A Little Trip to Heaven (2005)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Baltasar Kormákur

Writers:

Baltasar Kormákur (writer)
Edward Martin Weinman (co-writer)

Release Date:

26 December 2005 (Iceland)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There is no such thing as a no fault death.

Plot:

A husband and wife tangle with an investigator over her dead brother's million-dollar insurance policy.

Plot Keywords:

Life Insurance | Car Accident | Fraud | Snow | Bathing

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Maria Fernandez Ache	...	Mrs. Rodriguez (as Maria Fernandez-Ache)
Kharl Anton Leigh	...	Young Boy Rodriguez
Peter Coyote	...	Frank
Forest Whitaker	...	Abe Holt
Juan Carlos Pardo Pardo	...	Mr. Rodriguez
Damon Younger	...	Long Haired Man
Jeremy Renner	...	Fred
Joanna Scanlan	...	Josie
Iddo Goldberg	...	Russle
Philip Jackson	...	William
Julia Stiles	...	Isold
Alfred Harmsworth	...	Thor
Vladas Bagdonas	...	Coroner
Felix Eyjólfsson	...	Auto Machanic
Margrét Ólafsdóttir	...	Elderly lady in the Park

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and disturbing images.

Runtime:

90 min (25 fps) | Canada:98 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Iceland | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Netherlands:12 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | UK:15 (2007) | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Hastings, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Blueeyes Productions

Good Story, Disappointing Conclusion

After a suspicious fatal car accident in Hastings where the identity of the victim was forged, the Quality Life insurance company sends their smart investigator Abe Holt (Forrest Whitaker) to identify the body. The unique beneficiary of the one million dollars death benefit is the sister of the victim, Isold (Julia Stiles), who lives with her son Thor and her husband Fred (Jeremy Renner) in a poor cabin in the middle of nowhere. Along the investigation, Abe discloses the truth about the fraud, but feels sorry for Isold and Thor and tries to help them with tragic consequences.

"Little Trip to Heaven" has a good premise, showing both sides of the insurance policies, with some fraudulent cases of clients and questionable procedures of the companies themselves. The story is good, with a suspenseful atmosphere in a dramatic and tense situation. In spite of the very disappointing conclusion, this movie worth watching. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Fraude" ("The Fraud")