The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004)

Seven-year-old Jeremiah is pulled from his foster home and thrown into a troubled life on the road with his teenage mother, Sarah.

Director:

Asia Argento

Writers:

Laura Albert (short stories) (as J.T. LeRoy), Asia Argento (screenplay)

Stars:

Asia Argento, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Asia Argento	...	Sarah
Jimmy Bennett	...	Young Jeremiah
Kara Kemp	...	Social Worker #1
Brent Almond	...	Cop #1
David Dwyer	...	Cop #2
Kip Pardue	...	Luther
Jeremy Renner	...	Emerson
David Brian Alley	...	Doctor (as David Alley)
Lydia Lunch	...	Social Worker #2
Ornella Muti	...	Grandmother
Dylan Sprouse	...	Older Jeremiah
Cole Sprouse	...	Older Jeremiah
Peter Fonda	...	Grandfather
John Robinson	...	Aaron
Lindy Maguire	...	Girl

Storyline

The dysfunctional twenty-three-year-old Sarah takes her six-year-old natural son Jeremiah from the home of his beloved foster parents with the support of the social service to live with her. Along the years, the boy shares her insane and low lifestyle and is introduced to booze and drugs and mentally, physically and sexually abused by Sarah, her lovers and her religiously fanatic family.

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Plot Keywords:

child abuse | written and directed by cast member | prostitute | child molester | female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Behind the greatest hoax of our time is the heartbreaking story that started it all.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for intense depiction of child abuse/neglect, strong sex and drug content, pervasive language and some violence

Details

Country:

USA UK France Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

A szív csalfa vágyai

Filming Locations:

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,000, 12 March 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$29,058, 30 March 2006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$176,153, 27 February 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Above All Things Inc.,Artist Film,Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Fonda wouldn't smack John Robinson in the face, so the hands smacking John actually belong to the Cinematographer Eric Alan Edwards.

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Goofs

When Jeremiah is in the diner pouring sugar into the cereal bowl, the amount of sugar in the bowl changes between shots.

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Quotes

Jackson: I'm sorry babydoll I thought it was you. He was talkin' like you actin' like you.

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Connections

Features The Dirdy Birdy (1995)

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Soundtracks

Karen Koltrane
Written by Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Steve Shelley & Lee Ranaldo
Performed by Sonic Youth
Sonik Tooth Music (admin. By Zomba Songs Inc.) (BMI)
Courtesy of Geffen Records under the license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

depressing

Downright depressing. I watch films to escape or to see the joyousness of life - basically this is about child abuse. We all know what that is - and the adults who do it are downright ILL. For that reason, this film is brilliant and depicts the mental illness in adults very well - and their inability to connect with their own compassion and understanding. Makes you realise that just because a person can have a child, doesn't mean they are a parent. Throws up the whole notion of family and how damaging it is for some people.

If anything this film could be used to force EVERYONE to take a parenting course and to be observed and examined in the action of parenting.

It was realistic - but sad, depressing and well, if you are in the mood of getting depressed, watch this one.

I was really wanting to see what the kid turned into as an adult. Just another junkie?? It leaves you dissatisfied completely in that respect.