Apartment Zero (1988)

Set in modern day Buenos Aires, the film centers around a relationship between two emotionally crippled roommates. Adrian LeDuc is a lonely sociopath who is forced to rent his insane ... See full summary »

Director:

Martin Donovan

Writers:

Martin Donovan (story), Martin Donovan (screenplay),

Stars:

Hart Bochner, Colin Firth, Dora Bryan

5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hart Bochner	...	Jack Carney
Colin Firth	...	Adrian LeDuc
Dora Bryan	...	Margaret McKinney
Liz Smith	...	Mary Louise McKinney
Fabrizio Bentivoglio	...	Carlos Sanchez-Verne
James Telfer	...	Vanessa
Mirella D'Angelo	...	Laura Werpachowsky
Juan Vitali	...	Alberto Werpachowsky
Cipe Lincovsky	...	Mrs. Treniev
Francesca d'Aloja	...	Claudia
Miguel Ligero	...	Mr. Palma
Elvia Andreoli	...	Adrian's Mother
Marikena Monti	...	Tango Singer
Luis Romero	...	Projectionist
Oca Spirito	...	Woman in Cinema 1

Storyline

Set in modern day Buenos Aires, the film centers around a relationship between two emotionally crippled roommates. Adrian LeDuc is a lonely sociopath who is forced to rent his insane mothers room due to poor ticket sales at his revival movie theater. Jack Carney, the new roommate, appears normal enough at first but it soon becomes apparent that he is hiding something. As their friendship develops, Adrian suppresses his suspicions that Jack may be the government mercenary turned serial killer who has been terrorizing the city. The other eccentric residents of the building begin to worry as Adrian shows increasing signs that his mothers insanity may be hereditary. The shocking climax of this twisted tale of deceit, perversion and murder reveals the darker side of the human psyche.

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Plot Keywords:

roommate | friendship | deceit | insanity | mercenary | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK Argentina

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

15 September 1989 (UK)

Also Known As:

A nulladik lakosztály

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$670,774 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producers Representative Organization, Summit Company, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min 117 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liz Smith was cast at short notice after the original cast performer withdrew because of illness.

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Quotes

Adrian LeDuc: If that is a mask please take it off now, or keep it on forever.

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Connections

References The Conversation (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Cambalache"
By Enrique Santos Discepolo
Arranged by Luis Maria Serra

User Reviews

An Apartment Of My Own

I love to meet people who love "Apartment Zero" not necessarily as much as I do but who love it nonetheless. In Italy that's a hard thing and I kind of understand why. The dubbed Italian version is quite another movie and the video transfer is appalling. So dark you can hardly see anything. I hope the DVD puts an end to all that. The Italians don't quite get it. They much prefer Martin Donovan's first movie "State of Wonder", a movie that hardly anybody has ever seen, not even me. It is a movie impossible to find. In any case, I can't talk about "Apartment Zero" when I'm in Italy, even if the film won the Taormina Film Festival in its day. Italians tend to dismiss whatever puzzles them, I should know, I used to do the same. "Apartment Zero" presents a series of alternatives to its audience and I've had discussions about the why, where and whats of this film from people from every corner of the globe, except Italy that is. While Adrian (Colin Firth) and Jack (Hart Bochner) fight for the gun one of the two shouts "Do it!" Which one? I think it's Jack, I mean, it's obviously him, but some people think it's Adrian. At a lecture in Los Angeles, about two years ago, I asked Mr. Donovan about that point in question. He made a very dramatic pause, turn to me, smiled - I felt kind of dizzy - and turn the question back to me : "What do you think?" There I was, right were I started. Mr. Donovan explained in the most riveting way that the "Do it!" was the actor's idea and when in post production the sound editor suggested to bring the actor back to ADR the line. Donovan preferred to keep the production track as it was. He turned to me to say "Just to have the pleasure of having you, 15 years later, asking me about it" Of course, that is at the center of this fascinating film. The truth is exactly were you find it. All the different alternatives take you to one inexorable truth. Repression breathes monsters. The road you take to arrive to that conclusion is entirely yours, made of your own experiences of your own perceptions. The film treats its audience like a thinking breathing being, allowing all of us to include our vision, our colors, our shadows. That's why I consider "Apartment Zero" a film that taught me something about myself. I've been reminded it of all of it now, because we had a screening tonight at a friend's house and we argue for hours about the "Do it!" line, about Adrian and his mother about the true nature of Jack. Yes, I do love to talk to people who love "Apartment Zero" Tonight I found two of those in Italy of all places.