Twenty years ago, Whit Stillman was one of the hottest indie directors in the wake of his stunning debut, “Metropolitan,” which premiered at the 1990 Sundance Film Festival.
Sadly, over the past two decades, this gifted writer-director has made only a few films, for one reason or another. We therefore welcome back the new movie “Violet Wister’s Damsels in Distress,” which Stillman wrote but did not direct.
Sony Pictures Classics announced that they will release Oscar nominated Whit Stillman’s latest film “Violet Wister’s Damsels in Distress” worldwide. Martin Shafer and Liz Glotzer produced alongside Stillman, who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars Greta Gerwig (Greenberg, upcoming Arthur remake), Adam Brody, and Analeigh Tipton.
A comedy, Violet Wister’s “Damsels in Distress” follows three beautiful girls who set out to revolutionize life at a grungy East Coast university. They are the dynamic leader Violet Wister (Gerwig), principled Rose (Megalyn Echikunwoke) and the sexy Heather (Carrie MacLemore).
The women welcome transfer student Lily (Tipton) into their group which seeks to help severely depressed students with a program of good scent and musical dance numbers.
In due course, the girls become romantically entangled with a series of men –including slick Charlie (Brody), dreamboat Xavier (Hugo Becker) and the mad frat pack of Frank (Ryan Metcalf) and Thor (Billy Magnussen)—who threaten the girls’ friendship and sanity.
The film was privately financed and entirely filmed in New York State. The physical production was supervised by Co-Producer Charlie Dibe and Line Producer Jacob Jaffke.
Stillman’s previous credits include “Metropolitan,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, as well as “The Last days of Disco” and “Barcelona.”
“We’ve long admired Whit’s films and Violet Wister’s “Damsels in Distress” marries his unique sensibility with the kind of acerbic comedy audiences love. That Martin and Liz are producing the film alongside Whit makes this the perfect partnership for Sony Pictures Classics,” Tom Bernard, co-president said.
Producer Martin Shafer adds, “After having worked with Sony Pictures Classics on several films in the past and with Whit on his last two pictures, I am thrilled for us all to be united on Violet Wister’s “Damsels in Distress.”
