Un divan à New York (1996)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Chantal Akerman

Writers:

Chantal Akerman (writer)
Jean-Louis Benoît (writer)

Release Date:

21 February 1996 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A Man... A Woman... A Dog... The perfect combination for romance...

Plot:

Dr. Henry Harriston is a successful psychoanalyst in New York City. When he is near a nervous breakdown...

Plot Keywords:

New York | France | Psychoanalyst | Bohemian | Transference

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Juliette Binoche	...	Beatrice Saulnier
William Hurt	...	Henry Harriston
Stephanie Buttle	...	Anne
Barbara Garrick	...	Lizbeth Honeywell
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Dennis
Richard Jenkins	...	Campton
Kent Broadhurst	...	Tim
Matthew Burton	...	Wood
Henry Bean	...	Stein
Bernard Breuse	...	Jerôme
Adam LeFevre	...	Restaurant Patron
Boris Leskin	...	Cab Driver #1
Tiffany Fraser	...	Julie (as Tiffany Frazer)
Wendy Way	...	Employee at Airport
Jerry Dean	...	Cab Driver #2
David S. Lomax	...	Cab Driver #3
Jean-Baptiste Filleau	...	Julien
Lysako Karunga	...	Martin
Blaise Chakir	...	Thomas
Bruce Katzman	...	Jogger
Michael McCormick	...	Man in Central Park

Directed by
Chantal Akerman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chantal Akerman		writer
Jean-Louis Benoît		writer

Produced by
Diana Elbaum	....	producer
Régine Konckier	....	producer
Robin O'Hara	....	executive producer
Jean-Luc Ormières	....	producer
Jacqueline Pierreux	....	producer
Ingrid Windisch	....	producer

Original Music by
Sonia Wieder-Atherton

Cinematography by
Dietrich Lohmann

Film Editing by
Claire Atherton

Production Design by
Christian Marti

Set Decoration by
Christian Marti
Patricia Woodbridge

Costume Design by
Stéphane Rollot
Edith Vesperini

Makeup Department
Jean-Pierre Berroyer	....	hair stylist
Jocelyne Lemery	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gabriel Laferrière	....	first assistant director
Harvey Waldman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Michael J. Kinney	....	art department assistant
Robert Krüger	....	scenic artist
Eric M. Metzger	....	leadman
Marcus Schmidt	....	swing gang
Torsten Schwartz	....	lead plasterer
Bettina von den Steinen	....	assistant art director
Joey Weber	....	property master
Rachael Weinzimer	....	assistant property master: New York

Sound Department
Michel Filippi	....	adr supervisor
Gérard Lamps	....	sound re-recording mixer
Pierre Mertens	....	sound
Emmanuel Roulot	....	boom operator
Pascal Villard	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Uli Nefzer	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Stracy Diaz	....	stunt double
Armin Sauer	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Franck Fiquet	....	electrician
Jim Galvin	....	electrician
Eric Gies	....	electrician
Jean-Pierre Lacroix	....	gaffer
Heather Norton	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, New York
Linda Phillips	....	best boy: New York
Mark Schwentner	....	gaffer: New York
Eric M. Klein	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Byron Crystal	....	extras casting
Patrick Hella	....	belgium casting
Mary Selway	....	casting: London
Marcia Shulman	....	casting: New York
Jodi Collins	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anita Ellis	....	costumer
Deidra E. Govan	....	costumer
Mirena Rada	....	shopper
Leslie Yarmo	....	costume designer: New York

Editorial Department
Etienne Boussac	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mstislav Rostropovich	....	musician: cello
Sonia Wieder-Atherton	....	musician: cello

Other crew
Simone Acksel	....	production assistant
Patrick Boshart	....	location scout
Claudia Davids	....	production accountant: Germany
Dorothea Hildebrandt	....	production coordinator
Michael Charles Hill	....	distribution and marketing coordinator
Lina Martins	....	assistant: Juliette Binoche
Marni Wilkens	....	assistant location manager
Zoe Zurstrassen	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Babelsberg Film
• Eurimages
• Films Balenciaga, Les
• France 2 Cinéma
• M6 Films
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)

Distributors

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1996) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• BMG Independents (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• UGC Distribution (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (Argentina)
• Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (VHS)
• Fox Lorber (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Nelonen (1999) (Finland) (TV)
• Northern Arts Entertainment (1997) (USA)
• SF Video (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• TriPictures (Spain)
• Universal Pictures Vidéo (2000) (France) (DVD)
• Wellspring Media (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

A Couch in New York (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Finland:S | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Babelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Company:

Babelsberg Film

Juliette Bincoche is a delight

Dr. Henry Harriston, a psychoanalyst, is so sick of his patients he puts an ad in the Herald-Tribune asking to swap his New York apartment for one in Paris. Beatrice, who answers the ad because her friend Anne lives in New York, seems to get the better part of the deal. Dr. Harriston has a fabulous apartment and Beatrice's building is noisy and falling apart. Then Dr. Harriston's patients start showing up at his place. Also, Dr. Harriston's dog Edgard is lethargic and has intestinal problems. Meanwhile, Beatrice has a number of men after her, mostly borderline insane.

Juliette Binoche is pretty and so charming, and she really shows genuine concern for Dr. Harriston's patients--one in particular. Richard Jenkins does something unique and unexpected as one of the patients. And William Hurt eventually does show his talent as well. Most of the leading actors gave good performances.

The first half was quite funny, but the second half leaned more toward drama. Though there were funny moments, such as when Dr. Harriston tried to carry on a conversation with his friend Dennis while Dennis was taking an order at a restaurant.

The ending was very sweet. Overall, this film was worth seeing.