SYNOPSIS

THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS tells the story of Dr. Dave Hurst (Campbell Scott), who shares a private clinical practice with his bright and attractive partner and wife Dr. Dana (Hope Davis). Step by step, together, they have created their “dream life,” raising three beautiful children, in their home and country house. But they are also opposites. Meditative and methodical, he is deeply attached to the family they have built. She, more passionate and spontaneous, is still seeking life’s precious adventures.

Dana, an amateur soprano, pours her heart into a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform Verdi with a professional Opera company. Following the performance, she tells her husband through tears, she wishes she could sing the music forever. Dave suspects she is crying for a different reason. Unknown to her, Dave believes he has recently witnessed his wife in an intimate exchange with another man at the opera house.

Emotionally repressed by nature, Dave’s jealousy causes him to fantasize conversations with his most difficult patient Slater (Denis Leary), allowing him to avoid confronting his wife. Slater, a hard living musician with a toothache, having recently been ejected by his own wife, adds a running commentary on Dave’s personal conversations, churning up the dentist’s deepest insecurities and pushing Dave to the more primal side of his nature.

During an untimely family dilemma, when the entire household succumbs to a raging flu, Dave runs himself ragged, until fevers die down and he relaxes, believing that family equilibrium has been restored. That night, Dana does not come home. Slater goads the quiet dentist toward the brink of revenge.


TRAILER


RELEASE DATE

August 12, 2005

DIRECTOR

Alan Rudolph

WRITER

Jane Smiley (novel) & Craig Lucas (screenplay)

GENRE

Drama

CERT

15

RUNTIME

104 minutes

IMAGES