Birthday Girl (2001)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jez Butterworth

Writers:

Tom Butterworth (written by) &
Jez Butterworth (written by)

Release Date:

1 February 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Before They Share A Future, They Have To Survive Her Past.

Plot:

A thirtysomething bank clerk from St Albans has his small-town life exploded by the arrival of his Russian mail-order bride.

Plot Keywords:

Mail Order Bride | Internet | Russia | Black Bra | Bank Teller

Cast

Nicole Kidman	...	Sophia, alias Nadia
Ben Chaplin	...	John
Vincent Cassel	...	Alexei
Mathieu Kassovitz	...	Yuri
Kate Lynn Evans	...	Clare (as Kate Evans)
Stephen Mangan	...	Bank Manager
Alexander Armstrong	...	Robert Moseley (as Xander Armstrong)
Sally Phillips	...	Karen
Jo McInnes	...	Waitress
Ben Miller	...	Concierge
Jonathan Aris	...	D.I. O'Fetiger
Katya Barton-Chapple	...	Young Sophia
Rebecca Clarke	...	Bank Colleague
Mark Gatiss	...	Porter
Raj Ghatak	...	Bank Colleague
David Mark	...	Bank Colleague
Steve Pemberton	...	Duty Sergeant
Jack Pierce	...	Bank Colleague
Reece Shearsmith	...	Porter
Alan Stocks	...	Passport Official
J.J. Toba	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Canning	...	Airport Security Gaurd (uncredited)

Directed by
Jez Butterworth

Writing credits
Tom Butterworth		(written by) &
Jez Butterworth		(written by)

Produced by
Steve Butterworth	....	producer
Julie Goldstein	....	executive producer
Donna Grey	....	line producer
Colin Leventhal	....	executive producer
Diana Phillips	....	producer
Sydney Pollack	....	executive producer
Vicki Popplewell	....	line producer
Rick Schwartz	....	executive producer
Paul Webster	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Stephen Warbeck

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton

Film Editing by
Christopher Tellefsen

Casting by
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski

Art Direction by
Rebecca Holmes
Diann Wajon

Set Decoration by
Verity Roberts
Linda Wilson

Costume Design by
Phoebe De Gaye		(as Phoebe de Gaye)

Makeup Department
Robbie Austin	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Robbie Austin	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Adele Durno	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Adele Durno	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Ashley Johnson	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Ashley Johnson	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Carro Knott	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Carro Knott	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Deborah Lester	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Deborah Lester	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Vivien Mepham	....	key makeup artist
Trish Newton	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Trish Newton	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Peter Owen	....	wig maker
Simone Wajon	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Simone Wajon	....	makeup stand-by: Australia
Noriko Watanabe	....	hair stylist: Nicole Kidman
Noriko Watanabe	....	makeup artist: Nicole Kidman
Erica Wells	....	hair stylist
Paul Williams	....	hair stand-by: Australia
Paul Williams	....	makeup stand-by: Australia

Production Management
Stephen Barker	....	post-production supervisor
Jo Beckett	....	unit manager
Bernard Bellew	....	production manager
Caroline Bonham	....	production manager
Brad Roberts	....	unit manager: Australia
Selwyn Roberts	....	production supervisor: additional photography

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sallie Anne Hard	....	second assistant director: reshoots
Simon Hinkly	....	assistant director
Tanya Jackson	....	additional third assistant director: Australia (as Tanya Jackson Vaughn)
Christopher Newman	....	assistant director (as Chris Newman)
Janet Nielsen	....	third assistant director (as Janet Nielson)
Johnny Pacialeo	....	third assistant director
Adrian Toynton	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Simon Alderton	....	stand-by rigger
Bob Arthur	....	carpenter: Australia
Len Ash	....	dressing prop/storeman
Wayne Baker	....	carpenter: Australia
Richard Baldwin	....	senior set finisher: Australia
Brett Bartlett	....	carpenter: Australia
Shane Bennett	....	brush hand: Australia
John-Mal Billington	....	brush hand: Australia
Adam Brockbank	....	storyboard artist
Peter Burden	....	dressing prop (as Peter Byrden)
Julian Caldow	....	storyboard artist (as Julian Calde)
Will Cann	....	stand-by prop
Julia Castle	....	assistant art director
Tony Chance	....	storyboard artist
Gregory Commerford	....	set finisher: Australia
Chris Cull	....	prop master re-shoots
Glyn Dillon	....	storyboard artist
Jack Elliot	....	greensman: Australia
Martin Foley	....	art department assistant
Peter Gillbanks	....	painter: Australia
Roy Hansford	....	stand-by carpenter
Rosie Hardwick	....	assistant art director
Anthea Hodge	....	art department coordinator: Australia (as Anthia Hodge)
Geoff Howe	....	construction coordinator
Geoff Howe	....	construction manager: Australia
Steve Huxtable	....	carpenter: Australia (as Stephen Huxtable)
Enzo Iaconi	....	greens assistant: Australia
Kelly Jervis	....	brush hand: Australia
Gary Jones	....	props master: Australia
Verena Kahn	....	art department assistant (as Verena Khan)
Nina Kobiashvili	....	art department runner
Emmanuel Kostoglou	....	art department assistant: Australia
Eugene Land	....	carpenter: Australia
Edmund Levine	....	art department runner: Australia
Richard Locke	....	carpenter: Australia
Arabelle Lockhart	....	props buyer
Arabelle Lockhart	....	set dresser
John Maher	....	construction manager: UK
Kevin McCarthy	....	stand-by painter
Warwick Miller	....	leading hand: Australia
Campbell Mitchell	....	stand-by props
Desmond O'Boy	....	stand-by stagehand (as Des Oboy)
Claudia Parker	....	props buyer
Beth Pickworth	....	graphic designer: Australia
Mike Power	....	property master
Tony Reilly	....	painter: Australia
Chris Richmond	....	art department assistant
Alastair Ritchie	....	art department runner: Australia
Faith Robinson	....	construction buyer: Australia
David Robson	....	chargehand: Australia
Stephen Rowles	....	carpenter: Australia
Steven Sallybanks	....	scenic artist: Australia
Nigel Salter	....	dressing prop
Katie Sharrock	....	property mistress: Australia
Greg Stokes	....	painter: Australia
Michael Swingle	....	set finisher: Australia
Angus Tattle	....	construction department coordinator: Australia
Stephen Tulloch	....	carpenter: Australia (as Steve Tulloch)
Nick Turnbull	....	props
George Zammit	....	stand-by props: Australia

Sound Department
Philip Alton	....	dialogue editor
John Bateman	....	foley recordist
Derek Casari	....	adr engineer
Arnaud Clerici	....	adr mixer: France
Lucy Fawcett	....	foley artist
Richard Fordham	....	assistant sound editor
Ian Fuller	....	supervising sound editor
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer: London
Pauline Griffiths	....	foley artist
James Harris	....	sound trainee
Simon Hayes	....	production sound mixer
Eddy Joseph	....	supervising sound editor
Derek Lomas	....	sound effects editor
Nick Lowe	....	dialogue editor
David Lucarelli	....	adr mixer: Los Angeles
Ian Macbeth	....	assistant sound editor
Garth Marshall	....	sound mixer
Steve Mayer	....	assistant sound editor
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Malcolm Rose	....	sound maintenance
Richard Street	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Edelstein	....	supervising sound editor: US release (uncredited)
Esther Smith	....	sound technician (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Graham Hills	....	special effects technician
Graham Longhurst	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Nick Drew	....	visual effects producer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Simon Hughes	....	scanning and recording supervisor
Lorraine Johnson	....	scanning: Cinesite
Simon Johnson	....	scanning: Cinesite
Jolene McCaffrey	....	digital compositor: Jim Henson Creature Shop
Karim Sahai	....	digital compositor: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Michael Turoff	....	visual effects producer: Jim Henson's Creature Shop
Val Wardlaw	....	visual effects supervisor
Dan Ashton	....	scanning and recording (uncredited)
Sean Danischevsky	....	digital artist: Jim Henson Creature Shop (uncredited)
Jamie Lochhead	....	digital artist: Jim Henson Creature Shop (uncredited)
Jolene McCaffrey	....	digital artist: Jim Henson Creature Shop (uncredited)
Daniel Pettipher	....	title compositor: Mill Film (uncredited)
Karim Sahai	....	digital artist: Jim Henson Creature Shop (uncredited)
Val Wardlaw	....	digital artist: Jim Henson Creature Shop (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bennett	....	stunt double: Mr. Chaplin
Ray De-Haan	....	stunt double: Mr. Chaplin (as Ray De Haan)
Levan Doran	....	stunt double: Mr. Kassovitz
Sy Hollands	....	stunt double: Ms. Kidman
Rowley Irlam	....	stunt driver
Peter Miles	....	stunt double: Mr. Chaplin
Jamie Millington	....	stunt double: Mr. Cassel
Guy Norris	....	stunt coordinator
Andreas Petrides	....	stunt coordinator
Nick Powell	....	stunt coordinator (as Nicholas Powell)
Dominic Preece	....	stunt double: Mr. Kassovitz (as Dominic Freece)
Annelie Whitfield	....	stunt double: Ms. Kidman (as Analie Whitfield)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Abrahams	....	key grip: Australia
Ting Adisung	....	electrician: Australia (as Ting Adisug)
Robert Agganis	....	camera operator: second camera, Australia
Greg Allen	....	electrician: Australia
Paul Anderson	....	grip: Australia
David Appleby	....	camera grip
John M. Barbour	....	assistant camera: second unit
John M. Barbour	....	camera trainee (as John Barbour)
Sarah Bartles-Smith	....	clapper loader
Rob Birtles	....	grip: Australia (as Robbie Birtles)
Matt Bolin	....	electrician: Australia (as Mat Bolin)
Geoff Boyce	....	grip: Australia
Geoff Brown	....	electrician
Joe Bruneteau	....	electrician: Australia (as Jo Bruneteau)
David Bryant	....	focus puller: second camera
Robbie Burr	....	best boy: Australia
Damian Church	....	video split operator: Australia (as Damien Church)
Toby Churchill-Brown	....	grip: Australia
Pat Clark	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Huckle Cleary	....	stand-by rigger: Australia
Matt Clyde	....	electrician: Australia
Finbar Collins	....	electrician: Australia
Brett Cooper	....	electrician: Australia
Leo Cowan	....	grip: Australia
Bennie Cronjie	....	cable runner: Australia
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Chris Dodd	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Matthew Donald	....	grip: Australia (as Matthew Donnald)
Johnny Earthmover	....	electrician: Australia (as Johhny Earthmover)
Peter Eastgate	....	electrician: Australia
Terry Eden	....	best boy
Russell Fewtrell	....	electrician: Australia
Sam Garwood	....	focus puller
Steve Hall	....	focus puller: second camera
Kerri-Lee Hammelswang	....	assistant camera: second camera, Australia (as Keri-Lee Hammelswang)
Dave Hansen	....	grip: Australia
Peter Harris	....	electrician
Gary Havron	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Cliff Henry	....	electrician: Australia (as Clif Henry)
David Hird	....	rigging electrician: Australia (as Dave Hird)
Peter Holland	....	electrician: Australia
Adam Hunter	....	electrician: Australia
Matt Inglis	....	electrician: Australia
Glen Jenkins	....	electrician: Australia
Paul Johnstone	....	gaffer: Australia
Miles Jones	....	electrician: Australia
Warren Jones	....	stand-by rigger: Australia
Martin Lee	....	Steadicam operator: Australia
Michael Leslie	....	grip: Australia
Michi Marosszeky	....	clapper loader: Australia (as Michi Marrosszeky)
Peter McManus	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Ian McMillan	....	director of photography: second unit
Zac Murphy	....	electrician: Australia
Phil Murray	....	grip: "b" camera
Mark Newman	....	electrician: Australia
Zac Nicholson	....	focus puller: second unit
Danny North	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Gary Padget	....	electrician: Australia
Barney Piercy	....	clapper loader: second unit
Kenny Pitts	....	electrician
Larry S. Prinz	....	gaffer (as Larry Prinz)
Clive Rippon	....	electrician: Australia (as Clive Ripon)
Peter Robertson	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Robertson	....	director of photography: second unit
Adrien Seffrin	....	assistant camera: second camera, Australia (as Adrian Seffrin)
Gordon Segrove	....	focus puller: underwater unit
Beau Sevastos	....	grip: Australia (as Beau Savastos)
Howard Smith	....	Steadicam operator
Neal Stevens	....	video operator
Ken Talbot	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Mark Watson	....	electrician: Australia
Dave Williams	....	rigging electrician: Australia
Grant Wilson	....	electrician: Australia
Marc Wolff	....	camera pilot
Jules Wurm	....	assistant camera: second camera, Australia
Colin Wyatt	....	electrician: Australia
Al York	....	electrician: Australia
Darren Flindall	....	rigger (uncredited)
Peter Hodgson	....	video assist operator: dailies (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shaheen Baig	....	casting assistant
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Kelly Marshall	....	extras casting: Australia

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robyn Elliot	....	costume supervisor: Australia (as Robyn Elliott)
Kate Green	....	stand-by costume: Australia
Fiona Holly	....	wardrobe stand-by: Australia (as Fiona Hollie)
Elie Kamal	....	wardrobe stand-by: Australia
Helen Mattocks	....	dresser: Ms. Kidman
Helen Mattocks	....	wardrobe assistant
Sunita Mudaliar	....	wardrobe stand-by: Australia (as Sunita Mudalier)
Fiona Nicolls	....	wardrobe stand-by: Australia (as Fiona Nicols)
Paula Ryan	....	wardrobe stand-by: Australia
Allison Wyldeck	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Ruth Coulson	....	assistant editor
Paul Elman	....	assistant film editor
Mike Fraser	....	negative cutter
Matt Garner	....	post-production executive: Miramax
Tom Harrison-Read	....	editor trainee
John Heath	....	color timer
Adam Hughes	....	assistant editor: Australia
Darren O'Grady	....	first assistant editor
Mark Sale	....	assistant conforming editor
Claire Saunders	....	assistant editor
Louise Seymour	....	assistant post-production supervisor
Tim Wellburn	....	assembly editor: Australia

Music Department
James Bellamy	....	assistant music editor
Paul Clarvis	....	musician: drums and percussion
Chris Dibble	....	music mixer
Chris Dibble	....	music recordist
Steve Donnelly	....	musician: guitar
Bibs Ekkel	....	musician: balalaika (as Bibs Ekkel)
Paul Englishby	....	music arranger: "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World"
Martin France	....	musician: drums
Andrew Glen	....	music editor (as Andy Glen)
Isobel Griffiths	....	musicians contractor
Nick Ingman	....	conductor
Bob Last	....	music supervisor
Tony Lewis	....	assistant music editor
Gerard McCann	....	music editor
Igor Outkine	....	musician: accordion (as Igor Outkin)
John Parricelli	....	musician: guitar
Anthony Pleeth	....	musician: cello
Joe Rangel	....	music coordinator
Martin Robertson	....	musician: woodwind
Beth Rosenblatt	....	music consultant
Steve Watts	....	musician: double bass
Rolf Wilson	....	orchestra leader

Transportation Department
Phil Allchin	....	transportation captain
Derek Boyes	....	driver
Andy Cantrell	....	driver: Ms. Kidman, Australia
Del Cardy	....	driver
Anna Certoma	....	driver: Australia
Eddie Cook	....	driver
Nrinder Dhudwar	....	driver (as Nrinder Dhydwar)
Neil Finnighan	....	driver
Peter Graovac	....	driver (as Peter Graovacr)
Mike Harris	....	driver
Dion Hunt	....	driver: Mr. Cassel and Mr. Kassovitz, Australia
Dave Jones	....	driver
Tim Lion	....	driver: Australia
Jim Magill	....	driver
Dave Manning	....	driver: Ms. Kidman
Phil Mathews	....	driver
Bob McGovern	....	driver
Jimmy Muir	....	driver
Gerry O'Connor	....	driver
Cian O'Leary	....	driver: Australia
Barry Stone	....	driver
Tom Teely	....	driver
Peter White	....	driver

Other crew
Chris Baker	....	stand-in: Mr. Chaplin
Adam Barrington	....	floor runner: re-shoot
Andrew Bonello	....	production runner: Australia
Michael Brett	....	security: Ms. Kidman (as Micky Brett)
Claire Brown	....	assistant: Mr. Chaplin
Felicia Bushman	....	assistant: Ms. Kidman
Louise Carey	....	assistant: Mr. Chaplin, Australia
Jamie Centofanti	....	board operator: Australia
Jamie Chaky	....	stand-in: Mr. Chaplin
Gavin Charlton	....	chef
James Chasey	....	stand-in
Peter Christelis	....	conforming assistant
Julie Clement	....	post-production accountant
Robert Cogswell	....	double: Mr. Cassel
Paul Cotter	....	stand-in: Mr. Kassovitz
Storm Cox	....	unit assistant: Australia
Vanessa Critchley	....	production secretary: Australia
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Matt Dalton	....	post-production accountant
Tim Daukes	....	production runner
Lucy Davies	....	assistant: Mr. J. Butterworth
Julie Deakins	....	nurse: Australia
Belinda Dean	....	location assistant: Australia
Barry Dobin	....	trainee: FT2
Nicola Ebner	....	accounting assistant
Maria Farmer	....	unit publicist: Australia
Mike Fraser	....	rushes transfer
Serena Gattuso	....	production coordinator
Constantine Gregory	....	dialect coach: Mr. Cassel & Mr. Kassovitz
Jim Hajicosta	....	production accountant
Jo Harland	....	conforming assistant
Ben Harrison	....	daily floor runner
Maude Heath	....	location assistant: Australia
John Herbert	....	stand-in: Mr. Cassel
Jody Hewitson	....	unit assistant: Australia
Andrew Hill	....	health and safety officer
Simon Hill	....	assistant production accountant
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialogue coach: Ms. Kidman
Billy Hinshelwood	....	production counsel: UK
Dean Hood	....	assistant accountant: Australia
Paul Hughes	....	chef
Jeremy Johns	....	location manager
Ken Jones	....	armorer: Australia
Claudia Kalindjian	....	unit publicist: UK
Jerusha Kornner	....	unit assistant: Australia (as Jerusha Korner)
Tim Lion	....	production assistant
Andrea Littlewood	....	assistant: Mr. S. Butterworth and Ms. Phillips
Garry Macan Tanaister	....	security: Australia
Duncan Manning	....	head chef
Brec Marson	....	double: Mr. Chaplin
Peter Matthews	....	laboratory liaison: DeLuxe
Charles Mcdonald	....	publicist (as Charles McDonald)
Somoma Message	....	additional floor runner: Australia (as Sonoma Message)
Reza Mokhtar	....	caterer
Christine Moran	....	accountant: Australia
Cian O'Clery	....	production runner
Brydie O'Neal	....	stand-in: Ms. Kidman
Dan Palmer	....	post-production accountant
Luke Parker Bowles	....	production runner (as Luke Parker-Bowles)
Frances Patterson	....	assistant: Mr. S. Butterworth and Ms. Phillips
Tonia Pearson	....	assistant to producer: Australia
Robin Piggott	....	trade assistant: Australia
Allon Reich	....	production executive: Miramax
Katia Repekova	....	language coach: Russian, Ms. Kidman
Ian Russell	....	laboratory liaison: Atlab
Kevin Sainsbury	....	trade assistant: Australia
Louise Savage	....	stand-in: Ms. Kidman
Rick Schwartz	....	production executive: Miramax
Elizabeth Sharling	....	double: Ms. Kidman
Robert Simper	....	safety officer: Australia (as Rob Simpler)
Samantha Smith	....	floor runner: Australia
Samantha Smith	....	set production assistant
Nina Stevenson	....	production counsel: Australia (as Nina Stephenson)
Chris Stoaling	....	floor runner
Dathi Sveinbjarnarson	....	floor runner
Katherine Teakle	....	unit nurse
Piers Thompson	....	director: John's porn video
Fran Triefus	....	production coordinator
Lisa Vick	....	script supervisor
Michael D. Walsh	....	production runner (as Michael Walsh)
Christian Wheeler	....	conforming assistant
Adam Williams	....	double: Mr. Kassovitz
James Wilson	....	production executive: Film Four
Carl Wood	....	location manager
Dillon Yeats	....	trade assistant: Australia
Elton Farla	....	medic: re-shoots (uncredited)
Dan Huber	....	assistant: Julie Goldstein (uncredited)

Thanks
Lars MacFarlane	....	very special thanks
Anthony Minghella	....	very special thanks
Ed Whitmore	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• FilmFour (present)
• HAL Films
• Mirage Enterprises (in association with) (present)
• Miramax Films (present)
• Portobello Pictures

Distributors

• RCV Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (Greece) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Concorde Filmverleih (Germany)
• Egmont Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (VHS)
• FilmFour (2001) (UK) (all media)
• Herald Film Company (Japan)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• LNK Filmes (Portugal)
• Miramax Films (2002) (USA)
• New Films International
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Spentzos Film Home Video (Greece) (video)
• TFM Distribution

Special Effects

• Jim Henson's Creature Shop

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• 2020 Casting  extras casting
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  Avid systems supplied by
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting
• Mobile Mouthful  catering
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Philippines:R-18 | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

FilmFour

Trivia:

No actor in the movie actually speaks Russian, nor does the director.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When John knocks out Alexei with the guitar it clearly misses by quite some distance and doesn't break.

Quotes:

John: Excuse me. It's two Russians are staying here. Do you know which floor they're on?
Porter: Yes, I know which floor they're on.
John: [takes a banknote out of his pocket and holds it] And which floor would that be?
Porter: [taking the banknote] We've only got one floor.

Movie Connections:

References From Russia with Love (1963)

Soundtrack:

Funny How Love Can Be

truly funny, dramatic and awakening all at once

This movie really woke me up, like it wakes up the main male character of this bravely different movie from his life slumber.

This guy John (Ben Chaplin) leads his mediocre safe life of a bank teller in a small provincial English town, until the stunningly gorgeous, wild, girl-to-die-for Nadia (Nicole Kidman), ordered by email from Russia, enters his life to become his beloved wife, by Johns plan. However a glitch turns up - Nadia does not speak a word of Johns language. Although calm and emotionless on the outside, John becomes so interested in beautiful Nadia that instead of using the full refund policy of the matching service, he buys her a dictionary to start the communication process.

What happens henceforth in the plot really shakes poor John from his slumber of a decently-paid safe-feeling clerk into a decision-making decently thinking action figure, giving the viewer a subliminal message "you would have probably acted likewise".

Kidman, Cassel & Kassovitz make a great team acting Russians and they are almost indistinguishable from the real thing, "almost" only due to the slight accent present in their Russian dialogues, however slight enough to amaze a native Russian by the hard work done to get the words sound right. Nicole Kidman proves her talent once again by playing a character quite different from the previous roles, at least from the cultural background.

The pace of the film is fast and captivating, and you certainly are not ready to quit watching when the end titles appear, you rather feel that you're in the middle of the plot, and are left with a desire to see the sequel as soon as it comes out.

My advice is to go out and get this film immediately and watch it and enjoy. To sum it up, it has an unusual plot, great acting, and ideas below the surface. Like the idea of the "rude awakening" from the artificial safe routine life of a wheel in a Society's machine, the life which members of the Fight Club were so keen to quit and the machine of which Pink Floyd sings ("Welcome to the machine!"). I bet that in the end, John was rather off with Sophia on their way to the unknown than not having met her at all.

Thank you, writers, for the great story, and everyone else for this great movie! Please make a sequel! And you can stage it whereever and name the location whatever, because the authenticity of the place is irrelevant to the 99.9999 percent of the potential viewers, I am sure of it.