Between Strangers (2002)

Director:

Edoardo Ponti

Writer:

Edoardo Ponti (written by)

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Three strangers - one secret.

Plot:

Three women confront their pasts which changes their futures.

Plot Keywords:

Cellist | Sculpture | Garden | Friend | Long Lost Daughter

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Sophia Loren	...	Olivia
Mira Sorvino	...	Natalia Bauer
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Catherine
Pete Postlethwaite	...	John
Julian Richings	...	Nigel
Klaus Maria Brandauer	...	Alexander Bauer
Malcolm McDowell	...	Alan Baxter
Len Doncheff	...	Grocery Store Owner
Corey Sevier	...	Jeb
Ngozi Taymah Armatrading	...	Angolan War Child
Dov Tiefenbach	...	Matt
Alex House	...	Kevin
Noam Jenkins	...	Rogelio
Sydney Pearson	...	Little Girl
Andrew Tarbet	...	George
Karen Glave	...	Hodna
Kathryn Winslow	...	Maria
Gérard Depardieu	...	Max
Robert Joy	...	Ralph
J.C. Kenny	...	TV Reporter
Wendy Crewson	...	Amanda Trent
Shawn Lawrence	...	Marty
Richard Blackburn	...	Nikos
Philip Williams	...	Les
Gerry Mendicino	...	Detective
Rodger Barton	...	Guard
Pedro Salvín	...	Trent's PR Man
Avery Saltzman	...	Book Signing Fan
John Neville	...	Orson Stewart
Gloria DiFolco	...	Airline Ticket Agent
K. Shane Doulton	...	Little Girl's Father
Maureen Ross Neilson	...	Little Girl's Mother
Ngozi Armatrading	...	Angolan Cover Girl
Elisa Tibollo	...	Hannah's Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rickey Giallonardo	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Edoardo Ponti

Writing credits
Edoardo Ponti		(written by)

Produced by
Wladyslaw Bartoszewics	....	executive producer
Mario Cotone	....	co-producer
Simone De Rita	....	executive producer
Elda Ferri	....	producer
Deb LeFaive	....	line producer
Gabriella Martinelli	....	producer
Roberto Pace	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Zbigniew Preisner

Cinematography by
Gregory Middleton

Film Editing by
Roberto Silvi

Casting by
Lucy Boulting
Clare Walker

Production Design by
Dan Yarhi

Art Direction by
Dennis Davenport

Set Decoration by
Gordon Sim

Costume Design by
Mario Davignon

Makeup Department
Claudia Bianchi	....	hair stylist
Mario Cacioppo	....	makeup artist
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	hair stylist
Franco Freda	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Franco Casellato	....	post-production supervisor
Deb LeFaive	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andreas Hass	....	third assistant director
Tom Quinn	....	first assistant director
Michele Rakich	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Gordon Becker	....	sculptor
Rudy Braun	....	first assistant art director
Ron Dickie	....	property master
Dawn H. Fisher	....	third assistant art director
Boris F. Kudlicka	....	concept design: of sculptor (as Boris Kudlicka)
Jan Kudlicka	....	sculptor
Jeffrey A. Melvin	....	assistant property master (as Jeff Melvin)
Reet Puhm	....	key scenic artist

Sound Department
Todd Beckett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Cluett	....	re-recording assistant
Robin Crumley	....	cable puller
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Gingras	....	sound designer
Mark Gingras	....	supervising sound editor
Jamie Gould	....	re-recording assistant
Thomas Hidderley	....	production sound mixer
Dustin Hudson	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo
John Laing	....	supervising sound editor
Jason Perreira	....	sound dailies
Peter Persaud	....	foley recordist
John Sievert	....	foley artist
Mark Vogelsang	....	sound assistant
Mark Zsifkovits	....	sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Jamie Hallett	....	digital compositor
Stanley Monahan	....	optical effects

Stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Luke Beaudrow	....	grip
Russel Bowie	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Arthur E. Cooper	....	director of photography: second unit
Ron Forward	....	dolly grip
Ava Gerlitz	....	still photographer (as Ava V. Gerlitz)
Chris Howard	....	gaffer
John Irwin	....	generator operator
Paul Spaven	....	best boy
Stephen Spurrell	....	rigging gaffer
Steve Van Denzen	....	grip (as Steven Van Denzen)

Casting Department
Aric Dupere	....	extras casting assistant
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Aaron Unrau	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Angela Elter	....	costume cutter: Ms. Loren
Vickey Saito	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Ricardo Olivero	....	color timer

Music Department
Rob Bertola	....	music editor
Mitchell Dalton	....	musician: guitar (as Mitch Dalton)
Geoff Foster	....	music recording director
Geoff Foster	....	music recording master
Geoff Foster	....	music recording mixer
Jerzy Glowczewski	....	musician: alto sax
Roberta Anne Jenzen	....	musician: solo cellist
Wojciech Kowalewski	....	musician
Leszek Mozdzer	....	musician
Michal Nesterowicz	....	conductor
Jacek Ostaszewski	....	musician: flute
Rafal Paczkowski	....	music assistant
John Parricelli	....	musician
Andy Pask	....	musician: bass
Lou Pomanti	....	source music producer
Zbigniew Preisner	....	music producer
Carina Reeves	....	musician: cello double
Anna Sikorzak-Olek	....	musician: harp (as Anna Sikorzak)

Transportation Department
Lee Bryan	....	picture car coordinator

Other crew
Troy Baker	....	production assistant
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	gun wrangler (as Frenchie Berger)
Kathryn Buck	....	script supervisor
Giulio Cestari	....	accountant
Christopher Comrie	....	payroll accountant
Jane Conway	....	animal wrangler
Robin Crumley	....	production assistant
Gloria DiFolco	....	assistant: Ms. Martinelli
Tony Duarte	....	production legal affairs: Canada
Prudence Emery	....	unit publicist
Joe Iacono	....	production auditor
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Sophia Lofters	....	assistant to producer
Nicoletta Maggi	....	edition coordinator
Guendalina Ponti	....	production legal affairs: Italy

Thanks
Tonino Guerra	....	thanks
Carlo Ponti	....	thanks
Guendalina Ponti	....	special thanks
Peter Watson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Equinox Entertainment
• Capri Films
• MediaTrade
• First Look International (in association with)
• Téléfilm Canada (participation)
• Astral Films (participation) (as Astral Media)
• Harold Greenberg Fund, The (participation)
• Movie Network, The (TMN) (participation)
• Super Écran (participation)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (participation)

Distributors

• Overseas FilmGroup (2002) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Equinox Entertainment (2002) (Canada) (theatrical)
• First Look International (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Alcine Terran (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Solo Film Verleih (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alpha Media (2007) (China) (video) (VOD/IPTV)
• Be Best in DVD (BBI-DVD) (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Elephant Films (2007) (France) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (200?) (Germany) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2002) (Romania) (all media)

Special Effects

• Film Effects

Other Companies

• By David's  catering
• Cerruti 1881  selected wardrobe for Mr. Brandauer furnished courtesy of
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Filharmonia Narodowa  orchestra (as Orkiestra Filharmonii Narodowej)
• Film Effects  titles and opticals
• Giorgio Armani  selected wardrobe for Ms. Sorvino furnished courtesy of
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  thanks (as The Toronto Film & Television Office)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

95 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Germany:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Equinox Entertainment

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When John first looks at Olivia's charcoal drawings, the light reflecting off the paper shows it to be a smooth, semi-gloss surface. Neither the drawing paper for charcoal nor the medium itself reflects light in this way; these appear to be photographs of charcoal drawings.

Movie Connections:

Featured in O Lucky Malcolm! (2006)

Just a few steps away

The elements of Between Strangers are impressive. Against the background of a Toronto made beautiful by selectivity, a cast of skilled actors work to fulfil the writer's deep material. The film keeps one's attention thanks to the actors' sensitive work. The director's interweaving of the subplots is often moving, sometimes clumsy. The film also puzzles us with the inexplicable behaviours of some of the characters, and the understatement of some themes that beg for deeper exploration. Nevertheless, a praiseworthy effort. 6.5/10.