It's All About Love (2003)

Director:

Thomas Vinterberg

Writers:

Mogens Rukov (writer)
Thomas Vinterberg (writer)

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Romance | Sci-Fi

Plot:

It's All About Love is the story of two lovers and their attempts to save their relationship in a near-future world on the brink of cosmic collapse...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Hotel | Ice Skating | Airport | Plane

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	John
Claire Danes	...	Elena
Sean Penn	...	Marciello
Douglas Henshall	...	Michael
Alun Armstrong	...	David
Margo Martindale	...	Betsy
Mark Strong	...	Arthur
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Mr. Morrison
Harry Ditson	...	George
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Night Porter
Teddy Kempner	...	Brooklyn Receptionist
Indra Ové	...	Production Assistant (as Indra Ove)
Georgi Staykov	...	Bookish Interpreter (as Giorgi Staykov)
Anna Wallander	...	Young Interpreter
Mariann Rudberg	...	Old Interpreter
Michael Simpson	...	Master of Cerimonies (as Michael Philip Simpson)
Alexander Sapone	...	Boy in Street
Giulia Melis	...	Italian Girl in Street
Norman Fearrington	...	Hotel Bodyguard
Daniel Okine	...	Ugandan Man
Martha Siima	...	Ugandan Girl
Suat Kutlug	...	Robber in Subway
Larry Wendorf	...	Sleeping Man in Subway
Julia Forgy Viktrup	...	Reporter
Sean-Michael Smith	...	Pete
Ingemar Persson	...	Chef
Joanna Nowakowski	...	Young Elena
Dennis Kemp	...	Young John
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Aalam	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
Håkan Andersson	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
Betina Andreasen	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
James Cagnard	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
James Franklin	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
Ia Gustafsson	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
Morten B. Petersen	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Sandra Reid	...	Managers assistant (uncredited)
Ines Sebalj	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Manya Seisay	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Michael Sommerville	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
Gunnel Stenberg	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)
Trine Stårup	...	Iceskating Audience (uncredited)
Nick Wolf	...	Managers Assistant (uncredited)

Directed by
Thomas Vinterberg

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mogens Rukov		writer
Thomas Vinterberg		writer

Produced by
Marianne Christensen	....	line producer: pre-production
Bo Ehrhardt	....	executive producer
Tomas Eskilsson	....	co-producer
Birgitte Hald	....	producer
Stephen Hegyes	....	line producer: Vancouver
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	executive producer
Lars Jönsson	....	co-producer
Morten Kaufmann	....	line producer
Deborah Bayer Marlow	....	line producer: New York
Lars Bredo Rahbek	....	executive producer
Els Vandevorst	....	co-producer
Paul Webster	....	executive producer
Shawn Williamson	....	line producer: Vancouver
James Wilson	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Zbigniew Preisner

Cinematography by
Anthony Dod Mantle		(director of photography)

Casting by
Joyce Nettles		(casting: UK)
Ilene Starger		(casting: US)

Production Design by
Ben van Os

Art Direction by
Jette Lehmann

Set Decoration by
Jesper Lorents

Costume Design by
Ellen Lens

Makeup Department
Malin Birch-Jensen	....	makeup designer
Jessica Cederholm	....	makeup assistant
Anja Dahl	....	makeup assistant
Karin Fahlén	....	makeup designer: Claire Dane (as Karin Fahlén Lee)
Anna Granlund	....	additional hair stylist: Sweden
Laila Granlund	....	additional hair stylist: Sweden
Morten Jacobsen	....	special makeup effects artist
Tony Mack	....	hair stylist: New York
Anne Cathrine Sauerberg	....	makeup artist: second unit
Henrik Steen	....	makeup assistant
Angelina P. Cameron	....	hair stylist: Sean Penn (uncredited)

Production Management
Nicolai Berthelsen	....	production manager: Oslo
Malte Forssell	....	unit production manager
Signe Leick Jensen	....	unit production manager (as Signe Jensen)
Tove Jystrup	....	post-production supervisor: second unit
Christian Fredrik Martin	....	production manager: Oslo

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Toby Hefferman	....	second assistant director
Tim Lewis	....	first assistant director
Lance Reisch	....	second assistant director: New York
Iben Snebang	....	third assistant director
James Bitonti	....	second assistant director: Vancouver (uncredited)
Tarnya Cook	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Andrew M. Robinson	....	first assistant director: Vancouver (uncredited)

Art Department
Henrik Axholm	....	painter: location
Michael Back	....	carpenter: studio
Didier Bautz	....	plasterer: studio (as Didier Aime Bautz)
Christine Bechameil	....	scenic artist: studio
Jean Roch Bechameil	....	plasterer: studio (as Jean Bechameil)
Jacob Bierbaumer Næsby	....	carpenter: location
Mathias Ole Bojensen	....	carpenter: studio
Luis Bramsen	....	props assistant
Morten Buch Jorgensen	....	painter: location
Genice Carroll	....	props assistant: New York
David Clayson	....	carpenter: location
Niels Valentin Dal	....	scenic artist: back drops (as Niels Valentin Dal Hansen)
Michael Dolin	....	carpenter: studio (as Michael Dolin Larsen)
Louise Drake	....	assistant on-set dresser
Anders Dyck	....	carpenter: location
Sune Elskjær	....	storyboard artist
Anders Engelbrecht	....	construction manager: Location
Kim Fridbjorg	....	set designer
Frederik Fusager	....	art department trainee
Andrew Garnet-Lawson	....	scenic artist: back drops (as Andrew Lawson)
Charlotte Garnov	....	prop man
Simone Grau	....	on-set dresser
Rickard Grönvall	....	painter: studio (as Rikard Gr&ouml0nvall)
Arne Hansen	....	carpenter: studio
Erik Hansen	....	carpenter: studio
Tommy Roland Hansen	....	carpenter: studio
Yvan Hart	....	plasterer: studio
Dorte Herning	....	painter: studio
Peter Holmgaard	....	props runner
Morten Jensen	....	carpenter: studio
Lars Kihldorph	....	painter: studio
Sofie Kinngard	....	painter: studio
Rasmus Koch	....	lettering artist
Elvi Kristensen	....	carpenter: studio (as Elvig Kristensen)
Carsten Stenholm Larsen	....	carpenter: studio
Erik Lojborg	....	wallpaper hanger
Nina Lojborg	....	wallpaper hanger
Flemming Lundegaard Nielsen	....	carpenter: studio
Maria Mattson	....	painter: studio (as Maria Mattsson)
Frank Mortensen	....	carpenter: studio
Bent 'Niller' Nielsen	....	construction manager: studio
Jørgen Nielsen	....	carpenter: studio
Niels Evald Nielsen	....	carpenter: studio
Sten Nielsen	....	carpenter: studio (as Sten Lundegaard Nielsen)
Torben Stig Nielsen	....	prop man
Kit Bjørn Petersen	....	second assistant set designer
Amanda Ponsa	....	scenic artist: studio
Britta Rehn	....	on-set dresser
Sune Saabye	....	art department coordinator
Frank Sandhoff	....	carpenter: studio
Allan Scott	....	assistant on-set dresser
Torben Skalleræk	....	carpenter: location
Frank Stoltze	....	carpenter: studio
Leif Stoltze	....	construction manager: studio
Frederik Strömbäck	....	carpenter: location
Rasmus Thjellesen	....	assistant set designer
Jesper Thomsen	....	carpenter: studio (as Jesper Meyer Thomsen)
Tomas Torstensson	....	carpenter: studio
Adrian Täckman	....	lettering artist
Per Uffelmann	....	carpenter: location
Peter Vålming	....	painter: studio
Gina Wolpe	....	props assistant: New York
David Perun	....	property master: Vancouver (uncredited)
Todd Van Hulzen	....	assistant production designer: Holland (uncredited)
Matthew Versteeg	....	set decorator: Vancouver (uncredited)
Rick Whitfield	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen	....	sound designer
Jens Bønding	....	foley recordist
Tammy Douglas	....	sound mixer: New York (as Tammy M. Douglas)
Anne Jensen	....	adr editor
Per Dybdal Jensen	....	assistant to sound designer
William Kozy	....	sound mixer: New York
Hans Møller	....	dialogue editor
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist (as Julien Naudin Fra)
Eddie Simonsen	....	sound designer: trailer
Eddie Simonsen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ad Stoop	....	sound recordist
René van den Berg	....	sound recordist (as Rene van den Berg)
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Carsten Elkjær	....	special effects assistant
Stinne Fuglsbjerg	....	special effects assistant
Lars Kolding Andersen	....	special effects
Ilja Jonbak Nielsen	....	special effects assistant (as Ilja Jon Bak Nielsen)
Martin 'Marty' McLaughlin	....	snow effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Ian Bach	....	apprentice compositor
Mikael Balle	....	additional visual effects
Mikael Balle	....	digital mastering
Morten Balling	....	additional visual effects
Morten Balling	....	digital mastering
Morten Bartholdy	....	lead 3d artist
Jaron Brender	....	visual sets and machmoving
Niels Valentin Dal	....	digital matte painter (as Niels Valentin Dal Hansen)
Stuart Galloway	....	motion control camera operator
Esben Garn	....	hardware support (as Esben Ulrik Garn)
Peter Hjorth	....	visual effects supervisor
Tove Jystrup	....	visual effects coordinator
Tine Nikali	....	particles and volumetrics
Andrew Sargent	....	motion control camera operator (as Andrew James Sargent)
Lars H. Sørensen	....	additional visual effects
Lars H. Sørensen	....	digital mastering

Stunts
Stig Günther	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Per Arnesen	....	still photographer
Jakob Bonfils	....	Steadicam operator
Jakob Bonfils	....	second camera operator
Torben Borup Madsen	....	best boy electric (as Torben Borup-Madsen)
Torben Borup Madsen	....	pre-lighting gaffer (as Torben Borup-Madsen)
Claus Buchardt	....	grip
Radium Cheung	....	rigging grip: New York
Niels Dose	....	pre-lighting: ice skating arena
Philip Forbes	....	focus puller
Viggo Grumme	....	gaffer: second unit
David Harges	....	rigging grip: New York
Martin Hennung	....	video assist operator
Ari Issler	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, New York
Henrik Johansson	....	clapper loader: second camera
Nisse Johansson	....	focus puller: second camera
Morten Kastberg	....	electrician trainee
Cilie Kirkebjerg	....	video assist operator
Andreas Kragh-Jacobsen	....	electrician trainee
Eric Kress	....	additional photographer
Jacob Kusk	....	second camera operator (as Jacob Viit Kusk)
Robert Kustosik	....	electrician
Morten Lynge Larsen	....	film recorder operator (as Morten Lynge)
Oskar Larsson	....	electrician
Oskar Larsson	....	grip
Jeppe Lassen	....	grip
Bo Lundgren	....	grip: Oslo
Aslak Lytthans	....	best boy electric
Jacob Marlow	....	gaffer: New York
Mark Mavrinac	....	key grip
Nicholas Messel	....	gaffer: Oslo
Thomas Neivelt	....	gaffer
Jenny Nilsson	....	clapper loader (as Jenny I. Nilsson)
Chong K. Pak	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, New York (as Chong Pak)
Jens Peder Pedersen	....	grip
John Frimann Rasmussen	....	focus puller
Thomas Riebke	....	best boy: second unit (as Thomas Reibke)
Claus Rosenløv Jensen	....	focus puller: second camera (as Claus Rosenlov)
Pontus Rydén	....	electrician
Ross Sebek	....	camera assistant: New York
Lauren Wagner	....	loader: New York
Jesper With	....	electrician (as Jesper Witt)
Toshiro Yamaguchi	....	focus puller: New York
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Richard Win	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Louise Cross	....	casting assistant: UK
Gregory Kramer	....	casting director: New York
Fouzia Mouna	....	street casting: Denmark
Parminder Singh	....	casting assistant: Denmark
Eric Voge	....	casting: Sweden
Janice Wilde	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pernille Brandstrup	....	costume trainee
Sara Eriksson	....	wardrobe assistant
Louise Lindblom	....	wardrobe assistant
Sara Mau	....	tailor
Helle Nielsen	....	costumes: second unit (as Helle C. Nielsen)
Stine Brynjolf Pedersen	....	costume trainee
Margrethe Rasmussen	....	costume assistant
Margrethe Rasmussen	....	tailor: Elena and Betsy's costumes
Therese Sandersson	....	wardrobe assistant
Therese Schimmelsohn	....	wardrobe assistant
Signe Sejlund	....	costume assistant
Miriam Sohn	....	seamstress: New York
Sabina Sømod	....	costume trainee (as Sabina Sømod Jensen)
Stine Terp	....	tailor
Gaby Wehn	....	wardrobe: New York

Editorial Department
Jette Bjørkmann	....	negative cutter
Dorthe Brandt Bankwell	....	color grader (as Dorthe Bankwell)
Helle Hansen	....	negative cutter
Peter Hjorth	....	colorist: tape to tape
Thomas Højmark Pedersen	....	colorist (as Thomas Højmark)
Marianne Jerris	....	negative cutting coordinator
Bodil Kjærhauge	....	assistant editor
Evelyn Kristiansen	....	negative cutter
Lasse Martinussen	....	assistant editor
Pia Nielsen	....	post-production coordinator: second unit
Sara Reither	....	additional editor
Vagn Rose	....	assistant editor (as Vagn Eric Rose)
Cecilie Rui	....	post-production assistant
Morten Skytte	....	dailies
Jacob Thuesen	....	additional editor
Carsten Bramsen	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Laurence Aston	....	music management and business affairs
Urszula Chajdecka	....	music studio manager
Marcin Dziuba	....	music mixer
Lidia Halon	....	conductor: chorus
Sylwia Kicka	....	music production organization and coordination
Nagrania I. Koncerty Klasyczne	....	musicians: orchestra
Jacek Koltuniak	....	music studio engineer
M. Kmicik Lejman	....	musician
Leszek Mozdzer	....	musician: piano
Michal Nesterowicz	....	conductor
Rafal Paczkowski	....	music sound engineer
John Parricelli	....	musician: guitar
Andy Pask	....	musician: bass guitar
Zbigniew Preisner	....	music producer
Peter Schultz	....	assistant music editor
Stefan Sendecki	....	musician: samplers
Wojciech Siwiecki	....	music studio engineer
Leila Vestgaard	....	music coordinator
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist (uncredited)
Jørgen Lauritsen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jacob Belfrage	....	driver
Allan 'Killer' Christensen	....	driver
Greg Farkas	....	driver: grip, New York
Phill Formicola	....	driver: moho, New York
Bo Christopher Klint	....	driver
Michael Lindgren	....	driver: camera car, New York
Henrik Löfgren	....	driver

Other crew
Malini Ahlberg	....	production coordinator (as Anna Malini Ahlberg)
Nima Amin	....	stand-in: Joaquin Phoenix
Charlotte Andersen	....	production assistant
Lina Bach Christensen	....	assistant: Brigitte Hald
Lina Bach Christensen	....	production secretary
Jessica Balac	....	production assistant
Marcello Bartolini	....	production assistant: New York
Brad Baudach	....	ice skating choreographer
Nenad Belancic	....	runner
Stina Berggren	....	production secretary
Keith Berrenz	....	production assistant: New York
Nicolai Berthelsen	....	location manager
Thomas Björck	....	location manager: Kiruna
Sue Bodine Epstein	....	lawyer: Levinsohn Bodine & Weinstein
Sille Boel	....	intern (as Sille Just Boel)
John Jay Boul	....	double: Arthur, New York
Kevin Breslin	....	location scout: New York
Steve Byrne	....	double: Michael, New York
Thomas Carlberg	....	caterer: Denmark, Foy's Food Factory
Nicola Catullo	....	location manager: Venice
Alison S. Cohen	....	lawyer: Levinsohn Bodine & Weinstein (as Alison Cohen Epstein)
Mikael Colville-Andersen	....	script translator
Ginger Corbett	....	public relations: international
Frédéric Cueff	....	location assistant: Paris
Linda Daae	....	continuity
Gbatokai Dakinah	....	intern: New York
Thomas De Napoli	....	production assistant: New York
Frank Digiacomo	....	production assistant: New York
Kristian Dinesen	....	stand-in: Douglas Henshall
Duane	....	double: George, New York
Erik Eklund	....	catering assistant: Sweden
V. Erik	....	location scout: Dansk
Mona Eskelund	....	caterer: Norway
Morten Fisker	....	lawyer: Trust Fim Sales APS
Gillian Flood	....	accounting assistant
Asger Gad	....	location assistant
Peter Garde	....	bridge-financing supervisor
Thomas Golzen	....	script translator
Line Greisen	....	public relations: Nordic
Marianne Jul Hansen	....	assistant: Thomas Vinterberg
Lena Hansson	....	film consultant: Swedish Film Institute (as Lena Hansson-Varhegyi)
Anne Sophia Hardinger	....	runner
Sally Haskell	....	intern: New York
Malene Ibsen	....	crowd controller
Carina Juul Jensen	....	ice skating double
Magdalena Johansson	....	runner
Thomas Kelly	....	set runner
Mikkeline Kierkgaard	....	ice skating double: Clare Danes
Anders Kjærhauge	....	lawyer: Zentropa
Doro Klusmann	....	production assistant: New York (as Doro Klusman)
Nicolai Kornum	....	crowd controller
Katrine K. Kristensen	....	stand-in: Claire Danes
Thomas Kristensen	....	helicopter mount: Kiruna
Lise Krogsgaard	....	payroll assistant
Suad Kutlug	....	production assistant: New York (as Suat Kutluh)
Winnie Lam	....	location manager: New York
Calle Larsson	....	catering assistant: Sweden
Anders Lejonmåne	....	runner
Anton Liep	....	title designer
Jim Lindmark	....	studio manager
Ulla Lund Hansen	....	payroll
Ulla Lund Hansen	....	production accountant
Dan Lundström	....	location scout: Kiruna
Hans Lönnerheden	....	completion bond
Lea Løbger	....	crowd controller (as Lea J. Christensen)
Archie MacGregor	....	double: Mr. Morrison, New York
Tom Maguire	....	production accountant
Karlin Mann	....	location scout: New York
Ruth McCance	....	script consultant
Derek Michalak	....	double: John, New York
Pontus Muhrbeck	....	caterer: Sweden
Marianne Møller	....	receptionist
Søren Münster	....	runner
Sara Namer	....	intern
Mette Nelund	....	financial coordinator
Per Neumann	....	completion bond
Per Neumann	....	lawyer: Bech-Bruun Dragsted
René Nielsen	....	assistant: Lars Bredo Rahbek
Jeff Norman	....	studio security
Algren Petersen	....	location scout
John Pi	....	production assistant: New York
Ben Pironti	....	production assistant: New York
Anne-Mette Poulsen	....	ice skating double
Ramon Richard	....	production assistant: New York
Nønne Katrine Rosenring	....	crowd controller
Ann-Sofie Rørsgaard	....	assistant: Claire Danes
Julia Sandsten	....	ice skating double
Sebastian Schiørring	....	tv sequence designer
Katrine Schlüter	....	lawyer: Bech-Briin Dragsted
Ivan Schmidt	....	manager of operations
Sean-Michael Smith	....	dialogue coach
Carsten Sparwath	....	location scout
Niels Thrane	....	assistant: Joaquin Phoenix
Jacob Thuesen	....	trailer
Jeppe Tolstrup-Møller	....	location scout (as Jeppe Tholstrup Moller)
Uffe Truust	....	location scout
Maj Uggerhoj	....	ice skating double
Marcello Vallot	....	crowd marshall: Venice
Leila Vestgaard	....	location manager: Paris
Lena Victoria	....	production assistant
Jens Vilhelmson	....	set runner
Robert Vincent	....	crowd controller
Jonas Wagner	....	title designer
Gitte Wahl	....	company coordinator
Jillkerry Ward	....	double: Elena, New York (as Jill Kerry Ward)
Lars Weirsøe	....	location scout (as Lars 'Snitt' Weirsøe)
Claus Willadsen	....	pre-production assistant
Matteo Gottardis	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Anne Jacobsen	....	production accountant: Vancouver (uncredited)

Thanks
Nikolaj Egelund	....	thanks

Production Companies

• CoBo Fonds
• Danmarks Radio (DR)
• Det Danske Filminstitut
• Egmont Entertainment A/S
• Film i Väst
• FilmFour
• Filmpool Nord
• Isabella Films B.V.
• Keyfilms Roma
• Memfis Film & Television
• Nederlands Fonds voor de Film
• Nimbus Film Productions
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond
• Pathé
• Senator Film Produktion
• Shochiku Entertainment
• Slot Machine
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)
• Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO)
• Zenith Entertainment
• Zentropa Entertainments

Distributors

• Trust Film Sales (2003) (worldwide) (theatrical) (sales) (except Italy)
• Columbia TriStar Nordisk Film Distributors (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• DNC Entertainment (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (2003) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Pathé Distribution (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pathé (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Solar Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Strand Releasing (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Upstream Pictures (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Central Partnership (Russia)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2004) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordisk Film Video (2003) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Oy Nordisk Film (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Oy Nordisk Film (2003) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Softimage (3d effects produced with) (as Softimage XFI)
• Mental Ray (3d rendering with)
• Shortcut (additional visual effects)
• Snow Business International (snow effects)

Other Companies

• Brightlight Pictures  production services: Vancouver
• Composers Studio  music recorded and mixed at
• Craftsmen  film bus
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Film Finances Scandinavia  completion bond
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Film I Väst Trollhättan  studio facilities
• Film i Väst  studio facilities
• Filmgear  lighting equipment
• Foy's Food Factory  catering: Denmark
• Ginger Ink Films  production services: Kenya (as Ginger Ink)
• Go-Film  production office: New York
• Guy Wilson & Co.  production services: Kenya
• Kameraudlejningen  camera equipment
• Kodak  film stock
• Kompani Lande  casting: Sweden
• Marsh, Jens-Georg Hansen & Regina Hansen  insurance services provided by
• Premier Public Relations  public relations
• Shortcut  digital intermediate
• Shortcut  post-production facilities
• Studio S2/S4 Polish Radio  score recorded at
• United Casting  casting: Denmark

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for a scene of strong violence, some language and sexuality

Runtime:

UK:104 min | Argentina:105 min

Country:

Italy | France | Canada | Spain | USA | Japan | Sweden | UK | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:18 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company:

CoBo Fonds

Trivia:

Thomas Vinterberg took two and a half years to write the script.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When John and Elena are out in the cold and nearly freezing to death, their breath isn't visible, even though it is snowing.

Quotes:

John:There's a dead man in front of us.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in It's All About Love... og Thomas Vinterberg (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Una furtiva lagrima

And the Oscar for this year's strangest film goes to...

'It's All About Love' is a true oddity. It feels almost like someone recorded all the strange ideas that came into their head for a week, and chose a common topic, i.e. 'Love', and wrote a screenplay from their notes.

But that's not to say it's a bad movie.

In truth, I quite enjoyed it, although I came out of it feeling like I'd woken up from a dream, or possibly a nightmare.

It's quite unsettling.

The plot is both incredibly simple and incredibly complex:

John (Joaquin Phoenix) goes to New York to get a divorce from his famous figure skating wife, Elena (Claire Danes). While he's there, he notices that Elena seems to be in the middle of a vast conspiracy, and together they try to escape it, rediscovering their love at the same time.

The film is set in the near future, although it doesn't really need to be. I like the future in this film, because it's not radically different (except for flying Africans...go figure) but feels like twenty odd years from now. In the near future, people who are lonely or suffer a great loss will often drop dead. And the people of the near future merely walk over their bodies.

John and Elena are Polish, although they don't need to be. It adds certain poignancy, two foreigners not quite in place in a world that keeps putting them out of place.

Joaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes, while both very good (I think...it's hard to tell in a film as strange as this) could possibly have used some accent work. At times they speak with no accent at all, and it seems to distract.

On that note, I would like to point out how brilliant Claire Danes is. Ever since I saw Brokedown Palace, I have been astounded by her acting ability (although, that said, she doesn't do heart-wrenching crying very well). I won't spoil it, but under the circumstances of what happens to her character(s), she's incredible.

Also thrown into the mix is Sean Penn playing John's brother. I honestly couldn't see why he was in the movie, except maybe to oversee all the weather changes (think a far more subtle, low budget Day After Tomorrow with more meaning. For instance, it snows in New York in July, and there are days when all the fresh water freezes) I'm not saying it's a bad point, but another end that wasn't loose, but still needed tightening.

As I mentioned, the plot is incredibly complex. It twists a fair bit, until it seems to cut all things loose and start a new movie some twenty minutes before the ending. Still another way this movie unsettles me.

Visually, the film is stunning. It looks like a far more mainstream film than it obviously is. And while the film is beautiful, it still feels hard to watch, like there's something dreaded under the gloss.

If this reads as an ambiguous review, that's probably a good thing. I like this movie, quite a lot. But I also dislike it. It's easy to see why the DVD cost me $10.

I also like the fact that I own this movie before America even get an official release date. As an Australian, always open to release dates getting pushed back by three months, or movies being on DVD in America for about a year before we even get a theatrical release, this gives me a strange sense of superiority.

An incredibly strange movie and most certainly not everyone's cup of tea, I'll have to be careful of who I recommend this movie to. But see it yourself, as it's a movie that deserves an audience, just a very select one.

7/10