The Discovery of Heaven (2001)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Jeroen Krabbé

Writers:

Harry Mulisch (novel)
Edwin de Vries (writer)

Release Date:

25 October 2001 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Coincidence doesn't exit, everything happens for a reason

Plot:

God is disappointed with the human race and wants his stone tablets back. An angel is given the assignment and...

Plot Keywords:

Angel | Faith | Friendship | Cellist | Heaven

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Maureen Lipman	...	Figure 1
Viv Weatherall	...	Angel
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Gabriel (as Jeroen Krabbe)
Stephen Fry	...	Onno
Gillian Barge	...	Onno's mother
Nettie Blanken	...	Coba
Victoria Carling	...	Margareth Quist
Lois de Jong	...	Granddaughter Quist (as Loïs de Jong)
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Onno's father
Geraldine Alexander	...	Trees Quist
Nicholas Palliser	...	Diederik Quist
Greg Wise	...	Max
Emma Fielding	...	Helga
Sean Harris	...	Bart Bork
Molly Hallam	...	Red Haired Protestor

Also Known As:

De ontdekking van de hemel (Netherlands)

Runtime:

150 min | Netherlands:127 min

Country:

UK | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Kanzaman

Trivia:

'Edwin de Vries' and his spouse Monique van de Ven both have cameos. De Vries plays the Cuban customs officer, van de Ven is the nurse who looks after the comatose Ada.

Quotes:

Max: I've discovered you, you bastards!

The end of silence.

It's rare to see a film and have everyone in the audience sit silent through the entire film, and closing credits, until the lights go back up -- such was the impact of The Discovery of Heaven at the showing I saw it at.

A philosophical drama that is extremely apropos at this point in human evolution, regardless of your religious beliefs, this film provides stellar performances from Stephen Fry and Greg Wise, and the entire cast. If you appreciated the life-tapestry and serendipity of P.T. Anderson's "Magnolia" then you'll find similar satisfaction here. Sometimes the life paths we choose with our free will may have unforseen consequences, not to mention an unforseen impetus.

Don't expect a Dogmaesque irreverence from this film, but do expect to say "ooh! clever!" at least a few times. There's an artistry in The Discovery of Heaven which is rare for modern cinematic offerings. Subtle and symbolic, this film will definitely earn a place in my DVD libarary when it becomes available. Definitely a "must see" if you appreciate films on a deeper level than many Hollywood productions could provide.