Life During Wartime (2009)

Director:

Todd Solondz

Writer (WGA):

Todd Solondz (written by)

Release Date:

16 April 2010 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Friends, family, and lovers struggle to find love, forgiveness, and meaning in a war-torn world riddled with comedy and pathos.

Plot Keywords:

Forgiveness | Pedophile | New Jersey | Ghost | Florida

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Shirley Henderson	...	Joy
Michael Kenneth Williams	...	Allen
Roslyn Ruff	...	Waitress
Allison Janney	...	Trish
Michael Lerner	...	Harvey Wiener
Dylan Riley Snyder	...	Timmy
Ciarán Hinds	...	Bill
Renée Taylor	...	Mona
Rebecca Chiles	...	Hostess
Paul Reubens	...	Andy
Emma Hinz	...	Chloe
Charlotte Rampling	...	Jacqueline
Ally Sheedy	...	Helen
Rich Pecci	...	Mark Wiener
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Wanda
Carmen Marie Colon Mejia	...	Sarah
Fernando Samalot	...	Eddie
Meng Ai	...	Jesse
Chris Marquette	...	Billy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Tester	...	Dave
Susan Pages	...	Bar Mitzvah Guest (uncredited)
Guillermo Valedon	...	Bar Mitzvah Guy (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Solondz

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd Solondz		(written by)

Produced by
Ken Bailey	....	co-producer
Andrew Peterson	....	co-producer
Elizabeth Redleaf	....	executive producer
Mike S. Ryan	....	executive producer
Mark Steele	....	associate producer
Derrick Tseng	....	producer
Christine K. Walker	....	producer

Cinematography by
Edward Lachman

Film Editing by
Kevin Messman

Production Design by
Roshelle Berliner

Art Direction by
Matteo De Cosmo

Costume Design by
Catherine George

Makeup Department
Dominique Borrel	....	makeup department head
Maureen Landa	....	key hair stylist: Minneapolis
Maureen Landa	....	key makeup artist: Minneapolis

Production Management
Rosi Acosta	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dave Halls	....	first assistant director (additional photography)
Javier Enrique Perez	....	second assistant director
Stuart Williams	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Eddie Antunez	....	set dresser
Jill Broadfoot	....	set decorator: Minneapolis
Marsi Caraballo	....	graphic designer
Amy Dholakia-Jorand	....	additional graphics (as Amy S. Dholakia)
Jorge Fernandez	....	assistant property master
Juan Guallini Indij	....	set dresser
Matt Joyer	....	set dresser
Tanya Lemke	....	property master: Toronto
Mariella Navarro	....	art department coordinator
Ricardo Naveira	....	construction coordinator
Brian J. Simpson	....	set dresser: Minneapolis
Oscar A. Colom Cruz	....	set dresser (uncredited?)

Sound Department
Paul Bercovitch	....	sound effects editor
Jeremy Fleishman	....	foley editor
Dave Fritz	....	adr recordist
Fredrick Helm	....	dialogue editor
Luis Antonio Landrau	....	boom operator
Gary Millus	....	sound editor
Eric Offin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Offin	....	supervising sound editor
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Lucien Harriot	....	visual effects supervisor: Mechanism Digital
Ted Keenan	....	visual effects producer
Jesse Morrow	....	visual effects artist
Kevin Vale	....	digital imaging

Camera and Electrical Department
Terry Banting	....	gaffer: Toronto
Darren Boyce	....	key grip: Toronto
Randy Brown	....	best boy electric: Toronto
Angel Castro	....	Red camera digital loader
Kathryn Criston	....	electrician: Minneapolis
Javier Cruzado	....	best boy grip
Sam Kretchmar	....	digital imaging technician
James McMillan	....	key grip
Gabriel Padilla	....	best boy electric
Misael Rodriguez-Quijano	....	assistant camera
Francisco Román	....	still photographer
Fernando Rosado	....	first assistant "a" camera
Carlos Zayas	....	camera operator: "a" camera

Casting Department
Camille Collazo	....	casting assistant
Jennifer Ensworth	....	casting assistant
Gayle Keller	....	casting
Tere Lopez	....	casting: Puerto Rico
Brendan McFadden	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ciara Brennan	....	costume supervisor: Toronto
Cameron Folan	....	assistant costume designer
Katalina Iturralde	....	set costumer
Angie Olmedo	....	costumer
Anita Ramirez Velez	....	key costumer
Cerah Tymoshuk	....	costumer: Minneapolis

Editorial Department
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer
Jesse Morrow	....	smoke editor
Kathryn J. Schubert	....	assistant editor
Daniel Silverman	....	digital imaging supervisor
Tim Stipan	....	digital intermediate colorist
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer
Lee Wimer	....	color timer

Music Department
Doug Bernheim	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Jose Arias	....	transportation captain
Luis A. Jurado	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Sara Alvarez	....	production coordinator
Victor Andujar	....	production assistant
Juan Carlos Arvelo	....	key set production assistant
Khan Baykal	....	additional voices
Kara Blanchard	....	assistant: Ted Hope
Dave Boulay	....	location scout
Jeff Caron	....	location manager
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance
Luis R. Estrella-Rivera	....	location manager
Alejandro Garay MacLean	....	production assistant
Tom Garrett	....	production services
Kelly Gilpatrick	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Lauren Hodges	....	additional voices
Kemel Jamis	....	production assistant
Todd B. Johnson	....	stand-in: MN
Jeffrey Leiser	....	post-production delivery
Martin Garay MacLean	....	production assistant
Raul J. Marin	....	payroll accountant
Rita Medina	....	location office assistant
Aris Mejias	....	production secretary
Liliana M. Molina	....	script supervisor
Dan O'Halloran	....	post-tape operator
Jedrek Oquendo	....	production assistant
Susan Pages	....	stand-in
Misael Rodriguez-Quijano	....	office runner
Alicia Van Couvering	....	assistant: producers
José R. Varona	....	set medic
Michael Wiggins	....	production accountant
Kurt W. Gensmer	....	set medic (uncredited)

Thanks
Eric Milano	....	special thanks
Kristen Molina	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Werc Werk Works

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (Benelux)
• Artificial Eye (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• CDI Films (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Maywin Media (2010) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Monolith (2010) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Shani Films (2010) (Israel) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2010) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Transmission Films (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Tuck Film (2010) (Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Archibald Enterprise Film (2010) (Italy) (all media)
• Budapest Film (2010) (Hungary) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD) (and Blu-ray Disc)
• D Productions (2009) (Turkey) (all media)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Filmes Lusomundo (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• HBO Latin America (2010) (Argentina) (all media) (Latin America)
• Le Pacte (2010) (France) (all media)

Special Effects

• Mechanism Digital

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• IndieClear  script clearance
• KCPR  production service
• Offhollywood Digital  camera equipment provided by
• Rescue Resources  set medics (uncredited)
• Tandem Sound  sound post-production

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, brief nudity, and language including some disturbing dialogue

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | France:U (with warning) | Italy:VM14 | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Sweden:11 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:R (certificate #46345) | Australia:MA (2010) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Puerto Rico

Company:

Werc Werk Works

Trivia:

Title taken from the title of a song by Talking Heads.

Quotes:

Mark Wiener:Are you seeing anyone?
Trish:No, I'm more focused on China right now. Everything else is history, it's just a question of time.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Maltin on Movies: The Help (#1.45)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Messiah, HWV56. Part I: Duet. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd

Reflections on "Happiness"

Todd Solondz is unique and so are his films. He forces you to look through an angle that we systematically ignore. There is an element of tenderness that permeates the darkest of corners and compassion emerges, limpid, clear even rational. This is, if possible, a sequel to his masterful "Happiness" The pain is still palpable but there is a hint of hope, China or not China. "I don't care about freedom or democracy, I care about my dad" Yes, I hear you kid. In the midst of it all, I hear you. Added bonuses: Cieran Hids as a scary, powerful presence. Allison Janney, one of the best American actresses working today. Charlotte Rampling makes an appearance as a sort of escapee from an erotic nightmare and don't you dare ignore or let this film pass you by. Todd Solondz is a great, startling American poet.