A Little Trip to Heaven (2005)

A husband and wife tangle with an investigator over her dead brother's million-dollar insurance policy.

Director:

Baltasar Kormákur

Writers:

Edward Martin Weinman, Baltasar Kormákur (original story),

Stars:

María Fernández Ache, Kharl Anton Leigh, Peter Coyote

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
María Fernández Ache	...	Mrs. Rodriguez (as Maria Fernandez-Ache)
Kharl Anton Leigh	...	Young Boy Rodriguez
Peter Coyote	...	Frank
Forest Whitaker	...	Abe Holt
Juan Carlos Pardo Pardo	...	Mr. Rodriguez
Damon Younger	...	Long Haired Man
Jeremy Renner	...	Fred
Joanna Scanlan	...	Josie
Iddo Goldberg	...	Russle
Philip Jackson	...	William
Julia Stiles	...	Isold
Alfred Harmsworth	...	Thor
Vladas Bagdonas	...	Coroner
Felix Eyjólfsson	...	Auto Mechanic
Margrét Ólafsdóttir	...	Elderly lady in the Park

Storyline

After a suspicious fatal car accident in Hastings where the identity of the victim was forged, the Quality Life insurance company sends their smart investigator Abe Holt to identify the body. The unique beneficiary of the one million dollars death benefit is the sister of the victim, Isold, who lives with her son Thor and her husband Fred in a poor cabin in the middle of nowhere. Along the investigation, Abe discloses the truth about the fraud, but feels sorry for Isold and Thor and tries to help them with tragic consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

fraud | car accident | life insurance | life insurance policy | tv commercial | 

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Taglines:

Conscience is a killer.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and disturbing images

Details

Country:

Iceland USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 2005 (Iceland)

Also Known As:

A Fraude

Filming Locations:

Hastings, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blueeyes Productions, Pink Productions, Palomar Pictures (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 90 min 98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
By Frank Loesser
Performed by Ann Margaret

User Reviews

Something about this movie...

I got a chance to see this film in Toronto and I have to admit I've been thinking a lot about it since. Visually, it's so beautiful... and yet stark and haunting (apparently it was filmed in Iceland). But what I really found engaging was that it was a noir-esquire mystery but with a very realistic feel. When opportunities present themselves for the film to go down a formulaic road, it doesn't. There's something strangely real about the film, from the first-rate acting, to the dark tone, to the deliberate pace... I think the director's decision to give this film dramatic weight will set it apart from other mystery/thrillers (I feel weird even trying to categorize it). Maybe it's just me, but I can't stop thinking about it.