Return to Sender (2004)

While fighting for a woman who sits on death row, a lawyer happens upon new information which brings into question the motives of a man associated with her client.

Director:

Bille August

Writers:

Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Stars:

Connie Nielsen, Aidan Quinn, Kelly Preston

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Connie Nielsen	...	Charlotte Cory
Aidan Quinn	...	Frank Nitzche
Kelly Preston	...	Susan Kennan
Tim Daly	...	Martin North (as Timothy Daly)
Mark Ryan	...	Mark Schlesser
Mark Holton	...	Joe Charbonic
Sara-Marie Maltha	...	Stella / Julie
Bill Thomas	...	Gubby
Randy Colton	...	Joe Hammond
Robin Brooks Sullivan	...	Mary Hammond (as Robin Brooks-Sullivan)
Madison Mueller	...	Kirstie
Eric Starkey	...	Hammond's Brother
Montana Sullivan	...	Hammond's Son
Brian Shoop	...	District Attorney
Michael Phillip Simpson	...	Johnny Decker (as Michael P. Simpson)

Storyline

Charlotte Cory is a young woman convict on Death Row who has built up a friendship with Frank Nitzche through mail correspondence, whilst her attorney desperately tries to appeal the verdict before Charlotte's time runs out. With only days to spare Frank realizes that he has fallen in love with Charlotte and discovers that there is much more to the tragic circumstances of her imprisonment than he first thought - her life is now in his hands. Frank races to solve the puzzle that will reveal the truth, and tell the secrets that both he and Charlotte have been concealing, before it's too late.

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Plot Keywords:

death row | attorney | sex through bars | sex scene | wrongful imprisonment | 

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Taglines:

How can you save someone, who won't save herself?

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexuality and violent images

Details

Country:

Denmark USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2005 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Convicted

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Box Office

Budget:

$7,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Audley Films LLP, Moviefan Scandinavia A/S, Number 9 Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min 100 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

The right brake light in Frank's Mustang alternates between working and not working throughout the film.

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Connections

Referenced in About 'Return to Sender' (2006)

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Soundtracks

Fragile Bird
Written by Jim Wolfe

User Reviews

Well Crafted Film

A powerful performance by Connie Nielsen, well supported by Aidan Quinn and Kelly Preston. The plot holes don't really matter here, it's the psyche of Charlotte Cory, as revealed by Nielson, that draws one through this film. Like Quinn's character Frank, one needs to learn why this beautiful person will passively accept execution by the state rather than defend her innocence. Self-condemned, because she miserably failed her sister Stella years before, Charlotte seems to believe she can atone for her sins in a twisted kind of sacrifice.

Neilsen reveals with her face and eyes the inner beauty of her character, the sadness on learning the (false?) circumstances of her father's death, the meaningfulness of her relationship with Frank, the love of her sister, the hope of a new life.

Aidan Quinn provides a solid, believable Frank, the shyster turning hero, resonating with Nielsen throughout.

The overwhelming impression of this film is its realism, in character portrayal, settings, musical score, it seems authentic, even when viewed through the lens of a security camera. In contrast, the fantasy sequences are whimsical and far out.

The solution of the mystery is satisfying, leading to a good ending.