A futuristic Brief Encounter (1945), this is a love story in which the romance is doomed by genetic incompatibility.A futuristic Brief Encounter (1945), this is a love story in which the romance is doomed by genetic incompatibility.A futuristic Brief Encounter (1945), this is a love story in which the romance is doomed by genetic incompatibility.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
21K
YOUR RATING
- Awards
- 4 wins & 10 nominations
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Taro Bahar
- Jimas Jim
- (as Taro Sherabayani)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
This movie is a love story set in a Brave New World-type near-future where cities are heavily controlled and accessible only through checkpoints. People cannot travel unless they have "papeles" (papers in Spanish; words and sentences in many languages, especially Spanish, French, and Chinese are mixed with English in this new world), a special travel permit issued by the totalitarian government, the "Sphinx". Outside these cities, the desert has taken over and shanty towns are jammed with non-citizens, people without IDs forced to live primitive lives. William Geld (Tim Robbins) is a family man who works as a government investigator. When he is sent to Shanghai to solve a case of fake IDs, he meets a woman named Maria Gonzales (Samantha Morton). Although he realizes she is behind the forgeries, he cannot help but fall completely in love with her. He hides her crime and they have a wild, passionate affair that can last only as long as his visa: twenty-four hours. Back home, William is obsessed with the memory of Maria. When the original investigation is inevitably re-opened a week later and William is sent back to finish the work he started, he tracks her down only to discover she has been accused of a Code 46 violation, and any further relationship is therefore impossible.
- Taglines
- In the future...love is a dangerous game.
- Genres
- Certificate
- 15
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaCode 46 refers to the twenty-two chromosome pairs, plus the two sex chromosomes in human beings.
- GoofsThe numerous seeming "errors in geography" are actually an intentional artistic choice. Because the film is set in a future where global cultures have become thoroughly merged, Michael Winterbottom purposely blended footage shot in Shanghai, Dubai and Rajastahn so that Shanghai has a desert outside it, etc.
- Crazy creditsThere is a looped animation running next to the names during the final credits. It shows a variety of things, including chromosomes, chromosome replication, and chemical structures.
- SoundtracksNo Man's Land
Written by David Holmes
Published by Universal/Island Music Ltd
Performed by David Holmes
Courtesy of Polydor UK Ltd
Licensed by kind permission from the
Universal Film and TV Licensing Division
Top review
Xlnt moody shots, subtle and restrained FX but poor storyline.
First of all I was impressed by the moody shots of Shanghai and the other locations used. Almost had that Blade Runner feel for planting you in a believable future. So many films of this genre, and with massively higher budgets, often fail to achieve the lightness of touch shown here. Not the usual obviously nailed-on FX, but instead subtle and credible gizmos with the personalised touch, like Maria's cuckoo-call tone and graphics on her personal organiser that William uses when trying to find her. And the Esperanto-style combination of phrases everyone uses, from Spanish, French, Chinese etc could easily be envisaged in years to come.
But what really let it down ultimately was the story. Just at the point where you wanted the narrative to move up a gear, instead it just hung there and became a bit self-indulgent. The actors made an excellent job of an often dull script. Maybe the writer couldn't think how to end it. A shame, as it was an opportunity squandered in my opinion.
I got the feeling that Frank Cottrell Boyce, though coming up with some thought - provoking ideas in this film and having done excellent work elsewhere, possibly needed to have collaborated with another writer that could have injected some pace and fresh perspective just at the point the film ran out of steam. I'm a great fan of Michael Winterbottom's (especially on "Jude")evocative and atmospheric camera-work, but that alone couldn't salvage the film from ultimately being disappointing.
But what really let it down ultimately was the story. Just at the point where you wanted the narrative to move up a gear, instead it just hung there and became a bit self-indulgent. The actors made an excellent job of an often dull script. Maybe the writer couldn't think how to end it. A shame, as it was an opportunity squandered in my opinion.
I got the feeling that Frank Cottrell Boyce, though coming up with some thought - provoking ideas in this film and having done excellent work elsewhere, possibly needed to have collaborated with another writer that could have injected some pace and fresh perspective just at the point the film ran out of steam. I'm a great fan of Michael Winterbottom's (especially on "Jude")evocative and atmospheric camera-work, but that alone couldn't salvage the film from ultimately being disappointing.
helpful•2712
- quillfiller
- Aug 8, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Kod 46
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $7,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $285,585
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $20,170
- Aug 8, 2004
- Gross worldwide
- $886,018
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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