The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004)

Seven year old Jeremiah is pulled from his foster home and thrown into a troubled life on the road with his teenage mother, Sarah.

Director:

Asia Argento

Writers:

Laura Albert (short stories), Asia Argento (screenplay),

Stars:

Asia Argento, Jimmy Bennett, Dylan Sprouse

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Asia Argento	...	Sarah
Jimmy Bennett	...	Young Jeremiah
Kara Kemp	...	Social Worker #1
Brent Almond	...	Cop #1
David Dwyer	...	Cop #2
Kip Pardue	...	Luther
Jeremy Renner	...	Emerson
David Brian Alley	...	Doctor (as David Alley)
Lydia Lunch	...	Social Worker #2
Ornella Muti	...	Grandmother
Dylan Sprouse	...	Older Jeremiah
Cole Sprouse	...	Older Jeremiah
Peter Fonda	...	Grandfather
John Robinson	...	Aaron
Lindy Maguire	...	Girl

Storyline

The dysfunctional twenty-three years old Sarah takes her six years old natural son Jeremiah from the home of his beloved foster parents with the support of the social service to live with her. Along the years, the boy shares her insane and lowlife style and is introduced to booze and drugs and mentally, physically and sexually abused by Sarah, her lovers and her religiously fanatic family.

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Plot Keywords:

foster home | social worker | religious upbringing | prostitute | psychologist | 

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Taglines:

Behind the greatest hoax of our time is the heartbreaking story that started it all.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for intense depiction of child abuse/neglect, strong sex and drug content, pervasive language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Muse Films Official site

Country:

USA UK France Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

A szív csalfa vágyai

Filming Locations:

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$10,000 (USA) (10 March 2006)

Gross:

$26,092 (USA) (24 March 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Above All Things Inc., Artist Film, Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Girl Boy Girl is the story of Samantha Knoop's transformation to and from JT Leroy.

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Goofs

When Jeremiah is in the diner pouring sugar into the cereal bowl, the amount of sugar in the bowl changes between shots.

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Quotes

Older Jeremiah: Its ok, I'll protect you.

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Connections

References Santa Sangre (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Through it all"
Written and Performed by Andre Williams

User Reviews

A harrowing,brave,tortured love story not for the faint of heart...

...or those with a deficit in empathy, for this film asks the viewer for an open, compassionate, feeling heart. The truth of the matter is, the culture that is revealed to

you in this movie is a reality and nightmare for those entrenched in it. Ms. Argento makes a masterpiece that takes no sides; instead she boldly lays forth a landscape of love, abuse, and how one will do just about anything to feel needed and worthwhile, even if that means going back again and again to the hand that hurts you and abandons you. If you don't get this film, it is either simply not for you, or perhaps you have not read the addictive literary achievements of J.T. LeRoy. If the latter is true, go now to you local bookstore and buy any of his courageous works; they will literary bring you to your knees...or at least they did to me, gripping me with raw, honest ferocity. If you just didn't get the film and the challenging material it presents, i encourage you to see it again; honestly, it just keeps getting better and better. Let it enter you...and feel, for once, your self, your discomfort, whatever emerges. Outstanding performances of an all-star cast, this is sure to be a cult film that, once on video, you will want to own.