Heaven
2002
Written by late Polish director Krysztof Kieslowski and Krysztof Piesiewicz (the team that made the trilogy BLUE, WHITE, and RED) and directed by German master Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN), HEAVEN is the first part of a trilogy. Cate Blanchett is Philippa, a strong-willed English woman who teaches in Turin, Italy. At school she .. Read more
| Starring | Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi |
|---|---|
| Director | Tom Tykwer |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
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Heaven
Written by late Polish director Krysztof Kieslowski and Krysztof Piesiewicz (the team that made the trilogy BLUE, WHITE, and RED) and directed by German master Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN), HEAVEN is the first part of a trilogy. Cate Blanchett is Philippa, a strong-willed English woman who teaches in Turin, Italy. At school she witnesses young students torn apart by drug addictions, poverty, and family struggles. Her husband, similarly, died of a drug overdose. She takes the law into her own hands when she decides to go after a major drug czar. But when her plan goes terribly wrong, and she's taken into custody and accused of being an international terrorist, she finds herself in a hell she never imagined. Her only hope is Filippo (Giovanni Ribisi), a young cop and translator who wants to help her.
Tykwer delivers a visually stunning film with HEAVEN, using aerial photography, 360-degree pans, and gorgeous wide-angle shots to deliver a dreamlike otherworldly feeling. The chemistry between Philippa and Filippo resonates through to the end of the film, while the smartly suspenseful story keeps viewers guessing about the fate of this destined duo. An understated piano score completes the prolonged feeling of tension, intrigue, and ultimate escape, making HEAVEN an impressively successful merger of Kieslowski's eerily effective writing and Tykwer's stylish directing.
| Starring | Cate Blanchett, Giovanni Ribisi |
|---|---|
| Director | Tom Tykwer |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | Anthony Minghella Collection |
| Genres | Drama, Thriller |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 26 May 2003 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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Co-scripted by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski as part of a projected “Heaven, Hell and Purgatory” trilogy, German director Tom Tykwer's English-language debut — after the international success of Run Lola Run — falls between mainstream thriller and art house character study, without ever fully exploring either his or Kieslowski's preferred themes. Moreover, there's little sense of connection between Cate Blanchett's accidental terrorist and Giovanni Ribisi's Italian cop, who helps her escape when a plan to blow up a drug-dealing tycoon backfires. Blanchett is excellent as the widowed English teacher, stripped of reason by her need for revenge. But without Kieslowski's customary psycho-spirituality, the conclusion is particularly unpersuasive and exposes Tykwer's discomfort with cerebral rather than visceral material.
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Most helpful member's review
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16 out of 16 people found this review helpful
Unique, beautiful and captivating.
A superbly refreshing and beautiful love story. The acting throughout is exceptional, Blanchett and Ribisi's performance and credibility were moving and sublime. Exceptional cinematography and a refreshingly creative storyline full of surprising developments and exciting unpredictable twists. I found a curious similarity between the two main characters relationship in 'The Gift' which was quite eerie,in which Ribisi acts as 'savior' to Blanchett under different circumstances.
If you enjoy a well made film, with stunning scenery, moving and captivating performances and a damn good story then you'll love this one...I can't wait for the sequel. -
Most recent members' review
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11 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Heaven, a brief experience of the pinnacle of ectasy.
Do not expect an action film, a love story, a tough gangster film, or any of the other cliches. This was written by the polish duo Kieslowski and Piesiewicz who gave us the Three Colour trilogy. These are films for those that want to enjoy the art of film making and not just watch a story in pictures for an hour or so. This film is in the same style. Starting with the first title sequence, in the helicopter simulator, you are encouraged to think about what you are watching. All through the film you are guided in how the film is developing, so much is signalled before it happens yet somehow the film still manages to achieve twists that surprise you. As with the previous trilogy the story and characters serve as a vehicle for exploring the topic, what does Heaven mean for us while still in a mortal life. It is not the never ending bliss that we are told can be achieved in after life but it is a moment where we can rise above all the trouble, grief, horror and pain that can beset us as we live our daily lives and have to come to terms with the results of our actions which may not always be what we intend. The acting by the two leads was superb and you really cared about the two even though you know it could never workout for them. The cinematography was also outstanding, which is crucial for films such as these that are tackling philosophical and moral issues as well as telling a story. Towards the end of the film when the couple are on the run in the Italian countryside one is reminded of the opening helicopter sequence as the scenery looks similar and think what was that all about. When you get to the final scene however it all becomes clear. An excellent film that will stay with you for several days after viewing. Highly recommended for the serious film enthusiast. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel, L'Enfer (not the Chabrol one - also good) which is in post production at the moment.
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News and features
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The International
- 23 Feb 2009
Clive Owen and Naomi Watts get heavy on rogue banks. It’s a lot sexier than Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, especially as Clive’s brand of punishment means jail terms and broken noses, not bail-outs and bonus caps. The International is hardly the first film to make arrogant capitalists the heavies, but the timing could hardly be better. (At the Berlin Film Festival recently Watts joked the global recession was a publicity stunt.) In fact Tom Tykwer’s thriller is inspired... Read more
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