IMDb > The Saddest Music in the World (2003)
The Saddest Music in the World
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Saddest Music in the World (2003) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 24 | slideshow) Videos (see all 3 NEW)
The Saddest Music in the World (2003) -- A sort-of musical set in Winnipeg during the Great Depression, where a beer baroness organizes a contest to find the saddest music in the world. Musicians from around the world descend on the city to try and win first place - a $25,000 prize.
The Saddest Music in the World (2003) -- Movieplayer.it - Trailer (Flash)
The Saddest Music in the World (2003) -- MovieMaze.de - Trailer (Quicktime)

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   2,992 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 36% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Guy Maddin
Writers:
Kazuo Ishiguro (original screenplay)
George Toles (written by) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Saddest Music in the World on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 September 2005 (Greece) more
Tagline:
"If you're sad, and like beer, I'm your lady."
Plot:
A sort-of musical set in Winnipeg during the Great Depression, where a beer baroness organizes a contest to find the saddest music in the world. Musicians from around the world descend on the city to try and win first place - a $25,000 prize. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
6 wins & 5 nominations more
User Comments:
`The still, sad music of humanity.' more (91 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Mark McKinney ... Chester Kent

Isabella Rossellini ... Lady Helen Port-Huntley
Maria de Medeiros ... Narcissa
David Fox ... Fyodor Kent
Ross McMillan ... Roderick Kent / Gravillo the Great
Louis Negin ... Blind Seer

Darcy Fehr ... Teddy

Claude Dorge ... Duncan Elksworth
Talia Pura ... Mary
Jeff Sutton ... Young Chester
Graeme Valentin ... Young Roderick
Maggie Nagle ... Chester's Mother
Victor Cowie ... Man in Bar

Jessica Burleson ... Lady's Secretary

Wayne Nicklas ... Boardmember
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for some sexuality and violent images.
Runtime:
100 min
Country:
Canada
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Company:
Rhombus Media more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Mexican lead singer of the mariachi band performs wearing the Republic of Panama's female national dress, called "pollera". more
Quotes:
Lady Port-Huntley: Go to Hell, Chester!
Chester Kent: In due time. First I'm going to have my victory cigar.
more
Movie Connections:
References Footlight Parade (1933) more
Soundtrack:
The Song Is You - Chester's Last Gasp Version more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
18 out of 26 people found the following comment useful.
`The still, sad music of humanity.', 17 August 2004
Author: John DeSando (jdesando@columbus.rr.com) from Columbus, Ohio

And I thought `Dogville' was stylized. Canadian writer/director Guy Maddin ("Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary,' "Archangel') has created a film like no other this year except possibly `Triplet's of Belleville.' `The Saddest Music in the World' is a `musical' set in Winnipeg in 1933, where Lady Port-Huntly (Isabella Rossellini) is holding a contest to award $25,000 to the saddest music performer. In `Depression Era dollars,' no less.

Winnipeg has been declared by the London Times `the world capital of sorrow' for the fourth year in a row. What happens in the film can be categorized as surrealism of the sort that marries the Melies brothers in their `Trip-to-the-Moon' wackiest to `The Twilight Zone' in Rod Serling's most hilarious (and that's pretty unusual) moments. Shot in distressed mode with 8 mm blown up to be grainy and silent movieish, `Saddest' has blue-grays and silvers and occasional bursts of washed-out color that give it an otherworldly cast meant to satirize the old movies and create a new look built on nostalgia and freedom from convention that some call expressionism.

Some of the bizarre acts vying for the prize are Fyodor (David Fox), a veteran of World War I representing Canada, who plays a deathlike version of ''The Red Maple Leaves'' on an upright piano he has turned over, and Indian singers in Eskimo costumes, who dance to ''California Here I Come'' with sitars and banjos commemorating a 19th-century kayaking accident. All the time an iris lens blurs the edges of the film to recreate the ancient look of film found in a vault after 50 years.

That Lady Port-Huntly needs artificial legs is not as bizarre as the back story of how she came to need them, and that the new glass legs have local beer coursing through them is just another creative and absurdist touch. With a resemblance to the robot in `Metropolis,' she is an amalgam of strange and prophetic moments in film and culture. I know I'm not making much sense here-Trust me that this film is bizarre enough to satisfy the geekiest cultist in our audience. For the rest of us, just trying to appreciate all the signposts Maddin constructs to further his absurd and funny vision is exhausting. Wordsworth's thoughts apply because we at least hear `the still, sad music of humanity.'

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (91 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Saddest Music in the World (2003)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I really disliked this flim efrem-4
Shocked that this film hasn't picked up cult status on dvd. hiiamreallybored
This is the best film i've seen in my entire life! damir-kero
significance of glass taef
I loved it!!! harlemhippo
The Rating lionbello
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Ruang rak noi nid mahasan Punch-Drunk Love O Lucky Man! La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano Survive Style 5+
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb Canada section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.