Merci Docteur Rey (2002)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Andrew Litvack

Writer:

Andrew Litvack (written by)

Release Date:

3 December 2003 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A hot young phone sex addict and his narcissistic opera diva mom. A dangerously agitated hustler and...

Plot Keywords:

Hustler | Psychiatrist | Rent Boy | Turandot | Paris

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dianne Wiest	...	Elisabeth Beaumont
Jane Birkin	...	Pénélope
Stanislas Merhar	...	Thomas Beaumont
Bulle Ogier	...	Claude Sabrié
Karim Saleh	...	Murderer
Didier Flamand	...	Detective
Roschdy Zem	...	Taxi Driver
Nathalie Richard	...	Radio Interviewer
Dan Herzberg	...	Rollerboy
Jerry Hall	...	Sybil
Simon Callow	...	Bob
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Herself
Yousry Nasrallah	...	TV Interviewer
Canaan Marguerite	...	Gigolo #1
Olivier Augrond	...	Gigolo #2
Christophe Fleuret	...	Gigolo #3
Ruth Handlen	...	Dr. Rey
Vanina Vignal	...	Florist
Franck Lorrain	...	Boy #1
Yohan Font	...	Boy #2
Volodia Serre	...	Boy #3
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	François
Hosh Kane	...	Police Officer (as Hosh Ibrahim)
Johanna Leica	...	Receptionist (as Johanna Leica)
Ilir Selmoski	...	Horror Movie Actor
Charlotte Schioler	...	Horror Movie Actress
Michel Filippi	...	Dubbing Director (as Michel Filipi)
Akiko Toda	...	Liù
Daniel Minerva	...	Calaf
Jana Bittnerova	...	Bearded Lady
Adam Kian	...	Prince of Persia
Azouz Begag	...	Executioner (as Begag Azzouz)
Hossein Ghavanloo	...	Sword Swallower
Joyca Ghrenassia	...	Gypsy Street Singer
François De Bartillat	...	Accompanied by
Andy Hibbins	...	Accompanied by

Directed by
Andrew Litvack

Writing credits
Andrew Litvack		(written by)

Produced by
Rahila Bootwala	....	producer
Paul Bradley	....	co-producer
Nathalie Gastaldo	....	producer
Richard Hawley	....	executive producer
Ismail Merchant	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Geoff Alexander		(as Geoffrey Alexander)

Cinematography by
Laurent Machuel

Film Editing by
Giles Gardner

Casting by
Annette Trumel

Production Design by
Jacques Bufnoir

Set Decoration by
Sabine Delouvrier

Costume Design by
Pierre-Yves Gayraud

Makeup Department
Manuela Taco	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Sylvain Monod	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
François Magal	....	third assistant director
Sabine Roca	....	second assistant director
Patrick Roques	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Edward Bulman	....	foley editor
Michel Filippi	....	adr supervisor (as Michel Filipi)
Dan Johnson	....	assistant dubbing mixer
Hugh Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeremy Price	....	supervising sound editor
André Schmidt	....	dialogue editor
Keith Tunney	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Daniel Pettipher	....	digital compositor

Camera and Electrical Department
Gabriella Crawford	....	still photographer
Nicolas Dixmier	....	gaffer
Adam Rackoff	....	video assist operator
Benoît Rizzoti	....	focus puller

Casting Department
Muriel Habert	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter

Music Department
John Anderson	....	musician: oboe solo
Simon Chamberlain	....	musician: solo piano
Janice Graham	....	orchestra leader

Other crew
Virginie Barbay	....	script supervisor (as Viginie Barbay)
Juliette Baumard	....	trainee script supervisor
Cécile Bon	....	choreographer
Fabien Brochard	....	production assistant
Richard Cross	....	opera coach
Ruth Handlen	....	voice coach
Nathalie Iund	....	press attache
Mathieu Lévy	....	key location manager
Sylvain Monod	....	production consultant
Thomas Pavel	....	production assistant
Roger Phillips	....	title designer
Mathieu Pradinaud	....	location manager
Philippe Rebbot	....	production assistant

Thanks
Noëlle Boisson	....	the director wishes to thank

Production Companies

• Merchant Ivory Productions
• Eat Your Soup Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Pan Européenne Distribution (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Parasol Peccadillo Releasing (2004-2007) (UK) (DVD)
• Regent Releasing (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• here! Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Mill Films (I)

Other Companies

• Burberry  the producers wish to thank
• Frameline Productions Ltd.  titles
• Guerlain  the producers wish to thank
• Hermès  the producers wish to thank
• L'Opéra National de Paris Bastille  filmed at
• Parfums Guerlain  the producers wish to thank (as Guerlain)
• Radio France  the producers wish to thank
• Sony  the producers wish to thank
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting

Also Known As:

Merci Dr Rey! (UK)
Merci... Dr Rey! (France) (poster title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | UK:15 | USA:R

Company:

Merchant Ivory Productions

Movie Connections:

Features Howards End (1992)

Soundtrack:

If You Go Away

Even Better Seen Again!

My wife and I saw this for the third time at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Festival, although it's not really a "gay" film as some would expect. While it is painted on a backdrop about a gay young man, this is a classic murder comedy in the best European tradition, from a writer/director with a tremendous future. Andrew Litvack has created a fresh, original, funny and mature screenplay and populated it with wonderful onscreen talent guided with a sure and confident hand. What was amazing to me is that every time I have seen this film, I find more wonderful surprises in subtle looks, photos on the wall, costumes, etc. Normally I do not have the patience to sit through a film twice, let alone three times! I will be pleased if offered the opportunity to see it again. It's truly a wonderful film.