Birth (2004)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jonathan Glazer

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (written by) &
Milo Addica (written by) ...

Release Date:

3 November 2004 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Be careful what you wish for.

Plot:

A woman (Nicole Kidman) becomes convinced that a ten year old boy is the reincarnation of her dead husband.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Reincarnation | Death | Central Park New York | Music Teacher

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Nicole Kidman	...	Anna
Cameron Bright	...	Young Sean
Danny Huston	...	Joseph
Lauren Bacall	...	Eleanor
Alison Elliott	...	Laura
Arliss Howard	...	Bob
Michael Desautels	...	Sean
Anne Heche	...	Clara
Peter Stormare	...	Clifford
Ted Levine	...	Mr. Conte
Cara Seymour	...	Mrs. Conte
Joe M. Chalmers	...	Sinclair
Novella Nelson	...	Lee
Zoe Caldwell	...	Mrs. Hill
Charles Goff	...	Mr. Drummond

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:R-18 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Sweden:7 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Hong Kong:III (director's cut) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:MG6 | Norway:11 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40949) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Brightwaters, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

The type of cake served at Eleanor's birthday and which Sean has a left-over piece of is a Red Velvet Cake which is also known as a Waldorf Astoria Cake.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Anna steps in front of the hedge to pose for the wedding photographer, the hedge is clearly taller than her. In the next shot, the hedge is only waist-high and you can see the wedding party in the background.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Voice of Sean: Ok, let me say this... If I lost my wife and, uh, the next day, a little bird landed on my windowsill, looked me right in the eye, and in plain English said, 'Sean, it's me, Anna. I'm back' What could I say? I guess I'd believe her. Or I'd want to. I'd be stuck with a bird. But other than that, no. I'm a man of science. I just don't believe that mumbo-jumbo. Now, that's gonna have to be the last question. I need to go running before I head home.

Movie Connections:

References Barry Lyndon (1975)

Soundtrack:

Bridal March from 'Lohengrin'

Handsome package with little inside...

Nicole Kidman is made-up and photographed in a breathtaking way--even more so than usual. Angular and arched, she's an elongated pixie, beautiful but not the same Kidman we've all seen walking the red carpet. Her Anna is slightly dazed, imposing at first but then maybe a little fragile; it's tough to get a fix on her, she's just beyond reach. Such an intelligent, tremulous woman would never let this plot-line go so far, as a youngster approaches her and claims to be the reincarnation of her deceased husband. Why doesn't she (or any of her family members) just say the obvious thing to the strange little boy: if you are who you say you are, prove it! Kidman walks all the way into the park to confront the boy but only asks him one question--and then runs away; the family greets the boy at the apartment, but instead of grilling him they give him dessert! It's a very frustrating movie, frustrating for the fact it had enormous potential but the opportunities for a sharp, smart, sophisticated human drama have been muffled out. **1/2 from ****