CQ (2001)

A young filmmaker in 1960s Paris juggles directing a cheesy sci-fi debacle, directing his own personal art film, coping with his crumbling relationship with his girlfriend, and a new-found infatuation with the sci-fi film's starlet.

Director:

Roman Coppola

Writer:

Roman Coppola

Stars:

Jeremy Davies, Angela Lindvall, Élodie Bouchez

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Davies	...	Paul
Angela Lindvall	...	Dragonfly / Valentine
Élodie Bouchez	...	Marlene
Gérard Depardieu	...	Andrezej
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Enzo
Massimo Ghini	...	Fabrizio
Jason Schwartzman	...	Felix DeMarco
Billy Zane	...	Mr. E
John Phillip Law	...	Chairman
Silvio Muccino	...	Pippo
Dean Stockwell	...	Dr. Ballard
Natalia Vodianova	...	Brigit
Bernard Verley	...	Trailer Voiceover Actor
L.M. Kit Carson	...	Fantasy Critic
Chris Bearne	...	Fantasy Critic

Storyline

Paris, 1969. The filming of a sci-fi movie set in the distant year 2000 is in trouble. The director's obsession with the actress who plays the sexy secret agent Dragonfly has clouded his judgment and the film has no ending. A young American, in Paris to document his life on film with total honesty, is brought in to finish the movie with a bang. This proves to be difficult when the line between his fantasy life and reality becomes blurred, and he finds himself seduced by the charms of Dragonfly.

---

Plot Keywords:

dragonfly | secret agent | infatuation | 1960s | actress | 

---

Taglines:

What is Real? What is Art? What is...the End?

---

Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Sci-Fi

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [us] - trailer, synopsis

Country:

USA Luxembourg France Italy

Language:

English French

Release Date:

29 January 2003 (France)

Filming Locations:

Luxembourg

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$54,942 (USA) (24 May 2002)

Gross:

$411,034 (USA) (6 September 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists, American Zoetrope, Delux Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Special features on the DVD include two cuts of the movie-within-a-movie, "Codename: Dragonfly" - "Paul's Version" and "Andrzej's Version."

---

Goofs

When Dragonfly swerves her car in reverse in the tunnel, there are skid marks already on the ground along the path her tires take.

---

Quotes

Paul: It's a science-fiction film about a futuristic spy named Dragonfly.
Dr. Ballard: Oh, well that's interesting. Your grandmother used to call dragonflies "the devil's darning needles." She told me that they come in the night and stitch up your mouth if you use profanity or were otherwise voluble.
Paul: This isn't exactly about that...
Dr. Ballard: Well, maybe you can use it somehow.
Paul: Thanks, Dad.
Dr. Ballard: You never know when some little overheard story or image can find a place in your work.

---

Connections

References David Holzman's Diary (1967)

---

Soundtracks

"321...Zero"
Written by Patrick Woodcock and Pierre Begon-Lours
Performed by Mellow

User Reviews

The worst film I saw this year.

CQ was the worst film I saw this year. Nearly every film I choose to see in the theater is at least entertaining or has something to say. This film looked like like it was directed by a film student for his Intro. to Filmmaking class. His father makes great films. His sister made a good one. But brother Roman? NO! One critic had the audacity to compare this film to Godard's Le Mépris (Contempt). While Coppola, Jr. did take the same idea, a film about film, he tried too hard to make himself seem European, artsy, and witty, when it's all really just kitsch. The lead actor carries the same expression through the whole film, like he's either in awe or in shock of this film being made around him. Schwartzman somehow manages to pull off his role as a flamboyant director. Depardieu is alright. The one scene that has any real film spoof humor at all is, surprisingly, not the B-movie scenes, but rather one which takes place in Italy; a montage of shots of several various characters inside a very small car, driving around picking up and dropping off random people. This was the only thing that reminded me of the cinema I am guessing he was trying to spoof. Or rip-off. Or both. The documentary with the lead talking into the camera and filming various objects has been played out, the ending was tagged on for the sake of a "twist" or artistic value... I suppose the funniest thing about this film was the film itself, and not in the way it intended. No wonder this film was sent back after a festival screening to be re-edited or re-shot or whatever, which makes me curious as to just how bad it was before. I can't believe it could have been worse than this. If you want to see a good parody of film check out the Austin Powers films. Any of them. The opening to the third is more entertaining and more genius than this entire film. Lil' Romy, for the sake of cinema, PLEASE go back to directing your cousin's music videos. Leave The Godfathers to daddy.