Morvern Callar (2002)

After her beloved husband's suicide, a mourning supermarket worker and her best friend hit the road in Scotland, but find that grief is something that you can't run away from forever.

Director:

Lynne Ramsay

Writers:

Lynne Ramsay (screenplay by), Liana Dognini (screenplay by)

Stars:

Samantha Morton, Kathleen McDermott, Linda McGuire

10 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samantha Morton	...	Morvern Callar
Kathleen McDermott	...	Lanna
Paul Popplewell	...	Cat in the Hat
Ruby Milton	...	Couris Jean
Dolly Wells	...	Susan
Dan Cadan	...	Dazzer
Carolyn Calder	...	Sheila Tequila
Raife Patrick Burchell	...	Boy in Room 1022
Steve Cardwell	...	Welcoming Courier
Bryan Dick	...	Guy with Hat's Mate
El Carrette	...	Gypsy Taxi Driver
Andrew Flanagan	...	Overdose
Des Hamilton	...	Him
Mette Karlsvik	...	Sick Girl / Bikini Girl
Andrew Knowles	...	Green Boy #1

Storyline

Following her boyfriend's suicide, supermarket clerk Morvern Callar passes off his unpublished novel as her own. With the money her boyfriend left for his funeral, she leaves Scotland for Ibiza where she travels with her closest friend. The journey prompts a series of internal and external transformations for Morvern-- ones which bring to light her experiences of grief, memory, freedom, and desire.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | ibiza | two women in bath tub | female rear nudity | breasts | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language and some disturbing images

Did You Know?

Trivia

Morvern Callar was the debut novel by Scottish author Alan Warner, first published in 1995.

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Goofs

When Morvern and Lana walk down the Spanish desert road, Morvern turns around in two shots, revealing the wireless mike in the back pocket of her jeans.

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Quotes

Lanna: Where are we going?
Morvern Callar: Somewhere beautiful.

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Connections

References Ms .45 (1981)

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Soundtracks

Spoon
Written by Holger Czukay / Michael Karoli / Jaki Liebezeit (as Jaki Leibitzit) / Irmin Schmidt / Damo Suzuki (as Kenji Suzuki)
Performed by Can
Courtesy of Onward Music Ltd/Messer Music Publishing Ltd and Spoon Records (UK) Ltd
By Arrangement with Bucks Music Ltd

User Reviews

very strange, but very good

I won't summarise the plot as it is done so by other reviewers.

This is a highly original and unconventional yet mesmerising piece and I agree with many others that Lynne Ramsay is an exceptional talent, who possesses a vision the likes of Guy Ritchie could never even begin to imagine.

This is not an easy film to watch and it requires patience and concentration. Ramsay lets the film unfurl, slowly, with confidence and an assured touch that uses mystery and a touch of incoherence to create a confusing but oddly compelling dreamscape. Where are we? What are we seeing? What exactly is Morvern thinking and feeling? She is clearly in a very strange, disorientated headspace and this film is perfectly engineered to assist us in understanding and occupying that space.

The mystery and enigma of Morvern is wonderfully portrayed by Samantha Morton and the soundtrack encapsulates the atmosphere, as does the lack of incidental music.

Those that want to quibble over inconsistencies such as the direction of the computer keyboard delete key and whether it is in fact possible to bury a body on the moors with a trowel should get over it, step back and look at the big picture.

Details

Official Sites:

Company Pictures Warp [UK]

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

1 November 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Morvern Callar

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,836, 22 December 2002

Gross USA:

$267,907

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$772,336

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Production, BBC Films, Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1