What Happened Was…
USA | 1994 | 91 min
Actor Tom Noonan makes his directorial debut with What Happened Was..., a skewed vision of a first date, that most universal of experiences, in real time, creating a humorous but sometimes frightening high wire act from his would-be lovers’ awkward pauses, bungled exchanges and desperate attempts at self-examination. Employing a unique workshop development process, Noonan builds the realistic and richly nuanced performances which steadily drive the film to its inexorable conclusion. Winner of the 1994 Sundance Grand Jury Prize as well as the festival’s Waldo Saldo Screenwriting Award.
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DIR Tom Noonan
SCR Tom Noonan
CAST Tom Noonan, Karen Sillas Won, 1994 Sundance Film Festival – Grand Jury Prize Dramatic, Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award Tom Noonan
Nominated, 1995 Independent Spirit Award – Best Female Lead Karen Sillas, Best First Screenplay Tom NoonanI expected something brave, darkly funny, painful and edgy from iconoclast filmmaker Tom Noonan. When the lights went down, the film not only delivered on my expectations but gave me much more. I was invited to share in the intimacy of the first date of two lonely New Yorkers brilliantly played by Tom Noonan and Karen Sillas with vulnerability and such honest desperation. Moved by many small moments of perfect observation, I was riveted by the film’s humanity and humor. As a supporter of Tom’s work, it was great to see this film win the Grand Jury Prize at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.
—Michelle Satter, Sundance Institute
