Heaven Knows What

20142014
RR
1h 37min

6.8/10

Arielle Holmes in Heaven Knows What (2014)

Harley loves Ilya. He gives her life purpose and sets her passion ablaze. So, when he asks her to prove her love by slitting her wrists, she obliges with only mild hesitation, perhaps because of her other all-consuming love: heroin.

A young woman struggles to reconcile her love for her boyfriend and for heroin, as she finds out that suicide is the only way for her boyfriend to forgive her for her misdeed.A young woman struggles to reconcile her love for her boyfriend and for heroin, as she finds out that suicide is the only way for her boyfriend to forgive her for her misdeed.A young woman struggles to reconcile her love for her boyfriend and for heroin, as she finds out that suicide is the only way for her boyfriend to forgive her for her misdeed.A young woman struggles to reconcile her love for her boyfriend and for heroin, as she finds out that suicide is the only way for her boyfriend to forgive her for her misdeed.A young woman struggles to reconcile her love for her boyfriend and for heroin, as she finds out that suicide is the only way for her boyfriend to forgive her for her misdeed.

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

Awards
- 5 wins & 12 nominations

Videos2

Buddy Duress in Heaven Knows What (2014)

Arielle Holmes and Buddy Duress in Heaven Knows What (2014)

Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie in Heaven Knows What (2014)

Josh Safdie and Sebastian Bear-McClard at an event for Heaven Knows What (2014)

Sebastian Bear-McClard at an event for Heaven Knows What (2014)

Josh Safdie, Sebastian Bear-McClard, and Caleb Landry Jones at an event for Heaven Knows What (2014)

Driven by the irrepressible, daily need to have a fix, Harley, a homeless, substance-dependent young woman, thinks that she has found true love in the mean streets of bustling New York City. But then, Ilya, her abusive, drug-addled boyfriend, who dominates her vulnerable heart and gives her a reason to live, asks the unthinkable. Suddenly, devotion becomes a cruel word, and only self-sacrifice can bring atonement. Now, desperate Harley is ready to do Ilya's bidding without a second thought; however, before long, she will have to make a tough decision: choose between her love for Ilya and her unbreakable heroin addiction. —Nick Riganas

love drug addiction cocaine homeless people life on the streets

Genres
- Crime
- Drama
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for drug use throughout, pervasive language, disturbing and violent images, sexuality, and graphic nudity
Parents guide

Trivia
The lead, Arielle Holmes lived on the streets of NYC prior to this film and after being discovered by Josh Safdie, she wrote and texted him almost every situation and story she experienced via her heroin addiction, her tragic relationship with Ilya and life on the streets of NYC. When the film began shooting, Arielle Holmes got clean and remained clean throughout the shoot.

Goofs
In the scene after Ilya hitchhikes, he is seen dropping the paper surrounding his DayQuil bottle on the floor. In the next scene when he drinks from it again, the paper is still surrounding the bottle.

Quotes
Skully: You ain't gettin' rid of me, I ain't going nowhere.

Connections
Features Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)

Soundtracks
The Demon Dance Of Doc Death
(Opening credits music)
Written and performed by Paul Grimstad
Original music for the film
Mysteroid Music (ASCAP)

Top review

Disturbing and compelling

Truly didn't expect anything out of this, which is why it was such a huge surprise. I don't think its flawless, but effective it surely is. I feel like its style is definitely going to out off a lot of people (quite a lot actually). I mean, even from the get-go it basically affirms the type of film it'll be and how it'll be presented, with its loud, throbbing score (which is both beautiful as an individual piece, but also really disturbing in the context of the film). The performances here are compelling, all of the main actors totally and fully committed. Arielle Holmes is a true talent though, what a fantastic performance. Raw and real and totally honest, no artifice or anything. This film is fully recommended.

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