Women and Men 2 (1991)

Synopsis: HBO presents this dramatic trilogy of short films that are driven by male-female relations. The series' second volume is based on the short stories of three well-known writers: Irwin Shaw, Carson McCullers, and Henry Miller. Walter Bernstein's RETURN TO KANSAS CITY (based on a story by... HBO presents this dramatic trilogy of short films that are driven by male-female relations. The series' second volume is based on the short stories of three well-known writers: Irwin Shaw, Carson McCullers, and Henry Miller. Walter Bernstein's RETURN TO KANSAS CITY (based on a story by Shaw) concerns Eddie (Matt Dillon), a struggling boxer who is trying to provide a decent life for his wife, Arlene (Kyra Sedgwick). The only trouble is, Arlene hates her life in New York City, and wants desperately to return to her family in Kansas City. When Eddie is offered big money to fight an extremely dangerous rival, he must decide if his wife's desire to visit her home state is worth risking his life over. Kristi Zea's A DOMESTIC DILEMMA (based on a story by McCullers) tells the somber tale of Martin (Ray Liotta), a businessman who is losing his wife, Emily (Andie MacDowell), to the bottle. Struggling to keep his children away from her while she's in a drunken stupor, Martin tries to make Emily realize the damage she is causing her family. Finally, in Mike Figgis's MARA (based on a story by Miller), Henry (Scott Glenn), an American writer living in Paris, takes a troubled prostitute (Juliette Binoche) under his wing, only to realize that his kindness is too much for her to handle. Poignant and touching, WOMEN AND MEN 2 is another example of HBO's commitment to producing thoughtful, mature entertainment. [More]