The Burning Plain (2008)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Guillermo Arriaga

Writer (WGA):

Guillermo Arriaga (written by)

Release Date:

18 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A drama with a two-tiered storyline concerning a mother (Basinger) and daughter (Theron) who try to form a bond after the young woman's difficult childhood. |

Plot Keywords:

Daughter | Mother | Trailer | Funeral | Fumigator

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Charlize Theron	...	Sylvia
Kim Basinger	...	Gina
Jennifer Lawrence	...	Mariana
José María Yazpik	...	Carlos
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Nick
Tessa Ia	...	Maria
Diego J. Torres	...	Cristobal
J.D. Pardo	...	Young Santiago
Danny Pino	...	Santiago
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Corbett	...	John
Brett Cullen	...	Robert
Gray Eubank	...	Lawrence
Rafael Hernández	...	Doctor Armendariz
Toni Marie Lopez	...	The woman
Sean McGrath	...	Scott
Cesar Miramontes	...	Plaza street vendor
Marty Papazian	...	Young Man
TJ Plunkett	...	Pat
Chris Ranney	...	Grocery Shopper
Aide Rodriguez	...	Operator
Fernanda Romero	...	Sophie
Kacie Thomas	...	Vivi
Robin Tunney	...	Laura
Malcolm Ullery	...	Priest's helper
Stacy Marie Warden	...	Monnie
Taylor Warden	...	Bobby

Directed by
Guillermo Arriaga

Writing credits (WGA)
Guillermo Arriaga		(written by)

Produced by
Ray Angelic	....	executive producer
Marc Butan	....	executive producer
Eduardo Costantini	....	co-producer
Mark Cuban	....	executive producer
Beth Kono	....	co-producer
Laurie MacDonald	....	producer
Walter F. Parkes	....	producer
Alisa Tager	....	executive producer
Charlize Theron	....	executive producer
Todd Wagner	....	executive producer
Adrian Zurita	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
Robert Elswit
John Toll

Film Editing by
Craig Wood

Casting by
Debra Zane

Production Design by
Dan Leigh

Art Direction by
James Donahue
Naython Vane

Set Decoration by
Sean Kennedy
Wilhelm Pfau
Ron von Blomberg

Costume Design by
Cindy Evans

Makeup Department
Sara Bozik	....	makeup department head
RaMona Fleetwood	....	hair department head
Pepper J. Gallegos	....	makeup artist assistant
Yvette Meely	....	key hair stylist
Matthew W. Mungle	....	prosthetic supplier
Crystal Shade	....	makeup artist
Sheila Trujillo	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Marjorie Ergas	....	production supervisor
Jamey Pryde	....	post production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dylan Goss	....	second unit director
Phil Hardage	....	first assistant director
Thomas Parris	....	first assistant director: second unit
Keith Potter	....	second assistant director
Chad Saxton	....	second second assistant director
Matthew D. Smith	....	first assistant director: aerial unit

Art Department
Joe Arnold	....	property master
Noah Bradley	....	construction coordinator
Chris Buchinsky	....	storyboard artist
Charles A. Carlsen	....	key greens: Oregon
Lisa Corradino	....	on-set dresser
Sharai 'Sara' Corral	....	graphic designer
Ken Erck	....	paint foreman
Sean Fong	....	set dressing lead
Jenelle Giordano	....	set dresser
Severino Gonzales	....	leadperson
Randal R. Groves	....	construction coordinator
Allan B. Holt	....	artist: Animal Makers
Adam Johnson	....	set dresser
Bree Judah	....	painter
Alex Klaue	....	art department coordinator
Ellen Lampl	....	prop graphics
Linda McGinnis	....	painter
Vicki M. McWilliams	....	art department coordinator
Bekka Melino	....	set dresser
Chris Painter	....	set dresser
Christina Pizzala	....	set painter
Renee Prince	....	lead scenic
Gabriel Rivera	....	set dresser
Robin Scala	....	art production assistant
Dan Schaefer	....	storyboard artist
Carly Sertic	....	props
Ryan Smith	....	on-set dresser
Chandler Vinar	....	set dressing gangboss

Sound Department
Thadd Day	....	sound utility
Lori Dovi	....	sound mixer
Eric J. Goldstein	....	sound
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor (as Laura Harris Atkinson)
Michael Hertlein	....	foley editor
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
David A. Smith	....	boom operator
Unsun Song	....	re-recording mix technician
Jon Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karen Vassar	....	sound effects editor
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	supervising sound editor
Scott Wolf	....	sound designer

Special Effects by
William Catania	....	special effects technician
David Fletcher	....	special effects coordinator
Thomas Kittle	....	special effects foreman
Greg Oliver	....	special effects technician
Bob Riggs	....	special effects coordinator: Oregon

Visual Effects by
Mariana Acuña Acosta	....	compositor
J. Cody Baker	....	digital intermediate assistant (as James Cody Baker)
Tony Barger	....	visual effects coordinator: Riot
Gustavo Bellon	....	digital compositor
Gustavo Bellon	....	dynamics and simulations
Gustavo Bellon	....	matchmover
Michael Boggs	....	scanning manager
J.D. Bowers	....	sculptor: W.M. Creations
Lindsay Burnett	....	visual effects executive producer: R!OT
Robin L. D'Arcy	....	visual effects producer
Changsoo Eun	....	visual effects artist
Mitch Gates	....	CG supervisor: Encore Hollywood
Jamie Hallett	....	visual effects supervisor: R!OT
Charlie Iturriaga	....	visual effects supervisor
Tom Kendall	....	visual effects producer
Sean Looper	....	pipeline architect: R!OT
Erika A. McKee	....	visual effects producer: riot
Cyntia Navarro	....	digital production manager
Marla Neto	....	visual effects production assistant: R!OT
Edgar Patron	....	compositor
Wendy Pirotte	....	visual effects coordinator
Salvador Tovar	....	digital artist
Rodrigo Washington	....	visual effects artist
Cary Welton	....	rotoscope artist: R!OT
Shane Christopher Wicklund	....	roto artist: R!OT

Stunts
Shauna Duggins	....	stunt double: Charlize Theron
Gene Harrison	....	stunts
Brian Smyj	....	stunt coordinator
Stephanie Stokes	....	stunt double: Charlize Therion

Camera and Electrical Department
James W. Apted	....	assistant camera
Joe Bacharka	....	lighting technician
Andy Barden	....	electrician
Dante Cardone	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Anne Carson	....	assistant camera
Chris 'Chalky' Chalk	....	rigging electrician: Oregon
Jeremiah G. Chapman	....	video assist
Frank Eyers	....	24 frame playback operator
Richard Foreman Jr.	....	still photographer
Peter Geraghty	....	first assistant camera
Nate Goodman	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Dylan Goss	....	director of photography: aerial second unit
Juergen Heinemann	....	grip
Kaleb Heinemann	....	grip
Tom Hutchinson	....	second assistant camera
Kevin Huver	....	second assistant camera
Barry Idoine	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Chip Ingram	....	grip
John Joleaud	....	lighting technician
Michael Kenner	....	key grip
Jeff Kunkel	....	dolly grip
Patrick LaValley	....	camera intern: Portland
Brent Lawson	....	grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	dolly grip: Portland
Ryan Middleton	....	lighting technician
Heather Page	....	director of photography: second unit
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	Steadicam operator
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jeff Stewart	....	rigging gaffer
Larissa Supplitt	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Karina Teismann	....	electrician
Rick Thomas	....	gaffer
Joe Vitellaro	....	grip
Jarred Waldron	....	gaffer: Oregon
Justin C. Ward	....	rigging electrician
Martin Oliver Edward Wright	....	video playback operator
David Karlak	....	camera intern (uncredited)
Daniel Williams	....	grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Jim Boulden	....	animatronics and puppets creator

Casting Department
Kathryn Brink	....	casting: New Mexico
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice casting
Fernando Echeverri	....	extras casting
Veronica Gilbert	....	extras casting assistant
Julie Rounds	....	extras casting assistant
Tannis Vallely	....	casting associate
Lana Veenker	....	casting: Oregon

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nikki Bartnick	....	key set costumer
Emilea A. Rivera	....	tailor/stitcher
Chapin Simpson	....	set costumer
Cynthia Ann Summers	....	costumer: Kim Basinger

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Des Carey	....	digital intermediate producer
Joe Finley	....	digital preview colorist
Simon Morgan	....	first assistant editor
Alex Romano	....	on-line editor
Ian Turpen	....	digital intermediate scanner: Company 3 (uncredited)

Music Department
Joanie Diener	....	music editor
Annette Fradera	....	music supervisor
Daniel Goldaracena	....	temp music editor
Steven Kofsky	....	music production services
Satnam Ramgotra	....	musician: percussion
Dana Sano	....	music supervisor
Aimee Schaefer	....	music supervisor intern
Peter Oso Snell	....	technical score engineer
Libby Umstead	....	music coordinator
Andrew Zack	....	score production coordinator

Transportation Department
Victoria Mischa Austreng	....	driver: Oregon
Steve Evans	....	driver: Oregon
Greg McVey	....	driver
Eric Miller	....	transportation captain: Oregon
David Norris	....	transportation co-coordinator
John Petty	....	transportation: Portland
Eric Solmonson	....	driver: honeywagon
Philip Krysl	....	production driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Brian Amlin	....	production assistant
Rachel A. Bailey	....	production assistant
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Karla Benson	....	rigging medic
Jean Chien	....	location manager
Gabriel DellaVecchia	....	payroll accountant: Portland
Shanti Delsarte	....	production coordinator
Darren M. Demetre	....	production supervisor
Susan Foley	....	production assistant
Marissa M. Gonzales	....	assistant production coordinator
Howard Israel	....	pilot
Jim Ivy	....	key medic
Ari Joffe	....	set production assistant
Cherron Kofford	....	travel coordinator
Wendy Kutzner	....	production coordinator
Ilana Lapid	....	assistant: producers
Peter McKernan	....	aerial coordinator: pilot
Eric Papa	....	location scout: second unit
Wilson Peery	....	assistant production coordinator
Hilton Clay Peres	....	location scout
Estrella Perez	....	payroll accountant
Roderick Peyketewa	....	assistant location manager
Jackson Rowe	....	set production assistant: Oregon
Jason Ruffolo	....	additional production assistant
Joe Rynearson	....	production assistant
Brooke Satrazemis	....	script supervisor
Taylor Saxon	....	key medic
Aimee Schaefer	....	assistant location manager
Aimee Schaefer	....	production assistant: Seattle
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Levi Smith	....	location production assistant
Adam M. Stone	....	product placement coordinator
Cat Stone	....	product placement coordinator
Jesse Terry	....	production assistant
Andrew Ticer	....	location assistant
Samuel M. Trimble	....	stand-in
Bernadette Valer	....	accounting clerk
Jill Vaupen	....	travel coordinator
Crystal Walen	....	production assistant: Portland
Robert Warberg	....	key assistant location manager
Jaron White	....	production assistant
Derek Wilson	....	production assistant
Adrian Zurita	....	making-of director
Kathleen Breton-Collier	....	teacher (uncredited)

Thanks
Lucas Akoskin	....	special thanks
Marianna Arriaga	....	special thanks
Santiago Arriaga	....	special thanks
Simón Bross	....	special thanks
Dan Carrillo	....	special thanks
Jimena Rodriguez	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• 2929 Productions
• Costa Films
• Parkes/MacDonald Productions

Distributors

• Dendy Films (2009) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Aqua Pinema (2009) (Turkey) (all media)
• Cinéart (2009) (Luxembourg) (all media)
• Cinéart (2009) (Netherlands) (all media)
• Cinéart (2009) (Belgium) (all media)
• ECS Film Distribution (2009) (Middle East) (all media)
• Eco Filmes/Prisvideo (2009) (Portugal) (all media)
• EcoFilmes (2009) (Portugal) (all media)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Paradise/MGN (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Paramount Pictures (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Paris Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Pinema (2008) (Turkey) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Scandinavia) (all media)
• Tohokushinsha Film (2009) (Japan) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Video Vision Entertainment (2009) (South Africa) (all media)
• Wide Pictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2009) (Benelux) (all media)
• Wild Bunch Distribution (2009) (France) (all media)

Special Effects

• Animal Makers (animatronic animals)
• Ollin Studio

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes  shipping by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera car
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• FilmWest Productions  production services
• Pivotal Post  Avid Editing Equipment Provided By
• ReadySetMedic.com  first aid/medic
• Rutabaga Background Casting  extras casting
• Stone Management  product placement

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, nudity and language.

Runtime:

Canada:111 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | UK:106 min

Country:

USA | Argentina

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:7

Filming Locations:

Depoe Bay, Oregon, USA

Company:

2929 Productions

Burningly interwoven plains...

This is the first feature directing experience for Guillermo Arriaga. Already an established writer (Amores Perros, Babel, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada), Arriaga promisingly directs his own script in this movie. The movie follows the characteristic feature of Arriaga's script: fragmented stories, sometimes happening simultaneously, and sometimes happening at different time periods. The editing is intriguing, prompting you to try and seek connections between the different stories. The performances are amazing (especially Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger's). The landscape choices and the cinematography are beautiful. The Burning Plain is a poignant story about desperation, betrayal, trauma, revenge, guilt and self-hatred, with the stories of three female characters and different "plains" burningly interwoven to deliver a moving depiction of these themes... Highly recommended!