Lawless Heart (2001)

Three intersecting stories about people whose lives are affected by the death of a gay restaurateur.

Directors:

Tom Hunsinger, Neil Hunter

Writers:

Neil Hunter, Tom Hunsinger

Stars:

Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, Douglas Henshall

8 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bill Nighy	...	Dan
Tom Hollander	...	Nick
Douglas Henshall	...	Tim
Clémentine Célarié	...	Corrine
Ellie Haddington	...	Judy
Sukie Smith	...	Charlie
Josephine Butler	...	Leah
Stuart Laing	...	David
Sally Hurst	...	Michelle
Dominic Hall	...	Darren
Jim McManus	...	Chef
Howard Gossington	...	Waiter
Richard Cant	...	Michael
Hari Dhillon	...	Will (as Hari Dillon)
Peter Symonds	...	Mr. Marsh - Tim's Father

Storyline

Devastated by Stuart's death, his brother-in-law, lover and best friend decide to take their lives in hand. Dan is a faithful and loving father and husband, until the day he meets Corinne. This buxom and sublime Frenchwoman seduces Dan with her honesty and hedonism, so much so that he wonders if he hasn't missed out on life. Nick, a homosexual restaurant owner, begins a relationship with a high-spirited young woman right after losing his lover, Stuart. When their apparently innocent relationship takes a more intimate turn, Nick is troubled by his feelings for his female comrade. Tim, carefree and charismatic, comes home after eight years abroad. Still looking for that "elusive something" that has been missing in his life, Tim finds it in a woman who works in a fashion boutique. But confronted with his future for the first time, the only thing that stands in the way is this unknown woman's past.

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Plot Keywords:

death | lover | restaurateur | restaurant | gay | 

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Taglines:

We think we live in a rational world...then we screw it up

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality/nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

First Look Pictures [us] Official site [uk]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

A sors fintora

Filming Locations:

Douglas, Isle of Man

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$15,544 (USA) (21 February 2003)

Gross:

$330,067 (USA) (15 August 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Overseas FilmGroup, Isle of Man Film Commission, Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min 110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

Special thanks to ... all at Casarotta ... the residents of Maldon, Essex and the Isle of Man.

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Soundtracks

"Broken Skin"
(1999)
Written by Nitin Sawhney, Sanchita Farruque
Published by Zomba Music Publishing Ltd
Performed by Nitin Sawhney
Licensed courtesy of Outcaste Records Limited

User Reviews

Entwined Lives

In the funeral of Stuart, his sister Judy (Ellie Haddington) defends to her husband Dan (Bill Nighy) that his money should be delivered to his mate, the gay restaurateur Nick (Tom Hollander) since there is no will but that should be the wish if his brother-in-law. The faithful Dan meets the Frenchwoman Corrine (Clémentine Célarié) and he has the feeling that part of his life was lost. Meanwhile the grieving Nick hosts Stuart's best friend, the former hippie Tim (Douglas Henshall) at home. Tim has a crush on the worker of a fashion store Leah (Josephine Butler), who is heartbroken and healing from her last love affair, and he decides to give a party for her at Nick's place. After the party, Dan never meets Corrine in respect to his wife and but the drunken Michelle (Sally Hurst) gives a BJ on him; Nick befriends Charlie (Sukie Smith) that falls in love for him; and Tim finds that Leah's secret love is his stepbrother David (Stuart Laing).

After a complicated beginning due to the great number of characters, "Lawless Heart" becomes interesting with the entwined lives of several lead characters and the same story is retold centered in Dan, Nick and Tim and filling the blanks. The less interesting segment is the ironical situation of Dan, where the British dark humor prevails in a questionable sense of fidelity. In the end, the screenplay with open end works reasonably well developing the realistic characters and situations and the result is a good low-budget movie supported by great performances. My vote is six.

Titile (Brazil): "Coração Sem Lei" ("Lawless Heart")