letters to Julia
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | letters to Julia |
| Original title | Letters to Juliet |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English , Italian , Spanish |
| Publishing year | 2010 |
| Age rating |
FSK 0 JMK without restriction |
| Rod | |
| Director | Gary Winick |
| script |
José Rivera Tim Sullivan |
| production |
Ellen Barkin Caroline Chaplain Mark Canton |
| music | Andrea Guerra |
| camera | Marco Pontecorvo |
| cut | Bill Pankow |
| occupation | |
| |
Letters to Julia is a 2010 American romance film directed by Gary Winick and starring Amanda Seyfried , Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Egan . It was released in German cinemas on August 19, 2010. The film is based on the book "Letters to Juliet" (2006) by Lise Friedman and Ceil Friedman, which documents the phenomenon of letters to Shakespeare's most famous heroine.
action
Sophie Hall is a young American journalist currently hired by New Yorker Magazine to do research only, but would actually prefer to write articles herself. Her fiancé Victor , a passionate cook, wants to open his own restaurant in six weeks, so they decide to use the remaining quiet time for a trip to Italy, on what is known as an early honeymoon.
In Verona, the city of lovers, Victor is not particularly inspired by the romantic atmosphere, rather his hunger for the culinary delicacies of the city and the surrounding area is aroused. Sophie cannot be enthusiastic about this.
She explores the city single-handedly and comes across the courtyard in a hidden back alley where the famous balcony of Shakespeare's heroine is located. She is fascinated by the large number of women who post letters to Julia on the wall and thus hope for advice in their unhappy love affairs. When the Italian Isabella collects these messages in the late afternoon and takes them to the “Ufficio di Giulietta”, she follows it and can hardly believe that there are a total of four women - in addition to Isabella, Francesca , Donatella and Maria - who are around take care of the letters. Isabella explains to Sophie that they call themselves “Julia's secretaries” and that they actually answer all letters by hand.
Now her professional curiosity is also aroused, especially when a fifty-year-old letter hidden in the walls comes to light, is answered by her and promptly a week later the author Claire Smith-Wyman from England appears.
She decides to accompany Claire in search of her old love Lorenzo Bartolini , although she has to endure Claire's grandson Charlie Wyman with his gruff, unfriendly manner for better or worse . He is convinced that this trip arouses false expectations in his grandmother and that Sophie will be to blame for the inevitable disappointment.
The search for Lorenzo Bartolini turns out to be anything but easy and quick, because there are 74 people with this name. Sophie knows how to limit the number with the help of elimination procedures, but they are still on the road for many days. While Claire continues the search of cheer, Charlie becomes more affable and friendly. Sophie and Charlie feel more and more drawn to each other over time. He says Claire raised him since his parents were killed in a car accident.
However, the alleged Lorenzo died at one of the addresses to be searched and Charlie becomes very abusive towards Sophie out of concern for his grandmother. Claire, in turn, rebukes her grandson for unwittingly tearing open old wounds from Sophie's childhood, abandoned by her mother at a young age. After peace has returned, they decide together to give up the search and return to Verona. On the last evening together, Sophie and Charlie lie together under the starry sky and they kiss.
The next day the situation is very tense. In order to take part in a wine tasting again, they happened to stop at a vineyard where Lorenzo Bartolini's grandson, son and finally himself worked. Claire suddenly doubts and tells Charlie that she wants to leave. But when she sees her old love come ridden on a horse, she happily falls into Lorenzo's arms.
Shortly afterwards, Sophie drives back. Claire noticed that Sophie and her grandson have fallen in love and instructs them to go after Sophie. When he arrives in Verona, however, he sees on the balcony of their hotel that Sophie and Victor are kissing and drives back deeply disappointed.
The happy reunion of these lovers after fifty years inspired Sophie to write her first newspaper article, which was also praised and published in New York by her editor-in-chief Bobby . Her relationship with Victor, who opens his restaurant, ends, however, because in the end she spent a lot more time on other things than with their relationship.
Sophie enjoys her success and realizing her true feelings. So she accepts the invitation to Claire and Lorenzo's wedding full of anticipation, especially to meet Charlie again. When she appears at the wedding, she has to find out that he has come with Patricia . After the wedding, Claire asks Sophie to read the letter that she wrote to her and that made everything possible in front of Lorenzo's assembled family. Sophie tears of joy come over the fact that two people have found each other again after such a long time and have become happy together. But when she realizes that she is denied this happiness, she hastily leaves the event. Charlie runs after her and, like in the novel "Romeo and Juliet", finds her up on the balcony of a nearby building. Sadly, she opens her heart to him and confesses her love to him. Contrary to their expectations, however, it turns out that Patricia, who is present at the wedding, is not Charlie's ex-girlfriend of the same name, but his cousin. Overjoyed that Sophie is no longer engaged, Charlie also confesses his love to her. When he tries to climb up to her on a vine, he falls down. Sophie goes down to him and they kiss.
background
Adaptation
Producers Ellen Barkin and Carolin Kaplan discovered an article in the culture section of the New York Times about the book "Letters to Juliet" by Lise and Ceil Friedman, which deals with the story of these letters. They were so enthusiastic about it that they immediately secured the rights to film the book. "It is such a nice idea that open-hearted people from all over the world turn to the one who represents true love."
The book is a mixture of historical reading about the city and the history itself of Romeo and Juliet and about the much more emotional letters to Juliet and the people who wrote these letters. Also about the kind of answers they might have received, which might have changed their lives forever.
production
Hugh Dancy was originally intended to be the male lead but was eventually replaced by Gael García Bernal . Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero have also been married in real life since 2006. For Vanessa Redgrave, filming in Italy had a special meaning, as she stayed in Italy for a while as a young girl and traveled the country. Ashley Lilley plays a small role in the film as Patricia, Charlie's cousin, who Sophie mistakenly thinks is Charlie's ex-girlfriend, is Amanda Seyfried's best friend, and she and her in Mamma Mia! participated. Both in letters to Julia and in Mamma Mia! Amanda Seyfrieds plays a role who goes by the name Sophie.
The film was shot in New York City , Verona , Siena and Soave . The filming in Italy extended over a period of four months. Large parts of the film were shot chronologically. During the filming, the courtyard in which Juliet's balcony is located was temporarily closed. This was the first time that the courtyard was closed to tourists. The budget of the film is approximately 30 million US dollars estimated.
Letters to Julia was director Gary Winick's last film to be released before his death.
Most of the noodles that you see in Victor's kitchen at the beginning of the film are rubber bands.
publication
The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 25, 2010 . He was seen at the Newport Beach International Film Festival on April 29, 2010. The film was released in theaters on May 13, 2010 in Australia and New Zealand. The cinema premiere in the USA and Canada followed a day later. The film was shown in German and Swiss cinemas from August 19, 2010.
US theaters grossed over $ 13.5 million on the opening weekend. Overall, US revenue was over $ 53 million.
The real "Club di Giulietta"
People began sending letters to Julia by mail around the 1930s, but messages had been left at her grave site since the late 19th century. The reason for this was Hollywood, because in 1936 George Cukor made his famous film about Romeo and Juliet . The film aroused great interest in Julia and her story. A museum director from Verona at the time, Antonio Avena, wanted to offer tourists something that met their expectations when they came to Verona. He redesigned Juliet's house into a medieval building. It was a shabby tavern before. He constructed a balcony from parts of a coffin from the 14th century, the corresponding era. He also reconstructed a Gothic portal and a rose window, which he added to the facade so that it looked medieval. And while Avena was busy designing the building, a caretaker was hired for Juliet's tomb, which was often visited. This steward, Ettore Solimani, was very theatrical and inventive and loved the legends of Juliet. Not only did he sell tickets and let tourists into the tomb, but he also enthused them, planted rose bushes and even trained pigeons that flew around the courtyard and landed on people's shoulders. He created a very romantic environment. Visitors started writing him letters to say how nice it was. And he answered them and signed as "Julia's secretary".
Nowadays all letters are forwarded to the “Club di Giulietta”, which is an organization of around ten secretaries. You speak different languages and have your office in Verona. You take care of the correspondence. They divide the letters according to their interests and knowledge. Every single letter receives a handwritten reply and is sent back to the sender. You see yourself in the role of a kind of confessor. They try to help by responding kindly and with common sense.
She was brave, that's why she is admired. She was very strong, that's why people write to her. It embodies the possibility that you can follow your dreams and do what you really believe in.
music
The list comes from the soundtrack for the film:
- You Got Me - Colbie Caillat
- Chianti Country
- Verona - Andy Georges
- Un Giorno Così - 883
- Per Avere Te - Franco Morselli
- Quando, Quando, Quando - Laura Jane (as Lisa Jane) and Chris Mann
- Variations On A Theme By Mozart (Magic Flute) Op. 9
- Sospesa - Malika Ayane and Pacifico
- Per Dimenticare - Zero Assoluto
- Sono Bugiarda (I'm A Believer) - Caterina Caselli
- Guarda Che Luna - Fred Buscaglione
- Love Story - Taylor Swift
- What If - Colbie Caillat
Caterina Caselli's title Sono Bugiarda bears the addition I'm A Believer , but would be translated correctly from Italian as I'm a Liar .
synchronization
| actor | role | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda Seyfried | Sophie | Magdalena Turba |
| Gael García Bernal | Victor | Nico Mamone |
| Christopher Egan | Charlie | Peter Lontzek |
| Vanessa Redgrave | Claire | Judy Winter |
| Oliver Platt | Editor Bobby | Frank-Otto Schenk |
| Lidia Biondi | Donatella | Monica Bielenstein |
| Luisa Ranieri | Isabella | Melanie Pukass |
| Franco Nero | Lorenzo Bartolini | Christian Rode |
Reviews
“ Letters to Juliet , despite all emancipation, is tailored to romance-obsessed women who urge their action-loving loved ones on a cinematic journey to Verona, the other“ capital of lovers ”alongside Paris. The film can only save itself through its actors, the landscape shots and a little self-irony. "
“In the series of inevitably nice consensus topics in the cinema… writing letters with fountain pen and ink as the next big thing of the so-called new bourgeoisie is thematically still virtually unused. In particular, the long time span that can elapse between writing and reading naturally has a certain anachronistic appeal as a film topic in the Twitter era. In “Letters to Julia” we may experience a little consensus change: Gary Winick's romance about a couple on their early honeymoon first boils up a love, then cools it down quickly and from then on takes care of heartwarming letter writing. And that in front of a picturesque Italian backdrop, away from the spaghetti to Shakespeare, as if time had stood still since "Romeo and Juliet", like the wall under Juliet's alleged balcony in Verona. "
“ Letters to Julia is a typically romantic comedy, with everything that goes with it. Every cliché is served, the end is predictable, there are no problems, if so, they are overcome through play. The women are beautiful, the men true heroes, they never seem to run out of money - and all of that in front of the breathtaking Tuscan landscape. "
Awards
At the 2010 Teen Choice Awards , Amanda Seyfried was nominated for Leading Actress in a Romantic Comedy category, while the film received a nomination for Romantic Comedy . Vanessa Redgrave was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Satellite Awards that same year. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Saturn Awards in 2011 .
Web links
- Letters to Juliet in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Certificate of release for letters to Julia . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , August 2010 (PDF; test number: 123 820 K).
- ↑ Age rating for letters to Julia . Youth Media Commission .
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Internet Movie Database : Background information
- ↑ Internet Movie Database : Filming Locations
- ↑ a b c Internet Movie Database : Budget and Box Office Results
- ↑ a b c d e Internet Movie Database : Start Dates
- ↑ From the DVD - Extras - Lise and Ceil Friedman: authors of the book "Letters to Juliet"
- ^ Internet Movie Database : Soundtrack
- ↑ Letters to Julia. In: synchronkartei.de. German dubbing file , accessed on February 6, 2011 .
- ↑ Focus : "Letters to Julia": love film with kitsch and irony , dpa , August 16, 2010
- ↑ Die Welt : "Letters to Julia" - Romance against an Italian backdrop , August 19, 2010
- ↑ Bayerischer Rundfunk : "Briefe an Julia": Große Sommerschnulze ( Memento from August 21, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), August 16, 2010
- ↑ a b c Internet Movie Database : Nominations and Awards