A young girl’s life is forever changed by the arrival of the titular character in Director Bruce Beresford’s new drama Mr. Church.
Beresford’s film tells the story of the unique friendship that ultimately blossoms between a girl named Charlotte (Natalie Coughlin and Britt Robertson), her dying mother Marie (Natascha McElhone) and Henry Joseph Church (Eddie Murphy), the mysterious and artistic man who enters their lives as the family cook and caretaker when Charlotte was just a little girl. But what began as a temporary six month arrangement becomes an enduring lifelong friendship replete with all the complications the universe can throw into the mix.
Following the September 5 DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Beresford sat down with Director Phillip Noyce (The Giver), to discuss the making of Mr. Church.
In addition to Mr. Church, Beresford’s credits include the feature films Breaker Morant, Crimes of the Heart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Fringe Dwellers, and Mao's Last Dancer; the movies for television And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself and Orpheus; and episodes of the mini-series Bonnie & Clyde and Roots. In 1984, he was nominated for the Academy Award for “Best Director” for his film Tender Mercies. Beresford has been a DGA member since 1981.