Heaven (2002/I)

Director:

Tom Tykwer

Writers:

Krzysztof Kieslowski (trilogy "Heaven, Hell and Purgatory") and
Krzysztof Piesiewicz (trilogy "Heaven, Hell and Purgatory") ...

Release Date:

21 February 2002 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

What Would You Risk For Love?

Plot:

A woman takes the law into her own hands after police ignore her pleas to arrest the man responsible for her husband's death, and finds herself not only under arrest for murder but falling in love with an officer.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Bomb | Police | Death | Justice

Awards:

6 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Cate Blanchett	...	Philippa
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Filippo
Remo Girone	...	Filippo's Father
Stefania Rocca	...	Regina
Alessandro Sperduti	...	Ariel
Mattia Sbragia	...	Major Pini
Stefano Santospago	...	Mr. Vendice
Alberto Di Stasio	...	The Prosecutor
Giovanni Vettorazzo	...	The Inspector
Gianfranco Barra	...	The Lieutenant
Vincent Riotta	...	Chief Guard
Mauro Marino	...	Doctor
Stefania Orsola Garello	...	Vendice's Secretary
Fausto Lombardi	...	Father High Rise
Giorgia Coppa	...	Older Daughter

Also Known As:

Heaven (France) (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for a scene of sexuality.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

Germany | Italy | USA | France | UK

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18SX (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bottrop, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The first of a planned trilogy Krzysztof Kieslowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz wrote before Kieslowski's death: Heaven, Hell and Purgatory.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Crewmembers are briefly reflected in the front of a train as we see the main characters walk away from the train. Specifically, look for a man in a red tee-shirt.

Quotes:

Helicopter Pilot: [helicopter flight simulation switches off after heading straight for the sky] You know in a helicopter, you can't go up forever.
Filippo: How high can you go?

Movie Connections:

References Vertigo (1958)

Soundtrack:

Escape

Of the 1,000's of films I've seen and taught in college classes, this is perhaps the greatest of them all.

Obviously, from the summary of this review, I consider _Heaven_ perhaps the most beautiful film I've seen. As a writer and professor, I still consider film my foremost love of all the arts. In consequence, I've seen thousands of films--and those include nearly every one of the hundreds which are considered the greatest in the medium.

After multiple viewings, I place Heaven at the top. The direction and cinematography are both remarkable, the story utterly compelling, and the performances--especially Cate's--beyond compare. It is actually the overwhelming power and beauty of Cate that's the core of the film's art. It's not just "acting," but the combination of unearthly beauty, top-tier cinematography, *and* her talent that makes this a level above Streep, Dench, Bergman, Hepburn, and any other great at their absolute best.

I suppose it's hard to imagine the existence of a full level beyond what we consider--previously--to have been the most beautiful and artful female performance on screen. But that level is here, and it's clear.