Quelques jours en septembre (2006)

Director:

Santiago Amigorena

Writer:

Santiago Amigorena (writer)

Release Date:

6 September 2006 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | War

Plot:

September the 1st, 2001. Elliot, an American C.I.A. agent holding top secret information on the immediate future of the world...

Plot Keywords:

United States | Assassin | Poetry | Sniper | Paris France

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Juliette Binoche	...	Irène Montano
John Turturro	...	William Pound
Sara Forestier	...	Orlando
Tom Riley	...	David
Nick Nolte	...	Elliott
Mathieu Demy	...	Le jeune banquier
Saïd Amadis	...	Le vieux banquier
Magne Brekke	...	Igor Zyberski (as Magne-Havard Brekke)
Joël Lefrançois	...	Le concierge de l'hôtel
Alexis Galmot	...	Le serveur
Jean-Luc Lucas	...	Le contrôleur
Roberto Moro	...	Le gardien du palais
Julien Husson	...	L'homme à la cigarette

Also Known As:

A Few Days in September (International: English title)
Alcuni giorni in settembre (Italy)
Alguns Dias em Setembro (Portugal)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

Italy | France | Portugal

Language:

English | French | Italian | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Gemini Films

Trivia:

Although this is Santiago Amigorena's directorial debut, it is also his 26th screenplay in eight years.

Quotes:

David: You don't like Americans, do you?
Orlando: No.
David: Why?
Irène Montano: Because her dad likes poetry, she hates poetry. Because her dad's American, she hates Americans.
David: The fact that her dad's American can't be the only reason why she hates us all.
Orlando: You want other reasons?
David: Yeah.
Orlando: Because you've got short legs. Because you like Schwarzenegger. Because you take care of your body as if it was a machine, and of your head as if it was a tomato. Because you think you have to save mankind. And surprise, what's supposed to be good for mankind, first, and foremost, is good for you. Enough? Or do you want more?
Irène Montano: Wow. Congratulations. David and I bet you never say more than three words.
David: You've left out a few other reasons. Um, you can hate us because we eat bland food. Because we're always afraid we're gonna be sick. Because we are against abortion, but for the death penalty. Because we never have sex. And because half of us... well almost half of us, voted for George doubla-vee Bush. But you see, for me, the fact that the French have a stuupid president never prevented me from loving them.
[...]

A Stylish, Engrossing Tale form the European Front Before 911

Quelques jours en septembre (A Few Days in September) is an intelligent, classy little film that boasts not only a unique story as written and directed by Argentinean Santiago Amigorena, but a fine cast of both seasoned and fresh young actors who capture our attention and hearts as they progress through Europe on a mission that has a lot to do (in 2001) with September's indelible imprint on the world. It is a film that contains biting humor, black humor, love interests, and bizarre sidebars that make the final moments of the movie all the more troubling.

Irène Montano (Juliette Binoche) is an agent in Paris who is somehow connected to secret intelligence in making a meeting with one CIA agent Elliott (Nick Nolte) who holds top-secret information that could change the world... Irène is instructed by cellphone to look after Elliott's estranged French daughter Orlando (Sara Forestier), who loathes the father that deserted her when her mother died, and Elliot's young son David (Tom Riley) from the US who adores his father and has come to Paris to see him. Various meeting places between Irène (accompanied by Orlando and David) and Elliot are aborted until finally the three are told to travel to Venice for a definite meeting. This all takes place between September 5th and September 10th and it is soon suggested that the elusive Intelligence Service Elliott hold information that will impact the world.

As the three characters progress through the streets and cafés of Paris and of Venice they are stalked by a very odd assassin William Pound (John Turturro) who divides his time among reciting poetry, in cellphone consultations with his psychiatrist, killing people and planning the assassination of Elliott. While Orlando and David are at first at odds, separated by language and by disparate feelings about their shared father, the presence of Irène joins the two in friendship and more while acting as a guide and escort through the dangers that lie constantly before them. It is not until the last few minutes of the film that we actually meet Elliott (Nolte) and in these few minutes not only are there changes that occur in the estranged relationship between Orlando and Elliot, but also rapid fire events that breathlessly lead to the moments before the shattering events of 911 in America.

Cinematographer Christophe Beaucarne captures all of the allure of Paris and Venice while keeping the focus of the film intense with well-lighted spaces and camera angles. Laurent Martin has found the right mixture of music types to fit the various moods of the film - from amorous to innocent to terror. The film is in both English and French (subtitled in English) and it is refreshing for a groups of actors to move so graciously between the languages. Binoche is in peak form, creating a fascinating woman whose role is so very pivotal to the entire story. John Turturro adds another character role to his repertoire and provides most of the dark humor that peppers the film. Nolte is strong in his small role, but it is the pleasure of watching newcomers Tom Riley and Sara Forestier, so adroit at being natural, that adds to the success of the movie. While the topic of the film (911) is still difficult to assimilate, this version of how Europe was responding and the suggestion of how our own CIA had prior information make for a seamlessly exciting way of filling in some of the holes that remain to be examined. Strongly recommended on all levels. Grady Harp