Asylum
Non-Series
Patrick McGrath
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0679452281
Published: February 1997
Synopsis: Stella Raphael, a woman of great
beauty and formidable intelligence, is married to Max, a staid and
unimaginative forensic psychiatrist. Max has taken a job in a huge
top-security mental hospital in rural England and Stella, far from
London society, finds herself restless and bored.
Then into her lonely existence comes Edgar Stark, a brilliant sculptor
confined to the hospital after killing his wife in a psychotic rage. He
comes to Stella's garden merely to rebuild an old, Victorian
conservatory, but there's an overwhelming physical attraction to this
desperate man that Stella is powerless to ignore. Their explosive
affair pits them against Stella's husband, her child, and the entire
institution. When the crisis comes, Stella makes her decision -- one
that will destroy several lives and precipitate an appalling tragedy
that could only be fueled by illicit sexual love.
Asylum
David Mackenzie, Director
Natasha Richardson: Stella Raphael
Hugh Bonneville: Max Raphael
Gus Lewis: Charlie Raphael
Ian McKellen: Dr. Peter Cleave
Joss Ackland: Jack Straffen
Wanda Ventham: Bridie Straffen
Sara Thurston: Mrs. Rose (as Sarah Thurstan)
Alwyne Taylor: Monica
Maria Aitken: Claudia Greene
Hazel Douglas: Lilly
Anna Keaveney: Mrs. Bain
Marton Csokas: Edgar Stark
Source: Paramount
Original Release: 08/12/2005 (limited US)
DVD Release: 01/17/2006
Rating: R
Time: 1:39:00
Format: Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
