We Don't Live Here Anymore (2004)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

John Curran

Writers (WGA):

Andre Dubus (short stories "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Adultery")
Larry Gross (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 November 2004 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Ordinary lives. Extraordinary emotions.

Plot:

An indiscretion between two close friends tears down their respective marriages.

Plot Keywords:

Aspiring Writer | Split Up | Profanity | Unfaithful Husband | Plumber

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Mark Ruffalo	...	Jack Linden
Laura Dern	...	Terry Linden
Peter Krause	...	Hank Evans
Naomi Watts	...	Edith Evans
Sam Charles	...	Sean Linden
Haili Page	...	Natasha Linden
Jennifer Bishop	...	Sharon Evans
Jennifer Mawhinney	...	Audrey
Amber Rothwell	...	Lauren
Meg Roe	...	Lollipop Girl
Jim Francis	...	Joe Ritchie
Marc Baur	...	Plumber
Patrick Earley	...	Jim

Directed by
John Curran

Writing credits (WGA)
Andre Dubus		(short stories "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Adultery")
Larry Gross		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Carlin	....	associate producer
Ruth Epstein	....	executive producer
Jonas Goodman	....	producer
Larry Gross	....	executive producer
Harvey Kahn	....	producer
Ken Lawson	....	co-producer
Robert Lee	....	co-producer
Bernadette Meyers	....	associate producer
Sanford Rosenberg	....	co-producer
Mark Ruffalo	....	executive producer
Michael Shepard	....	associate producer
Naomi Watts	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Convertino

Cinematography by
Maryse Alberti		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alexandre de Franceschi

Casting by
Ellen Lewis
Audrey Skalbania

Production Design by
Tony Devenyi

Art Direction by
Rick Willoughby

Set Decoration by
Dina Holmes		(as Dina Zecchel)

Costume Design by
Katia Stano

Makeup Department
Rebeccah Delchambre	....	key makeup artist
Maja Djilas	....	hair assistant
Maja Djilas	....	makeup assistant
Jullin Hadden	....	hair assistant
James Dean Patten	....	key hair stylist
Tone Rorvik	....	hair assistant
Tone Rorvik	....	makeup assistant
Bev Wright	....	hair assistant
Bev Wright	....	makeup assistant

Production Management
Ken Lawson	....	production manager
Bernadette Meyers	....	post-production supervisor: Canada
Douglas Salkin	....	post-production supervisor: US

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Kidd	....	second second assistant director
Robert Lee	....	first assistant director
Cathie McGaw	....	second assistant director (as Cathie McGaw-Russell)

Art Department
Mike Allen	....	paint coordinator
Shaun Bullied	....	painter
Nicole Chorney	....	set decoration buyer
Sally Cook	....	property master
Thomas Craib	....	set dresser
Gavin De West	....	assistant property master
Candiss Foss	....	props truck supervisor
Jilly Geer	....	set dresser (as Jilli Geer)
Mervyn Hope	....	construction coordinator (as Merv Hope)
Dmitry Kazak	....	set dresser
Brian Lewis	....	set dresser
Sarah Martin	....	set dresser
John McIntosh	....	head greensman (as John Macintosh)
Josh Plaw	....	lead set dresser
Serena Steffensen	....	set decoration buyer
Jonny Swift	....	on-set decorator
Alison Walker	....	set dresser
Leah Weinberg	....	assistant set decorator
Scott Weisenburger	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	sound designer
Anke Bakker	....	sound supervisor
Lindsay Bucknell	....	sound mixer
Brian Campbell	....	dialogue editor
Jay Cheetham	....	backgrounds editor
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	adr supervisor
Jacqueline Cristianini	....	dialogue supervisor
John Curran	....	sound designer
Dario DiSanto	....	foley editor (as Dario Disanto)
Jannene Elam	....	sound assistant
Scott Hinkley	....	post-production sound recordist
Mark Klausmayer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Kunau	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Matthew Kunau)
Jason Lecky	....	boom operator
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer
Mike Paprocki	....	sound effects editor
Iain Pattison	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean Raymond	....	foley mixer
Adam Sharpe	....	adr mixer
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Shane Shemko	....	foley artist
Steve Smith	....	supervising sound editor
Noah Southall	....	adr engineer
Joshua Stevenson	....	assistant dialogue editor
Joshua Stevenson	....	assistant sound editor
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Ann Townshend	....	assistant sound editor (as Anne Townsend)
Cam Wagner	....	foley artist
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rich Walters	....	assistant sound editor
Ryan Whitehead	....	sound assistant
Ryan Whitehead	....	sound mixer: EPK

Special Effects by
Cara E. Anderson	....	special effects technician
Rory Cutler	....	special effects coordinator
Alan Robertson	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Brett Armstrong	....	stunt coordinator
Dan Redford	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Shannon Abbott	....	lamp operator
Michael Adams	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael Adams	....	first assistant camera
Thomas E. Bond	....	camera trainee (as Tom Bond)
Aarron Brady	....	grip
Gordon Carson	....	camera operator: EPK
Jason Eaton	....	lamp operator
Kimberly French	....	still photographer (as Kimberley French)
Lee Gibeau	....	grip
Matt Greenhough	....	key grip
Justin Hanika	....	lamp operator
John G. Helme	....	gaffer (as John Helme)
Ian Houghton	....	best boy electric
Norbert Kaluza	....	camera operator: second unit
Christina Kasperczyk	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Shannon Kohli	....	lamp operator
Rod McDonald	....	generator operator (as Rod Mcdonald)
Finbar McMillan	....	best boy grip (as Finbar Mcmillan)
Robyn Moore	....	camera trainee
Allana Murray	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Miriam Needoba	....	camera trainee
Marty Nicholas	....	grip
Will Parrott	....	grip
Pascal Pillot-Bruhat	....	lamp operator
Mark Roop	....	generator operator
Paul Sigurdson	....	first assistant camera: second unit (as Einar Sigurdson)
Pat Sloan	....	grip
Tim Spencer	....	Steadicam operator
Kwesi Thompson	....	playback operator (as Kwes Thompson)
Katie Weekley	....	second assistant camera
Richard Win	....	second assistant camera: second unit

Casting Department
Eliana Carrillo	....	casting associate
Audrey Skalbania	....	extras casting
Eliana Carrillo	....	extras casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tanya Berger	....	costumer
Summer Eves	....	costumer
Ruby Fleming	....	costume set supervisor
Tara R. Hinecker	....	costume truck supervisor (as Tara Hinecker)
Marie Hock	....	costumer: prep
K.M. Lowe	....	costumer (as K. M. Lowe)
Lara Lupish	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Brian Anton	....	additional editor
Rodrigo Balart	....	first assistant editor: Australia
Ed Dobbs	....	color timer
James Ilecic	....	additional editor
Kathryn Raphael	....	first assistant editor: Australia
Brian Reilly	....	first assistant editor: Vancouver
Garry M.B. Smith	....	additional editor
Lana Gudlaugson	....	post-production facility coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Convertino	....	musician
John Eidsvoog	....	music preparation
Julie Eidsvoog	....	copyist
Julie Eidsvoog	....	music preparation
David Fisher	....	music editor
Peter Fox	....	assistant music editor
Clayton Haslop	....	musician
Will Kaplan	....	music editor
Dennis Karmazyn	....	musician
David Low	....	musician contractor
David Low	....	musician
David Marquette	....	music recordist
Shawn Murphy	....	music recording mixer
Brian Nevin	....	music recording engineer
P. Daniel Newman	....	music editor
Laurie Parker	....	music supervisor
Lee Scott	....	assistant music editor
Rich Walters	....	music editor
Ken Yerke	....	musician
Lesley Barber	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Vicki Brown	....	driver: Laura Dern
Randy Caine	....	transportation coordinator
Bob Chase	....	driver: special equipment
Stefano Chimarios	....	driver: cast
Keith R. Giesbrecht	....	driver: Naomi Watt (as Keith Giesbrecht)
J.J. Johnston	....	driver: cast
Gilles LaPlante	....	driver: cast (as Gilles La Plante)
Steve Martin	....	transportation co-captain
Richard Vanderkuip	....	transportation captain (as Rick Vanderkuip)

Other crew
Juan Acosta	....	location production assistant
Don Andrews	....	location production assistant
Grant Astle	....	assistant chef
Jenz Bergren	....	assistant: Larry Gross
Angela Brown	....	stand-in
Alaina Burnett	....	stand-in
Serena Caine	....	security
Curtis Campbell	....	location manager
Stacey Campbell	....	location production assistant
Carol Chestnut	....	legal counsel: Canada
Patrick Creery	....	stand-in
Steve Curran	....	title designer
Stephanie Daniel	....	stand-in
Haven Elliot	....	stand-in
Michelle Everaert	....	location production assistant
Mike Forry	....	assistant location manager (as Michael Forry)
Jennifer Gibson	....	stand-in
Aaron Grain	....	stand-in
David Hadley	....	production coordinator
Nancy Heller	....	assistant production accountant
Marie Hock	....	location production assistant
Victor Juralowicz	....	location production assistant
John Knowlton	....	key production assistant
Christopher A. Lambert	....	location production assistant (as Chris Lambert)
Dean Lamont	....	on-set tutor
Jayme Lemons	....	assistant: Laura Dern
Linda Lichter	....	legal counsel: US
Greg Lund	....	assistant production coordinator
Dan Mackle	....	security
Adam Mars	....	location production assistant
Virginia May	....	location production assistant
Stacey Moores	....	craft service assistant
Stacey Moores	....	first aid assistant
Juan Pantera	....	location production assistant
Sandy Reynolds	....	craft service
Sandy Reynolds	....	first aid
Linda Riley	....	stand-in
Trevor Sadler	....	chef
Svatia Sakarova	....	production accountant
Stephanie Sarin	....	stand-in
Greg Scott	....	stand-in
Joe Seal	....	security
Stephen Spencer	....	stand-in
Marnie Teremuende	....	post-production accountant (as Marnie Termuende)
Samantha Thorson	....	stand-in
Annie Wilkinson	....	on-set tutor
Kris Wonitowy	....	security
Peter Wonitowy	....	security coordinator (as Pete Wonitowy)
Emmy Wu	....	office production assistant
Pia Wyatt	....	stand-in
Natasha Young	....	script supervisor
Melodee Spevack	....	voice double: Laura Dern (uncredited)

Thanks
Rowena Arguelles	....	special thanks
Jane Campion	....	special thanks
Darryl Choronzey	....	special thanks
Howard Cohen	....	special thanks
Holly Collins-Kahn	....	special thanks
Bob Curran	....	special thanks
Bobby Curran	....	special thanks (as Bobby)
Mary Curran	....	special thanks (as Mary)
Theresa Curran	....	special thanks
Sarah Fabozzi	....	special thanks
Peter Fenton	....	special thanks
Gianna Giancarlo	....	special thanks
Bill Goodman	....	special thanks (as Bill)
Laurie Goodman	....	special thanks
Shelly Hancock	....	special thanks (as Shelley Hancock)
Peter Heinrich	....	special thanks
Ishil Kaner-Carson	....	special thanks
Rob Kaplan	....	special thanks
Carolyn Katz	....	special thanks
Kalen Keach	....	special thanks
Kevin W. Kennedy	....	special thanks (as Kevin Kennedy)
Nina Klingen	....	special thanks
David Leuschen	....	special thanks
Peter Levine	....	special thanks
Gene Lushtak	....	special thanks (as Eugene Lushtak)
Jun Makihara	....	special thanks
Fernando Mata	....	special thanks
Christoph Menardi	....	special thanks
Simon Millar	....	special thanks
Sam Mills	....	special thanks
Herb Norman	....	special thanks
Sara Reischman	....	special thanks
Mark Shafir	....	special thanks
Robert Stein	....	special thanks
Jason Weinberg	....	special thanks
Lindsay Williams	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Front Street Productions
• Renaissance Films

Distributors

• Bir Film (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Films sans Frontières (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Dendy Films
• Redbus Film Distribution (2004) (UK) (all media)
• Tayrona Entertainment Group (2004) (Colombia) (all media) (as cinemac films)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (USA)

Special Effects

• Film Opticals (opticals)

Other Companies

• American Crew  hair products provided by (as American Crew/M.O.P./AG)
• Benefit Cosmetics  makeup provided by
• Bush Edit House  negative cutting
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services (as Cast and Crew)
• Cherub Pictures  special thanks (as Cherub)
• City of Port Coquitlam, BC  thanks (as City of Port Coquitlam, BCBC)
• City of Port Moody  thanks
• City of Vancouver, The  thanks
• Coast Plaza Suite Hotel at Stanley Park  accomodations provided by (as Coast Plaza Hotel)
• Critic's Choice  catering (as Critics Choice)
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Film Opticals of Canada  titles and opticals
• Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver  accomodations provided by
• Fujifilm Canada  filmed on (as Fujifilm Professional Motion Picture Products)
• Going Fishing TV  playback
• Guillotine  special thanks (as everyone at Guillotine)
• Heenan Blaikie Lawyers  legal counsel: Canada (as Heenan Blaikie, LLP)
• I.A.T.S.E. Local 669  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E. 669 International Photographers Canada)
• Jones Brown Insurance  insurance services by (as Jones Brown Inc.)
• Kodak Canada  motion picture film (as Kodak)
• Laura Mercier Cosmetics  makeup provided by
• Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Goodman  legal counsel: US
• Low Fidelity Productions  production services
• M-A-C  make-up provided by
• M.M.I. Product Placement  product placement
• Orbit Travel  travel arrangements by
• Paladin Show Services  camera dolly
• Paladin Show Services  grip and lighting equipment
• Panavision Canada  camera and lenses by (as Panavision®)
• Port of Vancouver  thanks
• Premier Entertainment Services  product placement
• Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit  with the participation of
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures  dailies telecine: Vancouver
• Sharpe Sound Studios  audio post production
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Sutton Place Hotel  accomodations provided by (as Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver)
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  music recorded at (as Todd AO Scoring)
• Under The Nile  set dressing donated by
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment

Also Known As:

Adultery (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Iceland:16 | USA:R (#40903) | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Spain:18 | Brazil:16 | Ireland:18 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Front Street Productions

Quotes:

Hank Evans: What is the name of this dance?
Irish Dance Know-It-All: The Angry Housewife.
Edith Evans: [laugh]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Beethoven's 1st Symphony

A delicate, visceral, and emotionally draining melodrama

A serious and emotionally engaging melodrama that tells of two marriages, of love, friendship, adultery, faithfulness, parenting, and the delicate balance between being true to the spirit within and being responsible about the consequences in the real world.

Mark Ruffalo and Peter Krause play two college tutors of English literature, working away and also trying to get published in their own right in their spare time. They are close buddies and have loving, beautiful wives (Naomi Watts and Laura Dern). We have four 'ordinary people' who are far from caricatures – they have sensitivities, intelligence, emotional aspiration and weakness as they struggle with their own stymied abilities to find happiness and fulfilment – both for themselves and the ones they love.

We Don't Live Here Anymore looks at the reality of marriage in a less than rose-tinted light. The performances by Watts and Dern shine forth with increasing emotional intensity, and the efforts of their husbands to stage-manage some sort of acceptable compromise ricochet on the fringes of a dark despair that forever looms and threatens to engulf everyone. As the characters realise their increasingly complex shenanigans are verging on disaster, it leads them to ever deeper self-examination of their true feelings. And yet sometimes the children have a greater realisation of what's going on than do their parents. The film's closing scene ("Because I can") reminds us that the element of choice, true and ongoing, is so often lacking in marriage, sometimes even in relatively small things – once marriage has been consummated, the rest becomes duty – and infidelity is often driven by compulsion - so the elements of ongoing freewill (jointly and singly) can be hard to find.

This movie has been compared to Closer and rightly so – it is for mature, thinking audiences who can come to terms with deep imperfections and use the depths of what it takes to be truly human to make things better (or find a way forward that has emotionally honesty). The 'moral right' will dismiss both films – not so much out of a sense of superiority ('adultery never pays') but simply through lack of understanding.

The heavy-going nature of the film is alleviated by shots of rare beauty in the surrounding countryside, elegantly photographed, and by the playfulness of the several children. Watts (nearly 38 but still looking 24) and Dern (who appears older, but attractive in a very different way) each show elements of femininity that their characters are desperate to satisfy – the need to be wanted and the need to be loved. To appreciate the film it is necessary to see the scenarios from both the viewpoints of the women and of the men. Everybody cares about the kids. Beyond that, the love that is expected of the spouse is at odds with the love that they try to give, so they all feel like 'objects' to their respective partners. The lack of understanding breaks down into infidelity, which (so the film might argue) can almost be a healing balm. "It's much easier living with a woman who feels loved", remarks a cuckolded husband. It's a film where no-one has all the answers (though not for want of trying) and so in some ways a testament to humanity. Sadly, many will see it as just another cynical take on dysfunctional relationships, but the open minded viewer may find a lot more, for this film is a well-made (if not exceptional) work of art that contributes more to the understanding of the human condition than any cutesy, idealised portrayal of happy families.