And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... (2002)

Director:

Claude Lelouch

Writers:

Claude Lelouch (writer)
Pierre Leroux (writer)

Release Date:

29 May 2002 (Belgium)

Genre:

Romance | Thriller | Drama

Plot:

A jazz singer and a British jewel thief are brought together by their mutual desire to forget the past.

Plot Keywords:

Morocco | Jazz Singer | Catatonia | Acting Musician | Dysfunctional Marriage

Cast

Jeremy Irons	...	Valentin Valentin
Patricia Kaas	...	Jane Lester
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Thierry
Alessandra Martines	...	Françoise
Claudia Cardinale	...	Madame Falconetti
Jean-Marie Bigard	...	Dr. Larry / Pharmacist
Ticky Holgado	...	Boubou
Yvan Attal	...	David
Amidou	...	Police Inspector
Sylvie Loeillet	...	Soleil
Constantin Alexandrov	...	Monsieur Falconetti
Stéphane Ferrara	...	Sam Hernandez, the Boxer
Samuel Labarthe	...	Trumpet Player
Paul Freeman	...	English Customer
Souad Amidou	...	Chambermaid

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for momentary language.

Runtime:

133 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Germany:106 min | Argentina:122 min | Canada:128 min (Ontario)

Country:

France | UK

Language:

French | English | Arabic | Italian

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | France:U | Germany:6 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Essaouira, Morocco

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

Dustin Hoffman once showed an interest in playing Valentin. Once he dropped out, John Malkovich was also approached.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the dream sequence toward the end at the jazz club, there are a couple of shots where the trumpet player is clearly not playing, but yet the sounds of a trumpet are still heard.

Movie Connections:

References To Catch a Thief (1955)

Soundtrack:

What Now My Love

Patricia Kaas' jazz vocals are the glue of this artistic work that alone are worth the price of admission!

And Now Ladies and Gentlemen captures from the start--artistic, well- written, well-directed, and underscored with the rich, languid jazz of Patricia Kaas who will surely become more accessible to Americans with this film.

The love story is first degree, without Hollywood schmaltz. Starting with Jeremy Irons delicious tricks of thievery, segueing to Patricia Kaas's nightclub duet and solos, the director moves us seamlessly from one character to the other. We discover them--who they are, what they suffer, and how they will meet and connect.

The director's brilliant use of Kaas's vocals to effortlessly glues these vignettes together becomes the film's best asset, beginning with them far apart, gradually moving these fascinating creatures closer and closer, until we can taste the sand and feel the parched, thirsty souls. Destiny builds from a dream to filmy reality. Irresistible. Intimate. Broad and beautiful.

The score haunts you for weeks. A must see--must own. We want the soundtrack!