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Forty Shades of Blue

  • 20052005
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Forty Shades of Blue (2005)
Home Video Trailer from First Look Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:39
1 Video
11 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Romance

A Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock-'n'-roll legend experiences a personal awakening when her husband's estranged son comes to visit.A Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock-'n'-roll legend experiences a personal awakening when her husband's estranged son comes to visit.A Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock-'n'-roll legend experiences a personal awakening when her husband's estranged son comes to visit.

IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ira Sachs
  • Writers
    • Michael Rohatyn
    • Ira Sachs
  • Stars
    • Dina Korzun
    • Rip Torn
    • Darren E. Burrows
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ira Sachs
  • Writers
    • Michael Rohatyn
    • Ira Sachs
  • Stars
    • Dina Korzun
    • Rip Torn
    • Darren E. Burrows
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Forty Shades of Blue
    Trailer 2:39
    Forty Shades of Blue

    Photos11

    Forty Shades of Blue (2005)
    Dina Korzun in "Forty Shades of Blue"
    Darren E. Burrows in "Forty Shades of Blue"
    Rip Torn in "Forty Shades of Blue"
    Rip Torn in "Forty Shades of Blue"
    Dina Korzun in "Forty Shades of Blue"
    Dina Korzun in "Forty Shades of Blue"
    Forty Shades of Blue (2005)
    Forty Shades of Blue (2005)
    Forrest Pruett, Ira Sachs and John Boyd West on Forty Shades of Blue

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dina Korzun
    Dina Korzun
    • Lauraas Laura
    Rip Torn
    Rip Torn
    • Alan Jamesas Alan James
    Darren E. Burrows
    Darren E. Burrows
    • Michael Jamesas Michael James
    Andrew Lawrence Henderson
    • Sam Jamesas Sam James
    Elizabeth Morton
    Elizabeth Morton
    • Cindy, Babysitteras Cindy, Babysitter
    • (as Liz Morton)
    Joanne Pankow
    Joanne Pankow
    • Aunt Bettyas Aunt Betty
    Arielle Kight
    • Teenage Singeras Teenage Singer
    J. Blackfoot
    • Selfas Self
    Red West
    Red West
    • Duiganas Duigan
    Jenny O'Hara
    Jenny O'Hara
    • Celiaas Celia
    Jerry Chipman
    • Shelas Shel
    Mary Jean Bentley
    Mary Jean Bentley
    • Genaas Gena
    • (as Mary Jean McAdams)
    Charly Kayle
    • Karinas Karin
    J. Allen Scott
    • Press Photographeras Press Photographer
    Earl Randle
    • Old Timeras Old Timer
    Charles 'Skip' Pitts
    Charles 'Skip' Pitts
    • Selfas Self
    Don Pirl
    • Man at Peabody Baras Man at Peabody Bar
    Stuart Greer
    Stuart Greer
    • Tom Skolnickas Tom Skolnick
    • Director
      • Ira Sachs
    • Writers
      • Michael Rohatyn
      • Ira Sachs
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Wealthy music producer Alan James lives with his beautiful 30-years-younger Russian girlfriend Laura, whom he met while he was in Russia on business; they have a three-year-old son. Alan is a music legend, having produced Black music during the '60s and '70s, the golden era of Memphis Soul. They live an affluent life in a sprawling mansion on the banks of the Mississippi in Memphis, Tennessee. Although she is comfortable, Laura feels lonely and isolated. Alan has an estranged adult son from a previous marriage, literature professor Michael, who lives with his wife in Los Angeles. Michael and his father have a complicated relationship marred by disappointment, hampered by jealousy, and fueled by anger. When Michael comes to Memphis for the first time in many years, although he had at first disapproved of his father's young girlfriend, closer to his age than his father's, a painful and dangerous love affair develops between him and Laura. As this forbidden passion deepens in Memphis' bars and bedrooms, Laura comes to an illuminating self-confrontation that will change her soul and life forever. —Anonymous
    • young stepmother
    • sex with stepmother
    • sex with stepson
    • stepmother stepson sex
    • cheating wife
    • 112 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Music
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sexuality and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is directly influenced by the 1964 film: "Charulata" (the lonely wife) directed by the renowned Indian film director, Satayjit Ray
    • Connections
      Featured in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      It's All Over
      Written by Bert Berns

      Performed by Ben E. King

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group

      By arrangement with Warner Strategic Marketing

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    beautiful. will stay with you long after you've seen it
    I saw 40 Shades and think this film is incredible. Ira Sachs has made a movie that is unlike the typical current American film but is all about America. Every frame is filled with people and places that make you feel like you are actually there, watching the lives of these people. This film could not have been made in Toronto or Seattle or any other place "standing in for" Memphis. All of this is important because the main female character in this drama is Russian - an outsider in this America - and we feel her estrangement in every scene. None of the film is strange to us because we know these places and these people - because we are American. It is this familiarity that allows us to feel her outsider status all the more acutely.

    Dina Korzun, who plays Laura is beautiful and remarkable. You sense her alienation at every moment and understand the difficulties of her situation without ever feeling that she is the helpless victim of circumstances. In one particularly amazing moment of the film, we see her face flicker with opposing emotions from second to second... Sachs allows the camera to linger, heightening our discomfort with the scene and emotions occurring.

    Rip Torn is phenomenal. He knows this character and he knows this place. He is so authentic you absolutely believe every moment of his performance and as much as you hate him you feel for him too. An incredible performance.

    Darren Burrows's character Michael is perhaps the hardest to find commonality with. It's not an easy job being the catalyst in a family drama and so at times we don't understand his actions but we do sense that they are coming from a man in limbo - pathetic flailings of a man sort of trying to do something, be something but also lacking the real conviction and drive. Of the three performances this one is the weakest but that is not to imply that it is not good. It's hard trying to match Rip Torn, most can't in any movie.

    In Sumary, this movie is challenging -- through its structure and pacing and especially through its story but it is a challenge we should have more often in film not one to run away from. It is also beautiful and moving. It will definitely linger in your memory...often times coming back to you as if you are remembering a moment from your own life.
    helpful•15
    10
    • brooklynmajestic
    • Feb 5, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 7, 2005 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 40 оттенков грусти
    • Filming locations
      • Tennessee, USA
    • Production companies
      • Charlie Guidance Productions
      • Flux Films
      • High Line Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $75,828
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,940
      • Oct 2, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $172,569
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Ira Sachs Says Mixed Cannes Response to ‘Frankie’ Actually Helped His Movie
    Ira Sachs Says Mixed Cannes Response to ‘Frankie’ Actually Helped His Movie
    Oct 25Indiewire
    Top 100 Most Anticipated American Independent Films of 2019: #21. Ira Sachs’ Frankie
    Feb 8IONCINEMA.com

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