Amateur (1994)

Director:

Hal Hartley

Writer:

Hal Hartley (writer)

Release Date:

19 May 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Accountancy, Murder, Amnesia, Torture, Ecstasy, Understanding, Redemption

Plot:

Isabelle is an ex-nun waiting for her special mission from God. In the meantime, she is making a living writing pornography...

Plot Keywords:

Pornographer | Torture | Leather Skirt | Mother Superior | Amnesia

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Isabelle Huppert	...	Isabelle
Martin Donovan	...	Thomas Ludens
Elina Löwensohn	...	Sofia Ludens
Damian Young	...	Edward, Jaque's Accountant
Chuck Montgomery	...	Jan, Jaque's Goon
Dave Simonds	...	Kurt, Jaque's Goon
Pamela Stewart	...	Officer Patsy Melville
Erica Gimpel	...	Irate Woman
Jan Leslie Harding	...	Waitress
Terry Alexander	...	Frank, the Cook
Holt McCallany	...	Usher
Hugh Palmer	...	Warren
Michael Imperioli	...	Doorman at Club
Angel Caban	...	Detective
Emmanuel Xuereb	...	Bartender

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:12 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

19th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

Isabelle Huppert got the lead role by writing to the director and begging for a part in his next film.

Quotes:

Sofia: So I'm an article of trade?
Kurt: Yes. A useful thing in terms of classic capitalism. I studied economics, I know what I'm talking about.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Waiter (1997)

One of those movies after which you shake your head and say bemusedly, "Wow."

Hal Hartley where have you been all my movie-loving life? This was the sort of movie-watching experience which required my calling my best friend and telling her about it, as I would any noteworthy experience.

Yes, the ending was dismal... yet perfect! So much about redemption: This was clear if one remembers Thomas's feet at the beginning of the movie, and then Thomas's feet at the end. At that point, I saw the (one of) point to the story. I enjoyed the clipped dialogue, the clarity, AND the ironic absurdity. The story was not meant to be reality-driven, but limited to the raison d'etre of Thomas and the other characters: as in a dream, but not. Discovering it was a marvelous channel-surfing accident.

Now I must do a search on Hal Hartley. Check out his portfolio, so to speak. Rating 9/10.