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IMDbPro

The Secret Life of Words

  • 20052005
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
The Secret Life of Words (2005)
A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.
Play trailer1:30
1 Video
46 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Isabel Coixet
  • Writer
    • Isabel Coixet
  • Stars
    • Sarah Polley
    • Tim Robbins
    • Sverre Anker Ousdal
Top credits
  • Director
    • Isabel Coixet
  • Writer
    • Isabel Coixet
  • Stars
    • Sarah Polley
    • Tim Robbins
    • Sverre Anker Ousdal
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 25 wins & 15 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:30
    Trailer

    Photos46

    Isabel Coixet at an event for The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Isabel Coixet at an event for The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Isabel Coixet at an event for The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Isabel Coixet at an event for The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Scott Wolf at an event for The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Scott Wolf at an event for The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Sarah Polley in The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    Sarah Polley in The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    The Secret Life of Words (2005)
    The Secret Life of Words (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sarah Polley
    Sarah Polley
    • Hanna
    Tim Robbins
    Tim Robbins
    • Josef
    Sverre Anker Ousdal
    Sverre Anker Ousdal
    • Dimitri
    • (as Sverre Ousdal)
    Javier Cámara
    Javier Cámara
    • Simon
    Danny Cunningham
    • Scott
    Dean Lennox Kelly
    Dean Lennox Kelly
    • Liam
    • (as Dean Lenox Kelly)
    Daniel Mays
    Daniel Mays
    • Martin
    Emmanuel Idowu
    • Abdul
    Eddie Marsan
    Eddie Marsan
    • Victor
    Steven Mackintosh
    Steven Mackintosh
    • Doctor Sulitzer
    Julie Christie
    Julie Christie
    • Inge
    Reg Wilson
    Reg Wilson
    • Factory Manager
    Leonor Watling
    Leonor Watling
    • Josef's Friend's Wife
    Daphne Brown
    • Old Lady on Bus
    Muriel Hobson
    • Old Lady on Bus
    Joshua Miligan
    • Child
    • (as Joshua Milligan)
    Sheelagh Smith
    • Child
    Nina Marléne
    • Director
      • Isabel Coixet
    • Writer
      • Isabel Coixet
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    5.3
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The story about a nurse named Cora that Josef tells to Hanna is a short-story named "La señorita Cora" by argentinean writer Julio Cortázar from his book "Todos los fuegos el fuego".
    • Goofs
      In order to fly out to the rig, Hanna would have had to do a three-day off-shore survival course. There seems to be no indication that she does this in the film.
    • Quotes

      Josef: I thought um, you and I, maybe we could go away somewhere. Together. One of these days. Today. Right now. Come with me.

      Hanna: No, I don't think that's going to be possible.

      Josef: Why not?

      Hanna: Um, because I think that if we go away to someplace together, I'm afraid that, ah, one day, maybe not today, maybe, maybe not tomorrow either, but one day suddenly, I may begin to cry and cry so very much that nothing or nobody can stop me and the tears will fill the room and I won't be able to breath and I will pull you down with me and we'll both drown.

      Josef: I'll learn how to swim, Hanna. I swear, I'll learn how to swim.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Mr. Nobody (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Forever Now and Then
      Written by Eef Barzelay
      Performed by Clem Snide

    User reviews59

    Review
    Top review
    What a wonderful movie
    I have seen the movie and I have to say its just beautiful, no its not the slow, easy going romantic love story....it is difficult, critical and poetic. there is no action, its just about those 2 people, who are lonely, and experienced things in their lives nobody could imagine. this movie makes you think, think about your life, about your love about the world.

    i can recommend it to everybody, who likes little quiet movies, which touch you go watch it, the 2 main actors are brilliant. sarah polley plays here role, with a heartbreaking truth, tim robbins (susan sarandons husband) does a great job as well.
    helpful•46
    14
    • katkat00
    • Nov 4, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 21, 2005 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Ireland
    • Official sites
      • Mongrel Media (Canada)
      • Official site (Spain)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Danish
    • Also known as
      • La vida secreta de las palabras
    • Filming locations
      • Bilbao, Bilbao, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain
    • Production companies
      • El Deseo
      • Hotshot Films
      • Mediapro
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $20,678
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,309
      • Dec 17, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,410,058
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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