Birth (2004)

Director:

Jonathan Glazer

Writers:

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

Release Date:

3 November 2004 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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:

Reincarnation | Widow | Death | Supernatural Power | Pedophilia

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

Also Known As:

Reencarnación (Argentina) (Chile) (Spain) [es]
Рождение (Russia) [ru]
Birth (France) [fr]
Birth - Io sono Sean (Italy) [it]
Gennisi (Greece) [el]
La naissance (Canada: French title) [fr]
Reencarnação (Brazil) [pt]

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: In the second bath scene near the end of the movie, the amount of mud on Sean's face changes between shots.

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'

Heartbreaking and Unforgettable

There are, perhaps, more salient comments to be written, in addition to the first review of this film, shown above, but it would be for a completely knowledgeable person in the field of psychology to write them. In viewing this film multiple times, I was struck by a new facet of the character of the film's principals each time I viewed it. Like a beautiful and complicated piece of music, one sees something new at each viewing; in one viewing the look on "Joseph's" face as he stands at the window waiting on "Anna" to arrive to look at a new apartment, and realizes she will NOT be there, that she is indeed immersed in "Sean"; in another viewing the changes in Anna's" expression as she is 'rescued' by Joseph on the beach--at one point there is an instantaneous look on her face signifying her realization that life with Joseph, and WITHOUT Sean, will be devastating for her. Her look of misery in this ending scene of the film is heart-rending, and unforgettable.And, of course, as the screen goes to black we are left only with the eternal sound of the sea, as the breakers crash softly against the sand.