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IMDbPro

Ask the Dust

  • 2006
  • R
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
10K
YOUR RATING
Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell in Ask the Dust (2006)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:21
1 Video
91 Photos
DramaRomance

Mexican beauty Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek) hopes to rise above her station by marrying a wealthy American. That is complicated by meeting Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell), a first-generation I... Read allMexican beauty Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek) hopes to rise above her station by marrying a wealthy American. That is complicated by meeting Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell), a first-generation Italian hoping to land a writing career and a blue-eyed blonde on his arm.Mexican beauty Camilla Lopez (Salma Hayek) hopes to rise above her station by marrying a wealthy American. That is complicated by meeting Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell), a first-generation Italian hoping to land a writing career and a blue-eyed blonde on his arm.

  • Director
    • Robert Towne
  • Writers
    • Robert Towne
    • John Fante
  • Stars
    • Colin Farrell
    • Salma Hayek
    • Donald Sutherland
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    10K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Towne
    • Writers
      • Robert Towne
      • John Fante
    • Stars
      • Colin Farrell
      • Salma Hayek
      • Donald Sutherland
    • 80User reviews
    • 55Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Ask the Dust
    Trailer 2:21
    Ask the Dust

    Photos91

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    + 84
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    Top cast21

    Edit
    Colin Farrell
    Colin Farrell
    • Arturo Bandini
    Salma Hayek
    Salma Hayek
    • Camilla
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Hellfrick
    Eileen Atkins
    Eileen Atkins
    • Mrs. Hargraves
    Idina Menzel
    Idina Menzel
    • Vera Rivkin
    Justin Kirk
    Justin Kirk
    • Sammy
    Jeremy Crutchley
    Jeremy Crutchley
    • Solomon
    Ronald France
    • Columbia Sweeper
    Dionysio Basco
    Dionysio Basco
    • Filipino Houseboy
    • (as Dion Basco)
    Donna Mosley
    • Red Headed Girl
    Paul Rylander
    • Harold the Bartender
    Natasha Staples
    • Denver Librarian
    Wayne Harrison
    • Heilman
    Yasuhiro Yoshimura
    • Japanese Vegetable Man
    • (as Yoshimura Yasuhiro)
    Sid
    • Willie the Dog
    Danny
    • Willie the Dog
    Richard Schickel
    Richard Schickel
    • H. L. Mencken
    • (voice)
    Stephen Hughes
    • Worker
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Towne
    • Writers
      • Robert Towne
      • John Fante
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Salma Hayek developed hypothermia while filming the skinny-dipping ocean scenes.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Arturo Bandini: When I was a kid, back in Colorado, it was Smith, Parker and Jones who hurt me with their hideous names. Who called me wop and dago and greaser, and their children hurt me. Just as I hurt you. They hurt me so much, I could never become one of them. Drove me to books, drove me within myself. Drove me to run away from that town in Colorado, into your home and into your life. And sometimes, when I see their faces out here, the same faces, the same sad, hard mouths from my hometown. I'm glad they're here fulfilling the emptiness of their lives and dying in the sun. And they hate me, and my father and my father's father. But they are old and I am young and full of hope. And love for my country and my times.

      [breaking down]

      Arturo Bandini: And Camilla, when I said "greaser" to you, it was not my heart that spoke, but the quivering of an old wound. And I am ashamed of the terrible thing I have done.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown on the pages of the book Ask the Dust, as someone flips through the first few pages.
    • Connections
      Features Dames (1934)
    • Soundtracks
      Blue Drag
      by Josef Myrow

      Performed by Django Reinhardt

      Courtesy of JSP Records

    User reviews80

    Featured review
    8/10

    Beautiful lighting, cinematography.

    As voluntary Cinema Manager at Coalville's Century Theatre, I'm always on the lookout for films of artistic quality which are not necessarily multiplex successes. I must confess I did read a couple of newspaper reviews when this film was first released in the UK, - they weren't particularly favourable but they did highlight the Robert Towne/Chinatown connection, - but I forgot all about it until I visited Italy for a weekend holiday in July. As I was passing a cinema in Verona, I was attracted by a couple of very attractive stills...for Ask The Dust. I decided to find out a bit more about the film when I returned home. After doing this, I felt it would be deserving of a screening at our little venue and I booked the film as soon as it was made available to the non-theatrical circuit. I eventually showed the film last night and I believe this was the first public showing in Leicestershire. I fully endorse the comments of others before me, - the lighting, sets, period sense and cinematography are absolutely marvellous, - just literally lovely to look at. I thought Colin Farrell was fine in the central role and am at a loss why he's come in for criticism from some quarters for this performance. Salma Hayek also scores in her sniping early scenes with Farrell and portrays well her character's fears and insecurities at a time when being Mexican was so obviously looked down upon (a very neat selection by Towne for the film excerpt in the cinema scene). Pity our own Eileen Atkins had such a tiny role. Although certainly not a commercial film, it does feature some memorable scenes such as the Long Beach earthquake and the moonlight swim among the crashing waves. And I really liked the idyllic seaside period enjoyed by the two (eventual!) lovers...with the little dog. A good sharp ending in true old-fashioned Hollywood style with a nod towards Camille, which apparently is not in the book, so I've read. After the film finished, I wasn't sure how my audience would react but comments were generally very favourable...and the fairly overt but well-handled sex scene had caused no offence...in fact I did get a couple of middle aged ladies offering glowing expressions with their references to Mr Farrell's appearance in that scene. A very good, quality film, lovingly made by Robert Towne...but one couldn't help thinking with a little more sharpness early on, it could have been even better. It's a piece that will linger in the memory though, in my opinion, and you can't say that about the majority of the modern day films.
    • keithmp
    • Nov 17, 2006
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Ask the Dust?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 24, 2006 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • CMC (Taiwan)
      • Paramount Classics (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Vượt Lên Nghịch Cảnh
    • Filming locations
      • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Cruise/Wagner Productions
      • Ascendant Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $743,847
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $68,779
      • Mar 12, 2006
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,460,057
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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