A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries

2h 7min

Drama

This fictionalized story, based on the family life of writer James Jones, is an emotional slice-of-life story. Jones is portrayed here as Bill Willis, a former war hero turned author who combats alcoholism and is starting to experience health problems. Living in France with his wife, daughter, and an adopted son, the family travels an unconventional road which casts them as outsiders to others. Preaching a sexual freedom, his daughter's sexual discovery begins at an early age and betrays her when the family moves to Hanover in America. Her overt sexuality clashes with the values of her teenage American peers and gives her a problematic reputation. Meanwhile, her brooding brother copes with his own interior pain regarding his past, only comfortable communicating within the domestic space.

Production Companies

Merchant Ivory Productions

October Films

Capitol Films

British Screen

Cast

Leelee Sobieski

Leelee Sobieski

Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 14
Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin

Mrs. Fortescue
Barbara Hershey

Barbara Hershey

Marcella Willis
Virginie Ledoyen

Virginie Ledoyen

Billy's Mother
Jesse Bradford

Jesse Bradford

Billy Willis, Age 14
Anne-Cécile Crapie

Anne-Cécile Crapie

Mademoiselle Picot
Anthony Decadi

Anthony Decadi

Schoolyard Tease
Harley Cross

Harley Cross

Keith Carter
Macha Méril

Macha Méril

Madame Beauvier
Nathalie Richard

Nathalie Richard

Madame Fournier
Anthony Roth Costanzo

Anthony Roth Costanzo

Francis Fortescue
Bob Swaim

Bob Swaim

Bob Smith
Luisa Conlon

Luisa Conlon

Young Charlotte Anne 'Channe' Willis, Age 7
Samuel Gruen

Samuel Gruen

Benoit / Young Billy Willis, Age 7
Michelle Fairley

Michelle Fairley

Miss O'Shaunessy
Scott Thomas

Scott Thomas

First Jock
Antoine Chain

Antoine Chain

Pierre Anloite (Billy's Father)
Marie Henriau

Marie Henriau

Social Worker

Release date

18th Sep 1998

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English, Français