IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE

Year: 2003
USA: Focus Features
UK: Pathe Distribution
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes, Sean Penn, Douglas Henshall, Alun Armstrong, Margo Martindale, Mark Strong, Geoffrey Hutchings, Harry Ditson, Thomas Bo Larsen, Teddy Kempner, Indra Ove, Giorgi Staykov, Anna Wallander, Mariann Rudberg, Michael Philip Simpson, Alexander Sapone, Giulia Melis, Norman Fearrington, Daniel Okine, Martha Siima, Suat Kutlug, Larry Wendorf, Julia Forgy Viktrup, Sean-Michael Smith, Ingemar Persson, Joanna Nowakowski, Dennis Kemp
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Countries: USA / Japan / Sweden / UK / Denmark / Germany / Netherlands
USA & UK: 104 mins
USA Rated: R for a scene of strong violence, some language and sexuality
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language
USA Release Date: 29 October 2004 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 13 February 2004

Synopsis

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE is a report on the state of the world.

Acclaimed Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg's feature film IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE has been highly anticipated internationally ever since his Dogme FESTEN won the Jury's Special Prize in Cannes in 1998.

In contrast to the way he achieved the gritty realism of FESTEN (THE CELEBRATION), Thomas Vinterberg has gathered an international team of the most competent creative people possible, both in front of as well as behind the camera, in an amazing joint venture to make IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE.

Joaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes play the young couple, John and Elena, who in the middle of getting divorced realize that they still love each other. Sean Penn, Douglas Henshall, Margo Martindale, Alun Armstrong and Mark Strong make up a strong supporting cast.

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE is produced by Birgitte Hald at Nimbus Film International. Director Thomas Vinterberg co-wrote the script with Mogens Rukov as he did for his multiple award winning FESTEN (THE CELEBRATION).

Thomas Vinterberg's IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE takes place in the near future and tells the story of two lovers fighting for their love, and ultimately for their lives, in a world out of balance. It is a classic love story with elements of Hitchcock suspense. Beautifully shot and with stunning performances, IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE demonstrates how love is the only thing worth fighting for.

John (Joaquin Phoenix) and the world famous ice skater Elena (Claire Danes) have a modern marriage and they have lived apart for several years, John in Poland and Elena mostly in New York. Time has made the distance between them grow, and eventually John goes to see Elena in New York to get her signature on their final divorce papers. Upon arriving in New York, John realises that strange and unexpected things are happening around Elena. People he once knew as friends seem not to be friends after all. The love he thought was dead blossoms once more. And it's up to John to save Elena from her fate, if he can.

John arrives in a futuristic New York to finalise his divorce. He is supposed to meet his wife Elena, a world-famous figure skater, at the airport to sign the divorce papers but when she is delayed he must venture into Manhattan, forcing him to delay his trip.

Elena has an ice-skating premiere that evening, and John agrees to attend with the understanding that Elena will sign the divorce papers in the morning. However, it is soon apparent to John that not only is Elena deeply unhappy but that she may also be the centre of a bizarre conspiracy. She asks for his help to escape a destiny she no longer wants to be a part of.

John agrees to stay in New York and as he tries to help her, they fall in love once again. Meanwhile, John's absent brother Marciello is continually circling the world in an aeroplane, living a life permanently in motion because of a deep-seated fear of being grounded. He spends his time desperately and recurrently trying to contact John by phone.

All around John and Elena the world's natural order seems to be breaking down. The second ice age is on the way, and gravity is beginning to fail in parts of the world. The dead bodies of unloved people lie in the streets, ignored and stepped over by the general population.

Danish director Thomas Vinterberg was first acclaimed for his award-winning Dogme film FESTEN, which won the Jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998.

DVD EXTRAS

Language: English
Subtitles: English Hard of Hearing
Running Time: 101 minutes
Original Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (16x9)
Sound Quality: English 5.1