Cruel But Necessary is a 2005 independent film directed by Canadian actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

/director

Film director

A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...

 Saul Rubinek

Saul Rubinek

Saul Rubinek is a Canadian actor, director, producer and playwright, known for his work in TV, film and the stage.-Early life:...

. Actress, Wendel Meldrum

Wendel Meldrum

Wendel Anne Meldrum is a Canadian actress best known for her roles of Leslie the "low talking" clothing designer from the 1993 Seinfeld episode The Puffy Shirt, and school teacher, Miss White, on The Wonder Years....

, took a turn as a screenwriter for this project. Meldrum stars in the film as Betty Munson, a woman struggling to put her life back together after her marriage falls apart. Betty decides to videotape family, friends, and others to help understand the truth of her life. Meldrum's own ex-husband, Mark Humphrey

Mark Humphrey

Mark Adrian Humphrey is a Canadian actor best known for the role of Jake Antonelli in the Canadian television series E.N.G. In 1988 he made his feature film debut in the film Iron Eagle II as Captain Matt Cooper, Doug Masters' surviving best friend...

, and son, Luke Humphrey, play her onscreen ex-husband and son.

Portions of Cruel But Necessary were posted on YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

 beginning in 2007. The film was released on DVD November 11, 2008.

Cast

Wendel Meldrum

Wendel Meldrum

Wendel Anne Meldrum is a Canadian actress best known for her roles of Leslie the "low talking" clothing designer from the 1993 Seinfeld episode The Puffy Shirt, and school teacher, Miss White, on The Wonder Years....

 as Betty Munson

Mark Humphrey

Mark Humphrey

Mark Adrian Humphrey is a Canadian actor best known for the role of Jake Antonelli in the Canadian television series E.N.G. In 1988 he made his feature film debut in the film Iron Eagle II as Captain Matt Cooper, Doug Masters' surviving best friend...

 as Doug Munson

Luke Humphrey as Darwin Munson

Fred Goss

Fred Goss

Fred Goss is an American TV actor, director, writer, producer and comedian.-As writer:Goss began writing and staging his own plays in his twenties. He wrote sketch comedy during his thirties, primarily at the Los Angeles based, ACME Comedy Theater. More recently, Fred wrote many of the episodes...

 as Chad

James O'Connell as Teddy

Julie Payne

Julie K. Payne

Julie K. Payne is an American television, film and stage actress who, in a career lasting over four decades, has specialized primarily in comedy roles as well as voice acting...

 as Pearl

Lisa Zane

Lisa Zane

Elizabeth Frances "Lisa" Zane is an American actress and singer who has starred on stage, in film and television.-Personal life:...

 as Gynecologist

Awards

Outstanding Actress in a Female Role, Wendel Meldrum

Wendel Meldrum

Wendel Anne Meldrum is a Canadian actress best known for her roles of Leslie the "low talking" clothing designer from the 1993 Seinfeld episode The Puffy Shirt, and school teacher, Miss White, on The Wonder Years....

- 2007 Winnipeg International Film Festival.

External links

• Cruel But Necessary Official Site
• Cruel But Necessary - Trailer on YouTube.com
• Variety.com Review by Ken Eisner (June 2005)
• DVD Press Release by Somerville House (2008)