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In the next 24 hours, Joe and Sally Therrian's roller-coaster marriage will go through an unexpected transformation - witnessed and abetted by their closest friends at a truly unforgettable gathering. As the party games grow serious, what becomes clear is that Joe and Sally stand on the precipice of change, asking the questions facing all modern relationships.
Released by Entertainment In Video on DVD 28th June 2004, The Anniversary Party marks the feature film directorial debut of award-winning actors and Broadway co-stars Jennifer Jason Leigh (In the Cut, Road to Perdition, eXistenZ, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, Single White Female) and Alan Cumming (X-Men 1-3, Spy Kids 1-3, Nicholas Nickleby, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas).
Casting their friends in the lead roles - among them Academy Award Winner Gwyneth Paltrow (Shallow Hal, The Talented Mr Ripley, Shakespeare In Love), Kevin Kline (Life As A House, In & Out, Dave, A Fish Called Wanda), Phoebe Cates (Princess Caraboo, Gremlins), Jennifer Beals (Flashdance), John Benjamin Hickey (The Bone Collector, The General's Daughter, Law & Order, NYPD Blue), Denis O'Hare (Hamlet, Sweet & Lowdown). Parker Posey (Suburbia, Dazed and Confused, You've Got Mail), Jane Adams (Wonder Boys, You've Got Mail, Father of the Bride II) and John C. Reilly (The Perfect Storm, Magnolia, What's Eating Gilbert Grape) - and shooting on digital video to give the film more intimacy and freedom than mainstream Hollywood dramas, the result is a biting, closely observed and often very funny portrait of marriage and friendships, warts and all.
To celebrate their sixth anniversary, successful novelist Joe Therrian (Alan Cumming) and his wife, famous Hollywood actress Sally (Jennifer Jason Leigh), invite their friends and neighbours over for a party. Sally and Joe have only recently reconciled after a separation, and the strain in their relationship reveals itself as the party progresses.
A particularly difficult topic is Joe's casting of trendy young actress Skye Davidson (Gwyneth Paltrow) in a film based on his latest novel - a role that might have gone to Sally had she not been deemed too old to play it. Among those who have also gathered for the occasion are the insecure director Mac (John C Reilly) and his neurotic, anorexic wife Clair (Jane Adams); a sexy photographer (Jennifer Beals) who once slept with Joe; movie star Cal Gold (Kevin Kline) and his wife Sophia (Phoebe Cates), who has given up her career to support their children.
But an unexpected gift sends the party spiralling out of control and unleashes an explosion of painful confessions.