Broken English (2007)

Since college (art), Nora hasn't had luck with men. Now in her 30s, she works in a NYC hotel going nowhere. But then she meets a Frenchman.

Director:

Zoe R. Cassavetes (as Zoe Cassavetes)

Writer:

Zoe R. Cassavetes (as Zoe Cassavetes)

Stars:

Parker Posey, Melvil Poupaud, Gena Rowlands

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Parker Posey	...	Nora Wilder
Drea de Matteo	...	Audrey Andrews
Tim Guinee	...	Mark Andrews
Gena Rowlands	...	Vivien Wilder-Mann
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Irving Mann
Roy Thinnes	...	Peter Andrews
Michael Panes	...	Glen
Justin Theroux	...	Nick Gable
Philip Pavel	...	Front Desk Worker
Melvil Poupaud	...	Julien
Dana Ivey	...	Elinor Gregory
William Wise	...	William Gregory
Josh Hamilton	...	Charlie Ross
Caitlin Keats	...	Jennifer Ross
Russell Steinberg	...	Carl (as Russel Steinberg)

Storyline

Nora Wilder is freaking out. Everyone around her is in a relationship, is married, or has children. Nora is in her thirties, alone with job she's outgrown and a mother who constantly reminds her of it all. Not to mention her best friend Audrey's "perfect marriage". But after a series of disastrous dates, Nora unexpectedly meets Julien, a quirky Frenchman who opens her eyes to a lot more than love.

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Plot Keywords:

best friend | frenchman | f rated | nipples visible through clothing | wedding ring | 

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Taglines:

So Many Mr. Wrongs. So Few Mr. Rights.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content, brief drug use and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zoe R. Cassavetes offered the role of Nora to Parker Posey without an audition.

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Quotes

Nora Wilder: I think I must be doing something horribly wrong, but I don't know what it is.

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Connections

References In a Lonely Place (1950)

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Soundtracks

Walking on the Moon
Written and Performed by Daniel May

User Reviews

Shallow, Mainstream and Sentimental

This film is a shallow treatise on the problems of locating love for a young woman in the city. The main character is self-centered, and yet seems to have no real interests. She is desperately looking for someone to love her in order to save her from herself. She is not really interested in other people, only in their ability to "love" her, even if they are assholes and total strangers. The movie takes the position that her attitude is normal, and in doing so misses an opportunity to be interesting. The movie fails to make an assessment about the existential problems of the character, or to question her myopic vision and lack of center and dignity. The film, like its characters, is a surface without a center, and ends up being mainstream, shallow, hollow, and sentimental. It's no wonder that's it's safe for audiences today, for it reinforces the popular idea that women are dependent on men for their happiness and to fill a hole or void. The film is indeed a fairy tale, for a woman who behaves like a depressed, mopey, self-hating dishrag all of the time would be very lucky to find a man to love her.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official site [United States]

Country:

France Japan USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

16 July 2008 (France)

Also Known As:

Broken English

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$55,198, 24 June 2007

Gross USA:

$956,919

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,944,150

Company Credits

Production Co:

HDNet Films, Backup Media, Phantom Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1