Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Evan Welch

Won 1 Oscar. Another 24 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rebecca Hall	...	Vicky
Scarlett Johansson	...	Cristina
Christopher Evan Welch	...	Narrator (voice)
Chris Messina	...	Doug
Patricia Clarkson	...	Judy
Kevin Dunn	...	Mark
Julio Perillán	...	Charles
Juan Quesada	...	Guitarist in Barcelona
Ricard Salom	...	Art Gallery Guest
Maurice Sonnenberg	...	Art Gallery Guest
Javier Bardem	...	Juan Antonio
Manel Barceló	...	Doctor
Josep Maria Domènech	...	Julio
Emilio de Benito	...	Guitarist in Asturias
Jaume Montané	...	Juan Antonio's Friend

Storyline

Sexually adventurous Cristina and her friend Vicky, who is bright but cautious, holiday in Barcelona where they meet the celebrated and wholly seductive painter, Juan Antonio. Vicky is not about to dive into a sexual adventure being committed to her forthcoming marriage. But Cristina is immediately captivated by Juan Antonio's free spirit and his romantic allure is enhanced when she hears the delicious details of his divorce from fellow artist, the tempestuous Maria Elena.

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Plot Keywords:

summer | painter | artist | oviedo | sex | 

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Taglines:

Life is the ultimate work of art

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexuality, and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Official site [us]

Country:

Spain USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

15 August 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Summer Wedding

Filming Locations:

Avilés, Asturias, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$15,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£243,684 (UK) (6 February 2009)

Gross:

£2,429,480 (UK) (13 March 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Weinstein Company, The, Mediapro, Gravier Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2007, controversy arose in Catalonia (Spain) because the film was partially funded with public money. Barcelona's city hall provided one million euro, and the government of Catalonia half a million, which comes to 10% of the budget.

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Goofs

(at around 1 min) After Maria Elena moves in, they are having breakfast outdoors. Juan Antonio serves coffee for Cristina and takes the sugar bowl which is in front of Maria Elena in the foreground, and puts it in front of Cristina. The sugar bowl travels back and forth (three times) during the scene.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: Vicky and Cristina decided to spend the summer in Barcelona. Vicky was completing her master's in Catalan Identity, which she had become interested in through her great affection for the architecture of Gaudí. Cristina, who spent the last six months writing, directing, and acting in a 12-minute film which she then hated, had just broken up with yet another boyfriend and longed for a change of scenery. Everything fell into place when a distant relative of Vicky's family who lived in...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.61 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Big Brother"
Composed by Stephane Wrembel
Performed by The Stephane Wrembel Trio with special guest David Grisman
Courtesy of Amoeba Records LLC

User Reviews

Entanglements Woody Style

Barcelona is recognizable enough and exotic enough to frame the latest complication from Woody Allen. Allen himself claims to care very little about films. He doesn't consider them the center of his life. Strange, because I do, Woody Allen without his films is...well I don't know who or what he is. Here he ventures again outside New York in a shape and form that reminded me a little bit of Jacques Rivette. Scarlet Johansson and Rebecca Hall, as the blond and the brunette of the title, make a great pair of opposites or seemingly so. Javier Bardem is the artist that comes to ruffle their world and the spectacular Penelope Cruz (getting better and better with every movie) is the hysterical side of the artist's past. We spend a great deal of time sitting at tables eating and drinking while a voice over guide us through their physical and emotional journey. I was delighted, entertained ever aroused. Woody Allen keeps surprising and he's got it whether he cares about it or not.