The Inner Life of Martin Frost (2007)

Director:

Paul Auster

Writer:

Paul Auster

Stars:

David Thewlis, Irène Jacob, Michael Imperioli

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Thewlis	...	Martin Frost
Irène Jacob	...	Claire Martin
Michael Imperioli	...	Jim Fortunato
Sophie Auster	...	Anna James

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

cowboy hat | plumber | dying woman | writer director | tuxedo | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

Spain Portugal France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 2007 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

A Vida Interior de Martin Frost

Filming Locations:

Azenhas do Mar, Sintra, Portugal

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,522 (USA) (7 September 2007)

Gross:

$5,114 (USA) (14 September 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alfama Films, Clap Filmes, Peter Newman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 94 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (flashback scenes) Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Martin Frost: Who are you? What the hell are you doing here?
Claire Martin: It doesn't matter who I am.
Martin Frost: Yes it matters very much!
Claire Martin: No my darling it doesn't.
Martin Frost: How can you say that?
Claire Martin: It doesn't matter because you love me. Because you want me. So what else matters?

User Reviews

"Sophisticatedly minimalistic..."

He wanted to get back on track after finishing his newest book, but woke up to the sight of a woman who would change his life forever.

Writer Martin Frost has recently finished writing his new book. Tired and in need of rest he travels from New York to a small house on the countryside that he has borrowed from some friends. After a few days with uninterrupted silence the writer in Martin begins to awake. An idea to a new book sets Martin's mind in motion and suddenly he is writing again. Martin is back in his right element, but when he wakes up the next morning, he is startled by the sight of a beautiful woman lying next to him. In the start Martin is sceptical to the strange guest, but the woman's strange though charming and attractive personality awakens Martin's passionate feelings. A relationship quickly arises between the two strangers, but Martin is quick to realize that there are many unanswered questions about the woman's identity.

Writer of well-known books such as "The New York-Trilogy" (1987) "Moon Palace" (1989) and "The Music of Chance" (1990) is back with a delicate adaptation of one of his own writings. This aesthetic and surreal love fable is told with chronological narrative, a mysterious all-knowing voice-over narration and filmed within restricted frames, quiet pace, close-ups, short takes and varied perspectives. The startling and thought-out screenplay explores themes like solitude, love, fantasy, hope, dreams and passion, and the films atypical universe is created by enchanting characters, colorful and sterling cinematography and strange conversations. Paul Auster's independent film only has four characters and therefore much of the responsibility is laid on the actors' ability to create complementary and interesting character portraits. David Thewlis and Irène Jacob both work splendidly in the films two essential roles, but even though Michael Imperioli and Sophie Auster also delivers fine interpretations, their characters significance is discussable.

"The Inner Life of Martin Frost" is above all a sensing and atmospheric experience. Paul Auster experiments with the characters embodiment and the narratives versatility in an original and exploring way that creates interest and curiosity. He frequently takes us out of the plot and focuses on the beauty of nature, which gives the viewer's time to reflect. As the title implies this is a movie that lives more inside the main character's mind than in the real world he has drawn himself away from. This movie could probably be somewhat weird to many viewers considering it's unorthodox style, but there is a spark and warmth in this sophisticatedly minimalistic film which makes it a charming movie experience.