The Spotlight director took the transcript of a real 1980 hotel conference on rising carbon emissions and built a funny, frightening ensemble piece around the fight over a single statement to Congress. The cast is stacked: Paul Rudd, Evan Peters, Amy Ryan, Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, Tatiana Maslany and Nina Arianda. If you like talky, smart films where the drama is in the wording, this is the one.
What to expect
A 104-minute American ensemble drama shot in the same hotel where the real meeting took place, screened for a festival audience. Expect sharp dialogue, rising frustration and a room full of character actors trading barbs. The film is set in the same St. Petersburg hotel where the real conference took place, which adds an eerie authenticity to the arguments.
Good to know
- Take the 1 train to 66 St–Lincoln Center; the A, B, C and D stop a few blocks south at 59 St–Columbus Circle.
- A Sony Pictures Classics release, it will reach theaters after the festival.
- Festival screenings start on time, so collect tickets and get in line early.
- If a screening is listed as sold out, check Film at Lincoln Center's site again closer to the day for released seats.
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Common questions
Is A Statement based on a true story?
Yes. It re-creates a 1980 conference on a government study about carbon dioxide and rising temperatures, drawing on the meeting's transcript.
Who is in the cast?
Paul Rudd, Evan Peters, Amy Ryan, Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, Tatiana Maslany, Mary Catherine Garrison, Nina Arianda and Zach Woods.
How long is it?
104 minutes.
