HEAD OVER HEALS (Chilly Scenes of Winter)

A refreshing contrast to most of today's overproduced film extravaganzas, HEAD OVER HEALS is a charming comedy on a very human scale. Charles (John Heard) reflects wistfully on his happy past relationship with Laura (Mary Beth Hurt) and tries obsessively to win her back from a dumb jock named Ox (Mark Metcalf, one of the film's young producers). The acting is excellent throughout, with particularly fine characterizations by Kenneth McMillan and veteran Gloria Grahame as Charles' strange parents. Writer/director Joan Micklin Silver, a former Clevelander, is responsible for several successful films including “Hester Street” (1975) and “Between the Lines” (1977). She also produced husband Raphael Silver's directorial debut “On the Yard” (1979) a selection in last year's Festival. “An excellent and entertaining little film that should not be allowed to pass unnoticed.” – After Dark