Aurora Borealis (2005)

A troubled young man struggling to right himself after the premature death of his father.

Director:

James C.E. Burke (as James Burke)

Writer:

Brent Boyd

Stars:

Joshua Jackson, Donald Sutherland, Juliette Lewis

8 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joshua Jackson	...	Duncan Shorter
Steven Pasquale	...	Jacob Shorter
Katie Griffin	...	Sandy
Zack Ward	...	Lindstrom
Tyler Labine	...	Finn
Donald Sutherland	...	Ronald Shorter
Louise Fletcher	...	Ruth Shorter
Mark Andrada	...	Clerk
Juliette Lewis	...	Kate
Jim Feather	...	Mr. Gunderson
Judy Sinclair	...	Linda Shorter
Welcome Ngozi	...	Hamit Arfaya
John Kapelos	...	Stu
Dorion Davis	...	Lucy
Timm Sharp	...	Hacksetter

Storyline

Duncan is a depressed 20-something who has just lost another job. He makes extra money by letting out his flat for his brother's romantic trysts, but when a job comes up as a caretaker in his grandparent's building he takes it. His grandfather has Parkinson's Disease and he and his wife have a caregiver whom Duncan finds compellingly upbeat. As they begin a tentative romance, and Duncan spends more time with his grandparents, he begins to face his feelings about the early loss of his father. A moving drama, set in a frigid Minnesota landscape.

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Plot Keywords:

jersey the garment | urination | toilet | kitchen | fired from the job | 

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Taglines:

Love is the hardest job to hold. Love. The only job worth holding.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Entitled Entertainment Regent Releasing

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aurora Boreal

Filming Locations:

Hennepin Avenue Bridge, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,321, 17 September 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$60,552, 3 December 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

Entitled Entertainment, Rick Bieber Productions, Front & Centre Prod. Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene were Ronald introduces Kate to Duncan he tells her what a good hockey player Duncan is. He comments that Duncan is almost as good as a Canuck. 'Canuck' is a slang term for someone from Canada. Joshua Jackson, the actor who plays Duncan, is actually from Vancouver, BC.

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Connections

References The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

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Soundtracks

Love Is All Around
Written and Performed by Sonny Curtis
Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

User Reviews

Aurora Borealis - Moving, funny and well-paced

This is a great film, very moving as well as funny. I got a chance to see it at its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, 2005. Donald Sutherland and Louise Fletcher are extraordinary as the grandparents. I didn't realize how much I had missed seeing them act. Personally I think it's the best thing I've seen Josh Jackson do, and I plan to buy the soundtrack if it gets released. The director is James Burke - I've not seen any of the other movies he directed but he's really good. The pacing seemed just right, he did a great job casting the major parts and I felt he got a lot out of the secondary actors as well. I think it's miscast as a family picture by Tribeca - it's much better and edgier than the standard family fare and there's language use and sexuality not always appropriate for the under 13 crowd. Please note that my 12 year old son saw it with me and loved it. I just had the urge to cover his eyes twice but I resisted. :-)