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My Life Without Me [2003]


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Touching and surreal
Review date: 2008-10-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

This film tells the story of a 23 year old woman, who lives with her partner and two young children in a trailer in her mother's back yard. Needless to say, they are a very poor family, and she spends her nights working as a cleaner to help put food on the table.

When she is diagnosed with cancer and given two months to live, she draws up a list of things to do before she dies. At this point, the film looks like it will simply be a version of the bucket list. But not so. After drawing up the list, she decides she will keep her illness a secret. She then sets out to do the items on her list, from sleeping with other men to see what its like, to attempting to set her soon to be bereaved husband up with a pretty female friend of hers.

She also records a series of video tapes, explaining to the different people in her life why she kept her illness secret, including videos to her daughters to be opened on every birthday upto their 18th. The one she sends to her lover is particularly sweet.

The film is surreal, and in places very dark. Nevertheless, it is a good film, and there is a touching side plot where she engages in a deeply emotional affair with a besotted Mark Ruffalo. Well worth a watch, and the film has a real "art house" feel to it.

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Reviews


What would you do?
Review date: 2007-10-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

"My Life Without Me" is a story of a young mother 23 years of age, Ann who has never really had much of a life outside of her raising her children and being a loving wife. They live in a small trailer that sits in her mother's backyard. Having her first child at the age of seventeen, she has never really experienced the dreams and passions that so many her age possess throughout their lives.

The essence of the movie is how Ann deals with the news that she has terminal ovarian cancer, which is spreading rapidly. With only two to three months to live, she makes a list of things to do before she dies, which includes everything from changing her hair to recording birthday messages for both of her children for every birthday until they reach eighteen. But she also chooses to keep her illness a secret from everyone around her. It is a straightforward story. And it is the acting that carries the film. The movie has you wondering what would do if it was you. A quick lesson on living life.


A delicate subject handled very well
Review date: 2006-10-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

We were filled with morose when we realised at the beginning of the film what the subject was. However, it was handled tremendously well with the difficult issues kept from the viewer. In the meantime, several brilliant subplots whirled in the background making this very engrossing.

wonderful
Review date: 2005-11-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was blown away. What a beautiful film. How on earth it is not more widely known I cannot understand. So simple, so warm, so joyful, so straightforward, so full of life and yet it's about such a difficult and sad subject. Some scenes are just breathtakingly emotional. Exquisite. One always wonders when the next film will come along to enter one's all time top 10/20 or whatever. If you've got a heart, this film will enter that list very easily. I laughed because it was so lovely and smiled and talked with the people I watched it with for ages afterwards. A perfect film which seems to have no parallels - original. And Debra Harry is just great; there's a touch of Deneuve about her longevity. Brilliant

I've just edited my review because I wanted to add that it has almost drawn tears again. It's quite unparalelled in terms of intense, beautiful and simple emotional depth

small budget but gigantic film
Review date: 2004-08-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

I saw this film a few nights ago and it is still with me. This sort of thing doesn't happen often. I cried like I would cry if a relative died, it really is that touching. Ann is 23 years old and has 2 little girls. She lives in a trailer in her mum's (played by Debra Harry) back yard. She is married to a man who loves both her and the girls, (the scenes in which they all get ready in the morning is especially lovely). She becomes diagnosed with cancer and has 2 months to live. She sets out to write a list of things to do before she dies. Sleep with another man is one of these, enter Mark Ruffalo. This film does not attempt to pull at your heart strings for the sake of it, what is tries to do is show the desperation and clarity one gets when they find out they are going to die. There are no rules anymore, no conduct of behaviour to follow, and this is portrayed with grace and wonder. I marvel at this film and now count it as one of my top 10.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Mark Ruffalo
Alfred Molina
Leonor Watling
Scott Speedman
Sarah Polley

Creators:
Sarah Polley (Primary Contributor)
Scott Speedman (Primary Contributor)
Esther García (Producer)
Isabel Coixet (Writer)
Agustín Almodóvar (Producer)
Gordon McLennan (Producer)
Jordi Torrent (Producer)
Michel Ruben (Producer)
Nanci Kincaid (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Metrodome Distribution
Manufacturer: Metrodome Distribution
EAN: 5055002551420
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-02-27
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2003-09-04
Language: English (Original Language)

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