The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009)

Director:

Rebecca Miller

Writers (WGA):

Rebecca Miller (screenplay)
Rebecca Miller (book)

Release Date:

10 July 2009 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The life you love may be your own.

Plot:

After her much older husband forces a move to a suburban retirement community, Pippa Lee engages in a period of reflection and finds herself heading toward a quiet nervous breakdown.

Plot Keywords:

Retirement | Neighbor | Publisher | Pills | 35 Year Old

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Robin Wright	...	Pippa Lee (as Robin Wright Penn)
Mike Binder	...	Sam Shapiro
Alan Arkin	...	Herb Lee
Winona Ryder	...	Sandra Dulles
Ryan McDonald	...	Ben Lee
Cornel West	...	Don Sexton
Maria Bello	...	Suky Sarkissian
Arnie Burton	...	Doctor
Tim Guinee	...	Des Sarkissian
Drew Beasley	...	Chester Sarkissian - Age 6
Madeline McNulty	...	Young Pippa - Age 7
Beckett Melville	...	Chester Sarkissian - Age 13
Zoe Kazan	...	Grace Lee
Billy Wheelan	...	Waiter
Shirley Knight	...	Dot Nadeau
Keanu Reeves	...	Chris Nadeau
Joan Copeland	...	Piano Player
J.R. Horne	...	Johnnie Nadeau
Blake Lively	...	Young Pippa
Adam Shonkwiler	...	Chester Sarkissian - Age 22
Richard DeDomenico	...	Elderly Man
Robin Weigert	...	Aunt Trish
Julianne Moore	...	Kat
Christin Sawyer Davis	...	Shelly
Dan DeLuca	...	Craig Simms (as Zero)
Adam Grupper	...	Max Kessler
Sean-Michael Bowles	...	Jed (as Sean Michael Bowles)
Audrey Lynn Weston	...	Terry
Sean Casey	...	Calvin
Monica Bellucci	...	Gigi Lee
Angela Trento	...	Woman
Teresa Yenque	...	Alphonsa
Lola Pashalinski	...	Mrs. Mankievitz
Myra Lucretia Taylor	...	Night Nurse
Annie Purcell	...	Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marc Alan Austen	...	Dinner Guest (uncredited)
David Boston	...	Man at Fish Truck (uncredited)
Edie Hofstatter	...	Delivery Room Nurse (uncredited)
Marca Leigh	...	S & M Girl (uncredited)
Shane Mehigan	...	Twin Brother (uncredited)
Rich Rothbell	...	Literary Agent (uncredited)
Harry L. Seddon	...	Church Friend Of Suky Sarkissian (uncredited)

Directed by
Rebecca Miller

Writing credits (WGA)
Rebecca Miller		(screenplay)
Rebecca Miller		(book)

Produced by
Jean-Luc De Fanti	....	executive producer
Jill Footlick	....	executive producer
Dede Gardner	....	producer
Warren T. Goz	....	executive producer
Jeremy Kleiner	....	executive producer
Stewart McMichael	....	executive producer
Brad Pitt	....	executive producer
Jeff Sagansky	....	executive producer
Lemore Syvan	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Rohatyn

Cinematography by
Declan Quinn		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sabine Hoffmann

Casting by
Cindy Tolan

Production Design by
Michael Shaw

Set Decoration by
Cherish Magennis		(as Cherish Magennis Hale)

Costume Design by
Jennifer von Mayrhauser

Makeup Department
Alessandro Bertolazzi	....	makeup artist: Monica Bellucci
Robert Chiu	....	key hair stylist
LuAnn Claps	....	makeup department head
Giorgio Gregorini	....	hair stylist: Monica Bellucci
Giorgio Gregorini	....	makeup artist: Monica Bellucci
Peggy Nicholson	....	hair department head
Nicky Pattison	....	key makeup artist
Patrick Conlon	....	tattoo designer (uncredited)
Joshua Lord	....	assistant tattoo artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lola Belsito	....	production supervisor
Erin Borel	....	post-production supervisor
Alison Palmer Bourke	....	executive in charge of production: Inspired Axtions (as Alison Palmer)
Jason Feuerstein	....	production supervisor: Inspired Actions
Lemore Syvan	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Francois Caillaud	....	second assistant director (as François Caillaud)
Borjan Jovanovich	....	second second assistant director (as Boryan Jovanovich)
John M. Tyson	....	first assistant director
Francois Caillaud	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Jose Amor	....	carpenter
Maureen Angelos	....	scenic
Pamela Blum	....	shop electric
Gary Boesch	....	key carpenter
Krzysztof J. Bratun	....	scenic (as Krzysztof Bratun)
Mark Cheney	....	camera scenic
John J. Ciccimarro	....	carpenter (as John Ciccimarro)
Alex Devlin	....	carpenter (as Allex Devlen)
Neil Driscoll Jr.	....	set dresser (as Neil Driscoll)
Mary Fellows	....	shopper
Shannon Finnerty	....	additional props
Yolan Fisher	....	property master
Emily Gaunt	....	charge scenic
Shaun Gilbert	....	shop electric
Andrew Heikkila	....	second props (as Andy Heikkila)
Tom Hocking	....	key construction grip
Gavin A. Holmes	....	carpenter (as Gavin Holmes)
Michael Kall	....	carpenter (as Mike Kall)
Barbara A. Kastner	....	on-set dresser (as Barbara Kastner)
Keith Kastner	....	set dresser
Martin Kirchoff	....	carpenter (as Marty Kirchoff)
Rob Murke	....	shop electric
Kathi Prate	....	set dresser
Rob Raposa	....	best boy construction grip
Kevin C. Reidy	....	key construction grip (as Kevin Reidy)
Paul Rovera	....	carpenter (as Paul Rovira)
Pierre Rovira	....	construction coordinator
Jim Sten	....	leadman
Sylvia Trapanese	....	scenic artist
Michael Wiegand	....	additional props
Don Zappia	....	best boy construction grip (as Donny Zappia)
Melissa B. Miller	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)
Elizabeth Ralston	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)
Randall Richards	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Arielle Toelke	....	custom props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Caoimhe Doyle	....	foley artist
Steve Fanagan	....	first assistant sound editor
John Fitzgerald	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sarah Gaines	....	supervising sound editor
Tom Johnson	....	recording mixer
Tom Johnson	....	sound effects editor
Jean McGrath	....	foley recordist
Teferra McKenzie	....	boom operator
Desiree Ortiz	....	sound utility
Jeff Pullman	....	sound mixer
Christopher R. Walsh	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Christopher Walsh)
Steve Fanagan	....	assistant foley artist (uncredited)
Claire Houghtalen	....	additional boom operator (uncredited)
Rich Macar	....	commentary re-recordist (uncredited)
Nicolas Mazet	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Jon Tendrich	....	production sound mixer: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Dave Wilson	....	adr mixer: Atlanta (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Connie Brink	....	special effects coordinator
Matt Vogel	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Glen Bennett	....	lead flame artist: Sea Level VFX
Jesse Morrow	....	visual effects artist: Technicolor New York
Steve Reiss	....	visual effects executive producer: Sea Level VFX
Morgan Miller	....	digital retouching (uncredited)
Paola Varvaro	....	digital artist: digital restoration (uncredited)

Stunts
Douglas Crosby	....	stunt coordinator (as Doug Crosby)
Joan Preston	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
John Bolz Jr.	....	key rigging grip (as John Bolz)
John Bolz	....	rigging grip (as John Bolz Sr.)
Michael W. Brennan	....	rigging gaffer (as Mike Brennan)
Robert Carnevale	....	company grip (as Bob Carnevale)
Neil Danziger	....	video assist operator
Glenn Davis	....	generator operator
James P. Dolan	....	best boy rigging (as J.P. Dolan)
James Domorski	....	24 frame playback operator
Peter Elliot	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Brant S. Fagan	....	Steadicam operator (as Brant Fagan)
Lisa Marie Gleeson	....	electrician
Gary Jackiewicz	....	dolly grip: 'b' camera
James Kelly	....	electrician
Tommy Kerwick Jr.	....	best boy grip (as Tom Kerwick Jr.)
Billy Kerwick	....	company grip (as Bill Kerwick)
Tom Kerwick	....	key grip
David Kissinger	....	electrician (as Dave Kissinger II)
Stephen Kozlowski	....	second assistant camera
Ronnie Lantz	....	video assist operator
Charles Libin	....	camera operator
Nathan Gabriel Lopez	....	loader (as Nathan Lopez)
Matthew Luberda	....	dolly grip (as Matt Luberda)
Parris Mayhew	....	Steadicam operator
John Murphy	....	video assist operator
Brendan Jamieson O'Brien	....	video assist operator (as Brendan O'Brien)
Neil O'Malley	....	rigging grip
Gene Page	....	still photographer
Gregory Principato	....	first assistant camera
Leigh Rathner	....	second assistant camera: 'b' camera
Frank Rinato	....	first assistant camera: 'b' camera
Robert Sciretta	....	gaffer
Mark Stetz	....	best boy
Newsha Tauakolian	....	still photographer: Grace Lee's photographs
Jelani Atu Wilson	....	loader: "b" camera
Autumn Eakin	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Spencer Gillis	....	additional film loader (uncredited)
Paul Goroff	....	super technocrane operator (uncredited)
Charles Libin	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Peter Tommasi	....	scorpio head technician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Jonathan Ackerman	....	animation production artist: Asterisk Animation
Noella Borie	....	assistant animator: Asterick Animation
Christina Capozzi Riley	....	assistant animator: Asterick Animation (as Christina Riley)
Kristen Collins	....	assistant animator: Asterick Animation (as Kristen A. Collins)
Doug Compton	....	animator: Asterisk Animation
Jessica Ng	....	animation production artist: Asterisk Animation
Brian O'Connell	....	creative supervisor: Asterick Animation
Richard O'Connor	....	creative supervisor: Asterick Animation
Keryn Thompson	....	assistant animator: Asterick Animation
Leah Tinari	....	character designer: Asterick Animation
Nina Torr	....	animation production artist: Asterisk Animation

Casting Department
Adam Caldwell	....	casting associate
Todd Feldman	....	extras casting
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leslie Bernstein	....	assistant costume designer
Justine Chevalier	....	wardrobe supervisor
Lucy Cottrell	....	costume intern
Linda Giammarese	....	costumer
Candice Knox	....	costume intern
Jessica Pitcairn	....	costume production assistant
Brenda Renfroe	....	tailor
Dave Olin Rogers	....	tailor
Carol Ann Simone	....	costume intern
Jennifer Lynn Tremblay	....	costume intern (as Jen Tremblay)
Rose Wells	....	on-set wardrobe (as Rosie Wells)
Lucia Lettini	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer
Damon Cardasis	....	post-production coordinator
Kristyn DiPane	....	dailies project manager
Charles Herzfeld	....	digital intermediate facility advisor
Barbara Jean Kearney	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Russ Senzatimore	....	first assistant editor
Tim Stipan	....	digital intermediate colorist
Joe Szutarski	....	colorist: dailies
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor (as Joey Violante)
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer
Victoria Anderson	....	colorist assistant (uncredited)
Richie Roefaro	....	colorist assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Silverman	....	digital imaging supervisor (uncredited)
Kevin Vale	....	digital film scanning and recording (uncredited)

Music Department
Eleanor Altman	....	music librarian
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Michael Cumella	....	song archivist
Artie Friedman	....	score recording engineer
Joyce Hammann	....	musician: violin soloist (as Joyce Hamman)
Tyler Hartman	....	assistant score recording engineer
Dan Hopler	....	score recording engineer
Jamie Lawrence	....	additional piano arrangements
Jamie Lawrence	....	musician: piano soloist
Jamie Lawrence	....	score producer
Richard Locker	....	musician: cello soloist
Michael Rohatyn	....	score producer
Kimberlee Wertz	....	music contractor (as Kimberly Wertz)
Bryon Westcott	....	assistant score recording engineer

Transportation Department
Richard R. Busardo	....	driver (as Rick Busardo)
Ralph Devivo	....	driver
Dan Feather	....	driver (as Feather)
Rich Finch	....	driver
George Forte	....	driver
Albert Masteri	....	driver
Tom O'Connor	....	driver
Arthur Priest	....	driver
Tim Wood	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Mara Alcaly	....	location scout/assistant
Hillary Amster	....	location coordinator
Tara Andrus	....	production accountant (as Tara Andrus Glasser)
Alberto Barrezueta	....	craft service (as Alberto Barrazuetta)
Beverly Billin	....	assistant production coordinator
David E. Bisson	....	intern (as David Bisson)
Erin Borel	....	production coordinator
Steve Boyle	....	accountant: post-production
Nicole Bukowski	....	assistant production accountant
Damon Cardasis	....	assistant: Rebecca Miller
Ellen Athena Catsikeas	....	location manager
Jared Cauliffe	....	set production assistant (as Jared S. Cauliffe)
Luis Cedillo	....	chef
Lauren Cioffi	....	set production assistant
Angie Conners	....	international marketing
Nekia Daste	....	production assistant: first team
David de Roos	....	stand-in for mr. reeves
Eric Dimitratos	....	production assistant
David Dreishpoon	....	caterer
David Dreishpoon	....	craft service
Sarah Esberg	....	assistant: Jeremy Kleiner
John B. Finn	....	accountant: post-production (as John Finn)
Sarah Follett	....	location scout/assistant
Linda Francoletti	....	on-set tutor
Emily Gannett	....	product placement
Max Gantz	....	intern
Jeff Gernert	....	location production assistant
Joanne Getson	....	production secretary
David Barrett Graver	....	production assistant: script (as David Graver)
Vincent Grippi	....	intern
Bryan Hickey	....	intern
Kristin Ilagan	....	office production assistant
Jeffrey Keefe	....	office production assistant
Lauren Lawrence	....	assistant: Jean-Luc De Fanti
Lauren Lillie	....	assistant: Lemore Syvan
Stephanie A. Marquardt	....	script supervisor (as Stephanie Marquardt)
Dawn Mountain	....	production coordinator
Nikki Parker	....	unit publicist: Rogers & Cowan
Diego Pina	....	chef
Joanne Schioppi	....	unit publicist: Rogers & Cowan
R. Zachary Shildwachter	....	key set production assistant (as Zach Shildwachter)
Ashley Tener	....	assistant: Dede Gardner
Jessica Thorne	....	payroll accountant (as Jess Thorne)
Alicia Van Couvering	....	clearances
Chad Yavarow	....	set production assistant
Wendy Benge	....	finance attorney (uncredited)
Harrison Bohrman	....	location scout (uncredited)
Dama Claire	....	production consultant (uncredited)
Tom Naclerio	....	intern (uncredited)
Justin Rosini	....	location scout (uncredited)
Ani Simon-Kennedy	....	production office intern (uncredited)
Tom Trocola	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Grand Army Entertainment
• IM Global
• Lumina Films
• Plan B Entertainment

Distributors

• Cinematografica Distributori Indipendenti (CDI) (2009) (Italy) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Innoform Media (2009) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• MEED Films (2009) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• NonStop Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Ablo (2009) (Russia) (all media)
• Bac Films (2009) (France) (all media)
• CP Digital (2009) (Russia) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Cinematografica Distributori Indipendenti (CDI) (2009) (Italy) (all media)
• David Distribucion (2009) (Mexico) (all media)
• Forum (2009) (Israel) (all media)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2009) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Icon Film Distribution (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Icon Film Distribution (2009) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Icon Film Distribution (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas (2009) (Portugal) (all media)
• SP Films (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Screen Media Films (2009) (USA) (all media)
• Screen Media Films (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• TriPictures (2009) (Spain) (all media)

Special Effects

• Asterisk Animation (animation)
• Sea Level VFX (visual effects removals and end titles)

Other Companies

• All-Star Animals  animal handlers
• Anheuser Busch  thanks
• Ardmore Sound  post sound services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Cine Finance  completion bond (as CineFinance)
• Clinton Recording Studios  additional music recording facility (as Clinton Recording)
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• David's Catering  catering
• Framepool  stock footage
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Indiepay  payroll services
• Kellogg's  thanks
• Law Offices of George Sheanshang  production legal
• Manhattan Beach Recording  music recording facility
• Manhattan Beach Recording  music recording facility
• Morton Salt  thanks
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities
• Rogers & Cowan  publicity
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Technicolor New York  digital intermediate
• Technicolor New York  film and video post services
• Technicolor  release printing
• Tek Film Productions  grip equipment
• Tiffany & Co.  thanks
• Volkswagen of America Inc.  thanks
• Winchester Capital Management  production financing

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, brief nudity, some drug material and language

Runtime:

98 min | Germany:93 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45320) | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:16 | Japan:PG12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIB | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Grand Army Entertainment

Trivia:

Julianne Moore only spent 2 days filming her role.

Quotes:

Pippa Lee:[after leaving hospital where her adulterous husband who wanted a divorce has been declared brain-dead, she is sitting in bed with Chris, eating french fries after having climbed through his window] So... it's official, nobody needs me anymore.

Soundtrack:

Little Turtle Dove

Assured, intelligent domestic drama with some nice surprises

Robin Wright Penn is uncannily reminiscent of Julie Christie in Away From Her from a couple of years ago, while the tone, topic and structure of these two assured quiet domestic dramas also have much in common. The character changes and revelations in this film stretch credibility rather more, partly because there are more of them thrown into the melting pot and not enough time to get to know some of the characters as I would have liked to. I disagree however with the comment on Keanu Reeve's performance. I thought he was excellent, as indeed were all these quality actors, though there wasn't enough of Winona Ryder to make her role entirely convincing. In a film of this nature the dialogue is the make or break factor. What people say to each other must be interesting yet credible, and this is absolutely the case in the relationships portrayed here. Altogether an absorbing, intelligent film, with some highly satisfactory twists and surprises.