This Must Be the Place (2011)

Cheyenne, a retired rock star living off his royalties in Dublin, returns to New York City to find the man responsible for a humiliation suffered by his recently deceased father during W.W.II.

Director:

Paolo Sorrentino

Writers:

Paolo Sorrentino (screenplay), Umberto Contarello (screenplay)

Stars:

Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch

19 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Penn	...	Cheyenne
Olwen Fouéré	...	Mary's Mother
Eve Hewson	...	Mary
Johnny Ward	...	Steven
Sam Keeley	...	Desmond
Danielle O'Brien	...	Supermarket Girl #1
Margaret O'Reilly	...	Supermarket Girl #2
Frances McDormand	...	Jane
Mairin O'Donovan	...	Old Lady in Bank
Simon Delaney	...	Jeffrey
Jer O'Leary	...	Old Man in Cemetary
Master Deng	...	Chinese Tai Chi Teacher
Jane Myers	...	Jeffrey's Girlfriend
Heather Fedyk	...	Elevator Woman #1
Iris Frank	...	Elevator Woman #2

Storyline

Cheyenne, a wealthy former rock star (Penn), now bored and jaded in his retirement embarks on a quest to find his father's persecutor, an ex-Nazi war criminal now hiding out in the U.S. Learning his father is close to death, he travels to New York in the hope of being reconciled with him during his final hours, only to arrive too late. Having been estranged for over 30 years, it is only now in death that he learns the true extent of his father's humiliation in Auschwitz at the hands of former SS Officer Aloise Lange - an event he is determined to avenge. So begins a life-altering journey across the heartland of America to track down and confront his father's nemesis. As his quest unfolds, Cheyenne is reawakened by the people he encounters and his journey is transformed into one of reconciliation and self discovery. As his date with destiny arrives and he tracks down Lange, Cheyenne must finally decide if it is redemption he seeks ....or revenge. Starring two time Academy Award winner ...

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Plot Keywords:

batman character | post punk | humiliation | rock | rock star | 

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Taglines:

A former rock star is hunting down a Nazi criminal...This could be his greatest hit.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief disturbing images

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Smith (lead vocalist for the Cure) was an inspiration for the character of Cheyenne.

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Quotes

Cheyenne: I'm not trying to find myself. I'm in New Mexico, not India.

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Alternate Versions

The international version is approximately 7-minute shorter than the version screened at the Cannes Film Festival and released in Italy.

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Connections

References Paris, Texas (1984)

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Soundtracks

Happiness
Written by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Birgisson) and Alex Somers (as Somers)
Performed by Jonsi & Alex
(c) Universal Music Publishing Ltd. / Copyright Control
Published in Italy by Universal Music Italia S.r.l.
(p) 2009 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Sigur Rós under exclusive license to EMI Records Ltd

User Reviews

fascinating and clever

I really adore this film. I think I saw it 5 times in various cinemas. It is a film about many things, like growing up, leaving the past behind, how parents can scar their children for life and of course about the Holocaust. It is also a sort of a road movie. The topic of the Holocaust is presented in a smart, sophisticated and almost delicate way like I have never seen before. Despite that or maybe because if the delicate approach it is no less effective in recalling the Holocaust than let's say "The Schindler's list". But very different, of course. The film is very well directed and I like the soundtrack as well. The film has a strange, hypnotic flow and rhythm to it, despite being slow in some parts. It can be funny too. The acting is excellent, especially by Penn but not only. Highly recommended.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

Italy France Ireland

Language:

English Hebrew

Release Date:

24 August 2011 (France)

Also Known As:

This Must Be the Place

Filming Locations:

Ireland

Box Office

Budget:

EUR25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,754, 4 November 2012

Gross USA:

$143,979

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,928,909

Company Credits

Production Co:

Indigo Film, Lucky Red, Medusa Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 111 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1