Nine Lives (2005)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Rodrigo García

Writer (WGA):

Rodrigo García (written by)

Release Date:

2 September 2005 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Every life has a story. And every story has a life of its own.

Plot:

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life. |

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Cemetery | Mother Daughter Relationship | Funeral | Ex Husband

Awards:

9 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Elpidia Carrillo	...	Sandra
Aomawa Baker	...	Female Guard
Miguel Sandoval	...	Deputy Sheriff Ron
Mary Pat Dowhy	...	Nicole
Andy Umberger	...	Second Male Guard
K Callan	...	Marisa
Chelsea Rendon	...	Sandra's Daughter
Robin Wright Penn	...	Diana
Jason Isaacs	...	Damian
Sydney Tamiia Poitier	...	Vanessa
Lisa Gay Hamilton	...	Holly
Holly Hunter	...	Sonia
Stephen Dillane	...	Martin
Daniel Edward Mora	...	Receptionist
Molly Parker	...	Lisa

MPAA:

Rated R for language, brief sexual content and some disturbing images.

Runtime:

USA:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mockingbird Pictures

Trivia:

All nine stories take place in real-time.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Maggie: I'm tired, honey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sonate N. 13 en Mi Bemol Majeur Op. 13 N. 2

Women in Love

Director Rodrigo Garcia specializes in directing films composed of numerous vignettes. His characters emerge in more than one segment, creating a tapestry that helps weave together his themes of both connectivity and isolation. He debuted at Sundance in 2001 with Ten Things You Can Tell by Looking at Her, which featured Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Amy Brenneman, Cameron Diaz and many other notables. Close, Hunter and Brenneman all returned for Nine Lives, along with Robin Wright Penn, Dakota Fanning, Sissy Spacek and others.

It is noteworthy that both of these movies are mostly about women, with men allowed only supporting roles, even within such ensemble casts. As Garcia freely admitted in the Sundance Q&A, he writes women better than men. Also evident in the Q&A is that the women of the cast adored him. And they rewarded him with outstanding performances.

Garcia treats his characters with a gentle touch, even when revealing their flaws. We feel compassion for them in their anguish. It is as if we have seen each of these women before, but only in passing. Now we are allowed to gaze into their souls, but never for too long. Garcia tells us enough to empathize, but not enough to judge. It felt like I was walking down a sidewalk on a Sunday afternoon, listening to conversations through open windows, catching only a glimpse of each family, but creating a powerful and lasting impression of the neighborhood. That is Garcia's world. And he is becoming master of the genre.