Puccini for Beginners (2006)

Director:

Maria Maggenti

Writer (WGA):

Maria Maggenti (written by)

Release Date:

7 February 2007 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A love triangle of operatic proportions

Plot:

A recently-singled New York writer finds herself in two surprising and complicated relationships. |

Plot Keywords:

Cellphone | Beautiful Woman | New York City | Lesbian | Woman Woman Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 6	11:30 AM	TMC
Mon. July 14	4:35 PM	TMC

Cast

Elizabeth Reaser	...	Allegra
Gretchen Mol	...	Grace
Justin Kirk	...	Philip
Julianne Nicholson	...	Samantha
Tina Benko	...	Nell
Jennifer Dundas	...	Molly
Kate Simses	...	Vivian
Brian Letscher	...	Jeff
Will Bozarth	...	Jimmy
Ken Barnett	...	Scott
Becca Anderson	...	Waitress
Ashlie Atkinson	...	Woman on Bench
Jill DeMonstoy	...	Restaurant Patron
Yoshiro Kono	...	Sushi Chef
Nick Psinakis	...	Athletic Guy
Terrence Riordan	...	Jeff's Buddy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kristina Dargelyte	...	Restaurant Patron
Kenji	...	Japanese Waiter
Chris LaPanta	...	Restaurant Patron
Bridget Moloney	...	Actress
Louie Rodriguez	...	Restaurant Patron

Directed by
Maria Maggenti

Writing credits (WGA)
Maria Maggenti		(written by)

Produced by
Jake Abraham	....	producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer
Bergen Swanson	....	line producer
Gary Winick	....	producer
Eden Wurmfeld	....	producer

Original Music by
Terry Dame

Cinematography by
Mauricio Rubinstein

Film Editing by
Susan Graef

Casting by
Philip Huffman
Laura Maxwell-Scott
Todd M. Thaler

Production Design by
Aleta Shaffer

Set Decoration by
Valerie Nolan

Costume Design by
Antonia Xereas

Makeup Department
Qodi Armstrong	....	hair stylist
Persefone Karakosta	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Emily Gardiner	....	supervising executive: InDigEnt
Sara Shaw	....	post-production supervisor
Mandy Tagger	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Solita Hanna	....	first assistant director
Les McDonough	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Hudson Meredith	....	art intern
James O'Donnell	....	property master
Ashley Victoria Saball	....	art department intern
Kyle Supley	....	property master

Sound Department
Steve Borne	....	supervising sound editor
David Briggs	....	adr editor
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Tim Elder	....	sound utility
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Beattie	....	electrician
Manuel Billeter	....	camera operator
Steve Briante	....	first assistant camera
Nina Kuhn	....	gaffer
Anya Lebow	....	assistant camera
Jeff Niggemeyer	....	best boy electric
Randy Schwartz	....	second assistant camera
Sean Taylor	....	electrician
Vance Tucker	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Chaney	....	wardrobe
Virginia Cook	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Eric Alvarado	....	colorist
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer
Dava Whisenant	....	additional editor

Music Department
Jim Black	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Patrick Bevilacqua	....	production assistant
Kristen Dubberstein	....	assistant location manager
Scott Ferlisi	....	location manager
Alan Lebow	....	additional footage
Ana S. Pelaez	....	production coordinator
Cira M. Pirozzi	....	production assistant
Michael A. Rizzo	....	production secretary
Nic van der Meer	....	intern (as Nicolaas van der Meer)

Production Companies

• Eden Wurmfeld Films
• InDigEnt (Independent Digital Entertainment)

Distributors

• Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Pretty Pictures (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Red Envelope Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Strand Releasing (2007) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Cinetic Media  sales
• Post Logic Studios  post-production

Runtime:

USA:82 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Eden Wurmfeld Films

Goofs:

Continuity: Philip's clothing changes three times during his date to the opera with Allegra. When they leave for the opera, he is seen wearing jeans, a sweater and a suit jacket. Immediately after the opera, he is wearing a button-up shirt and khakis instead of his sweater and jeans. During dinner, Philip is seen wearing the sweater with the khakis while his jacket is hanging over the back of his chair.

Quotes:

Allegra: Those who break up with me usually earn my life long devotion.

Movie Connections:

References "The L Word" (2004)

See This Movie...

Better than Woody Allen's last five movies combined, PUCCINI FOR BEGINNERS is that snappiest, funniest, romantic comedy in recent memory. The cast is spectacular and the direction is flawless. I can't say enough good things about this movie. I first heard about it at Sundance; everyone I know who attended kept telling how I needed to see it. I am not one to buy the hype so I just let the movie fade from memory. Having just seen it, I see that the hype wasn't unjustified; in fact, I'd say it wasn't strong enough. Put simply: this movie is cute. C. U. T. E. Gretchen is adorable, as always. Elizabeth Reaser is a dream come true; she delivers her dialogue with the skill and precision of a government trained sniper. Justin is so affable, you can hardly stand it. Overall, I just have to say that missing this movie highly, highly inadvisable.