Ismail Merchant

The White Countess -- Set in 1930s Shanghai, a blind American diplomat (Ralph Fiennes) develops a curious relationship with a young Russian refugee (Natasha Richardson) who works odd - and sometimes illicit - jobs to support members of her dead husband's aristocratic family.

Heights -- Spanning twenty-four hours, Heights follows five New Yorkers challenged to choose their destiny before the sun comes up the next day.

In this final film by Oscar-nominated producer Ismail Merchant (1994, Best Picture, Remains of the Day), and Oscar-nominee James Ivory (1993, Best Director, Howard's End), 1930s Shanghai provides the backdrop for this exceptional drama starring two-time Oscar-nominee Ralph Fiennes (1997, Best Actor, The English Patient; 1994, Best Supporting Actor, Shindler's List) as Todd Jackson, a diplomat blinded in a bombing. An encounter with Sophia (Natasha Richardson, Maid in Manhattan), an exiled Countess employed as a bar girl, inspires him to open his own club, but only if she will work for him. Sophia's in-laws (two-time Oscar-nominee Lynn Redgrave) and Sarah (Academy Award winner Vanessa Redgrave), greedily pocket her income, but denounce her as a bad influence on her daughter. When Japanese troops invade the city, a mass exodus ensues! Alone and afraid, Sophia clings to the only hope left to her - finding her missing daughter!

Diana (Glenn Close) is a legendary superstar who's attracted to Alec (Jesse Bradford, Swimfan), a struggling young actor who lives in the same building as her daughter Isabel (Elizabeth Banks, Spider-Man 2), a self-absorbed photographer who's about to marry Jonathan (James Marsden, The Notebook), atemperamental attorney who's trying to avoid Peter (John Light, TV's "Band of Brothers"), a Britishjournalist assigned to interview his famous lover's ex-flames. These five very different people meet, connect and resolve their relationships in this "wonderfully-acted, intelligently-written and directed drama. One of the best films of the season" (Jeffrey Lyons, NBC)!

An aspiring artist negotiates the cruel, concrete world of New York's bohemian art scene.

An egotistic stage diva and her daughter - their lives unraveling - must face up to their own shortcomings in this sharp, smartly-plotted comedy-drama. With James Marsden.

An egotistic stage diva and her daughter - their lives unraveling - must face up to their own shortcomings in this sharp, smartly-plotted comedy-drama. With James Marsden.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, a blind American diplomat (Ralph Fiennes) develops a curious relationship with a young Russian refugee (Natasha Richardson) who works odd - and sometimes illicit - jobs to support members of her dead husband's aristocratic family.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, a blind American diplomat (Ralph Fiennes) develops a curious relationship with a young Russian refugee (Natasha Richardson) who works odd - and sometimes illicit - jobs to support members of her dead husband's aristocratic family.

Spanning twenty-four hours, Heights follows five New Yorkers challenged to choose their destiny before the sun comes up the next day.

Set in 1930s Shanghai, a blind American diplomat develops a relationship with a Russian refugee who works odd jobs to support members of her late husband's aristocratic family.

A legendary superstar, a self-absorbed photographer, a temperamental attorney, a struggling actor and a heartbroken journalist undergo major changes in one compelling 24-hour period.