Charlotte Gray (2001)

Director:

Gillian Armstrong

Writers:

Sebastian Faulks (novel)
Jeremy Brock (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 February 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Thriller | War

Tagline:

The story of an ordinary woman in an extraordinary time.

Plot:

A young Scottish woman joins the French Resistance during World War II to rescue her Royal Air Force boyfriend who is lost in France.

Plot Keywords:

French Resistance | French | Scottish | France | First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Cate Blanchett	...	Charlotte Gray
James Fleet	...	Richard Cannerly
Abigail Cruttenden	...	Daisy
Charlotte McDougall	...	Sally
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Peter Gregory (as Rupert Penry Jones)
Robert Hands	...	Borowski
Tom Goodman-Hill	...	Business Man at Party
Michael Fitzgerald	...	Business Man at Party
Hugh Ross	...	Psychiatrist
Martin Oldfield	...	Assault Course Instructor
Nicholas Farrell	...	Mr. Jackson
Mike Burnside	...	Morse Code Instructor
Damian Myerscough	...	Gun Instructor
Miranda Bell	...	Female Instructor
Angus Wright	...	Agent

Also Known As:

Die Liebe der Charlotte Gray (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some war related violence, sensuality and brief strong language.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

UK | Australia | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

France

Company:

Ecosse Films

Trivia:

The schoolteacher played by Anton Lesser was called "Benech" in the novel, but the small French town in which much of the movie was based had a popular mayor whose name was similar, so officials asked that the name be changed. He's called "Renech" in the final version.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In the opening shot, a train carrying Charlotte to London is shown crossing a viaduct in the Scottish Highlands. The viaduct in question is the Glenfinnan viaduct, and in the distance you can see the Glenfinnan Monument to Bonny Prince Charlie. The train is clearly traveling North, away from London.

Quotes:

Psychiatrist: Of these three, which in your view is the most important: Faith, hope or love?
Charlotte Gray: Hope.

Movie Connections:

References I Walked with a Zombie (1943)

Soundtrack:

La Java Bleue

A lovely film

If nothing else, the superb cinematography makes Charlotte Grey a winner. The picture is filmed through a creative and sensitive eye with wonderful angles, evocative moods and sensitive textures and shades. The rain and snow outside the train window in the opening scenes is somehow just so right. But photography aside, this is a gripping and well acted work that will satisfy fans of both war movies and love stories. Michael Gambon gives an Oscar worthy performance. It's also so nice to see a film that does not have one of those dreadful syrupy and impractical happy endings. Not that it's a totally sad ending. Call it a bitter sweet ending. In any case this film is an absolute delight from the titles to the closing scene.