Sixty Six (2006)

A boy's barmitzvah looks set to be a disaster when it coincides with the 1966 World Cup Final.

Director:

Paul Weiland

Writers:

Peter Straughan (screenplay), Bridget O'Connor (screenplay),

Stars:

Charlie Clark, Nick Shirm, Thomas Drewson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charlie Clark	...	Boy with Caliper
Nick Shirm	...	Michael Hempel
Thomas Drewson	...	Terry Shivers
Gregg Sulkin	...	Bernie Reubens
Matt Bardock	...	Mr. Grieg
Alex Black	...	Linton
Cameron Crighton	...	Captain
Catherine Tate	...	Aunt Lila
Peter Serafinowicz	...	Uncle Jimmy / Mr Rubens Snr / Football Commentary
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Esther Rubens
Eddie Marsan	...	Manny Rubens
Nick Shrim	...	Michael Hempel
Francine Simmons	...	Lady at Door
Martin Savage	...	Senior Doctor
Ony Uhiara	...	Nurse

Storyline

A boy's barmitzvah looks set to be a disaster when it coincides with the 1966 World Cup Final.

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Plot Keywords:

world cup | 1960s | doctor | bar mitzvah | year in title | 

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Taglines:

it's his year, and he wants it back.

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, some sexual content and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us] Working Title Films

Country:

France UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

66

Filming Locations:

Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$9,359 (USA) (1 August 2008)

Gross:

$224,513 (USA) (6 March 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Working Title Films, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The credits misspell the surname of the main character, Bernie, as "Reubens" instead of "Rubens", the spelling that appears several times within the film itself. His parents (Esther and Manny), as well as his grandfather (Mr. Rubens Snr), are all correctly listed with the "Rubens" spelling.

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Connections

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

User Reviews

Loved this movie - laughed, laughed, laughed, and cried

If you picture Helena Bonham Carter as a Jewish mother from the 1960's, beehive and all, that should be enough to make run to see Sixty Six.

Sixty six is the year. Bernie Reubens is the kid. The 13 year old kid to be exact. Bernie's the awkward, picked-on kid, the one living in the shadow of his popular older brother. The kid whose only luck is bad.

Lo and behold in his religious (Hebrew) classes, he learns that his impending Bar Mitzvah is the event that will change all that. For one day Bernie Reubens would be the center of the universe.

The quirky boy makes his Bar Mitzvah his obsession. In the backyard garage, he has a table set up, more like a shrine devoted to things Bar Mitzvah. Catering menus, a place setting, pictures, seating charts, everything to make this day his perfect one.

There's one glitch.

The World Cup falls on the same day. And, England could qualify for the finals. No one would come to Bernie's Bar Mitzvah if this happened.

Bernie makes it his singleminded mission to prevent England from competing in the finals. How he tries to do this is plain hysterical. Let's just say that there's some hocus pocus involved and tons of laughs.

There's another glitch. Bernie's dad's career takes a bad financial turn. Don't get me started about the father character. Played by actor Eddie Marsan, the odd elder Reubens is a cartoon-like character with amazing comedic timing. In a Mr. Magoo kind of way.

If I said what happens to Bernie is comedy of errors, I would be understating it. From bad to worse, and bad again, Bernie's day isn't looking like his dream Bar Mitzvah. But some bittersweet things happen between he and his dad. Enough to tug your heart. And, tug again.

Almost never have I been to a movie that made me laugh during the introduction and then tear up at the end. Even the credits are worth watching since the actors' names are superimposed over film footage of an actual '60's Bar Mitzvah, which happens, I'm assuming, to be that of the director's older brother. His was Bernie's dream day.

I only collect the odd movie DVD from the movies that I adore. As soon as this becomes available, it's mine. I'll have a Sixty Six party. Prerequisite, you must be born before that year.

Supposedly, Sixty Six is based on the director, Paul Weilland's life. I know some Brits who remember the World Cup of 1966 with special affection. And, I personally remember a variety of awkward boys confronting their manhood at many a Bar Mitzvah. (where I smoked my fist cigarette in the synagogue bathroom.) Then there's the dad stuff...more tugs. Go see it!