began his collaboration with Channel 4 and David Aukin 's Daybreak Pictures . Aukin encouraged Kosminsky to write

1209-547: The same year. It received eight Emmy nominations and ten BAFTA programme and craft nominations, going on to win the Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television award at the Golden Globes ; a Peabody Award and Baftas for Best Drama and Best Actor ( Mark Rylance ), together with Best Fiction Editing (David Blackmore) and Best Fiction Sound (Simon Clark and team) at

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1248-776: The suicide, Astrid announces she will not visit again. Now back at MAC, Paul tells Astrid that as he turns 18 soon, he will move to New York. He asks her to join him, but she coldly refuses. Astrid passes up good foster parent candidates for Russian immigrant Rena Gruschenka, who uses kids as laborers for her flea market business. With Rena, she becomes more cold and matches her outward appearance with her inside demeanor. Her mother's attorney, Susan Vallares, already under Ingrid's spell, approaches Astrid, offering anything she wants in exchange for lying for her mother in court. Astrid refuses, but Rena tells her she's stupid to turn down money. Rena offers to make her an equal partner in her business, saying she has nowhere better to go but Astrid balks at

1287-465: The wake of the 7/7 bombings in London, the two 100-minute films examined what it meant to be second-generation Muslim living in Britain today. Transmitted on Channel 4 as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations on 30 and 31 October 2007, the films won Best Drama Serial of 2007 at BAFTA and at the Royal Television Society . The final collaboration between Kosminsky and David Aukin for Channel 4

1326-761: Was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by University College, Falmouth . In January 2012, Kosminsky was elected by BFI members to the Board of Governors of the British Film Institute . His term lasted four years. In June 2016, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by his old college, Worcester College, Oxford . In December 2011, the British Film Institute mounted a season celebrating Kosminsky's 30 years in film and television. The programme included several examples of Kosminsky's early documentary work as well as more recent dramas. 13 December saw Francine Stock interview Kosminsky about his career so far in front of

1365-482: Was banned in Northern Ireland . In 1995, Kosminsky was fired from YTV by incoming managing director Bruce Gyngell and set up his own company, Stonehenge Films Ltd, to act as a vehicle for his television dramas. His first independent drama as producer and director was No Child of Mine , written by Guy Hibbert and starring Brooke Kinsella for Meridian Broadcasting / ITV . The programme, transmitted in

1404-768: Was elected JCR President. He spent much of his time at the university involved in student theatre, where he was treasurer of the Oxford University Dramatic Society . He produced Twelfth Night for the OUDS which toured to northern France and starred a young Hugh Grant . On graduation in 1980, he joined the staff of the BBC in London as a general trainee, alongside Kevin Lygo (now head of studios at ITV), Dominic Cameron (former managing director of ITV.com) and Peter Salmon (former Controller of BBC1). On finishing his training in 1982, Kosminsky became

1443-583: Was first shown on 10 November 2002, with the second part "Government" shown the next night (divided into two parts), both on BBC One . The cast included Matthew Macfadyen , Naomie Harris and Paloma Baeza . The series was shown by the Franco-German network ARTE in September 2003, under the title Les années Tony Blair (The Tony Blair years) / Projekt Machtwechsel (Project 'Power Change'). (in credits order) This article relating to

1482-428: Was in there hugging and kissing all the great and the good. It would mean that what I was doing was a game. It's not a game. I've devoted my life to it. I've spent month after month after month sitting in a small room trying to achieve this. I don't expect to be loved or admired or patted on the back or become a cuddly figure of dissent who's been in some way neutered by being absorbed into the body politic. I want to be on

1521-458: Was released on VHS and DVD by Warner Home Video on March 11, 2003 and includes special features such as the theatrical trailer, interviews with the cast and creators, behind the scenes footage, deleted scenes, an audio commentary with Peter Kosminsky, John Wells and Janet Fitch, and Cast and Crew film highlights. Umbrella Entertainment re-released White Oleander on DVD in December 2011. The DVD

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