Savage Grace
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tom Kalin
Screenplay by	Howard A. Rodman
Based on	Savage Grace by Natalie Robins Steven M.L. Aronson
Produced by	Iker Monfort Katie Roumel Pamela Koffler Christine Vachon
Starring	Julianne Moore Stephen Dillane Eddie Redmayne Elena Anaya Unax Ugalde Belén Rueda Hugh Dancy
Cinematography	Juan Miguel Azpiroz
Edited by	John F. Lyons
Music by	Fernando Velázquez
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release dates	May 18, 2007 (2007-05-18) (Cannes Film Festival) May 28, 2008 (2008-05-28) (United States, limited release)
Running time	97 minutes
Countries	France Spain United States
Language	English

Savage Grace is a 2007 drama film directed by Tom Kalin and written by Howard A. Rodman, based on the book Savage Grace by Natalie Robins and Steven M.L. Aronson. The story is based on the highly dysfunctional relationship between heiress and socialite Barbara Daly Baekeland and her son, Antony. The film stars Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne, Elena Anaya, and Hugh Dancy.

It was an official selection at the 2007 London Film Festival, the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The film is based on the true story of Barbara Daly Baekeland (Moore), her husband Brooks Baekeland (Dillane), heir to the Bakelite plastics fortune, and their only child Antony (Redmayne), who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The story begins with Antony's birth and follows the family to the time of his arrest for the murder of his mother.

Critical reception

Critics gave the film mixed reviews. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has a 38% of approval, based on 89 reviews — the consensus reads "though visually compelling, the lamentable characters in Savage Grace make for difficult viewing."^[1] Metacritic, another review aggregator, reported the film had an average score of 51 out of 100, based on 28 reviews.^[2]

Peter Bradshaw writing in The Guardian gave the film four out of five stars, describing it as "a gripping, coldly brilliant and tremendously acted movie."^[3]

Accolades

Savage Grace was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay in 2008.^[4]

Sam Green response to the film

After the film opened, Baekeland's former lover, Samuel Adams Green (played by Dancy in the film), wrote an article pointing out that elements in the film were factually inaccurate, such as the ménage à trois scene of Barbara, Antony, and Sam having sex.^[5][6]

Green then took legal action against the film makers, which was still unresolved at the time of his death.^[5][6]