The Island of the Day Before

Author(s): Manos
Location: Greece

“The Island of the Day Before”

Produced by Ethan Cohen
Directed by Joel Cohen
Written by Ethan Cohen, Joel Cohen & Sam Raimi
Based on the novel by Umberto Eco
Music by Carter Burwell
Cinematography by Roger Deakins
Film Editing by Thom Noble
Art Direction by John Goldsmith
Costume Design by Mary Zophres
Makeup by Lydia Milars
Sound Mixing by Allan Byer
Sound Editing by Eugene Gearty
Visual Effects by Peter Chesney

Genre: Adventure/Drama
Duration: 166 minutes

Principal Cast:

Gary Oldman (Roberto de la Grive/Ferande Pozzo)
Geoffrey Rush (Caspar)
Ian Holm (Mr de Saint-Savin)
Sean Connery (D’Igby)
Orson Bean (Old Pozzo, Roberto’s father)
Gene Hackman (Father Emmanuel)
Diane Kruger (Lilia Navarese/The Lady)

Tagline: “What is reality? What is fantasy? Who am I?”

Release date: 15th of February 2007

Synopsis: Summer 1643. Somewhere in the South Pacific. A young man from Piemonte, Roberto de la Grive (Oldman) casts away and finds refuge in a deserted ship, no far from the Line of Changing Day. An island where always is yesterday. He discovers that an old German priest (Rush) is living inside the ship. They improve a father-son relationship and they try to approach the island. But the island is distant in space and time. Suddenly, the old man disappears. Roberto, alone in the boat fights with his memories of his glorious achievements as a student in Paris alongside with great teachers (Holm, Connery) and his participation in the Thirty-Years-War. He writes lots of love letters to The Lady (Kruger) and stories about his other self, Ferande Pozzo. Soon, the boundaries between reality and fantasy become blurred. In this sea of innocence, nothing is innocent. And no science or philosophy can help Roberto understand what he’s going through.

What the press would say:

The Island of the Day Before is the most provocative film brothers Cohen have ever made. Based in a best-selling novel of Umberto Eco, the film is a screenplay achievement. Ethan Cohen, Joel Cohen and Sam Raimi do their utmost to adapt a complicated novel into a solid, yet entertaining, screenplay. The result, spectacular. In 166 minutes Cohen managed to give the essence of the era, helped by the excellent work on Art Direction, Cinematography and Costume Design. Oldman is superb in the main role, a man who casts away and fights with his inner demons. He is drifting between sanity and schizophrenia. The supporting cast is also amazing. Distinguished among them is Geoffrey Rush who plays Roberto’s only companion on the ship, a German priest who speaks in Latin and thinks that he is omniscient.

Overall, the movie is exceptional, an excellent big-production, a dramatic adventure to the deep of the human soul. Don’t miss. Don’t ignore. It will be the most controversial movie of 2007. People will love it or hate it but no one will remain indifferent to it, not even the Academy

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Best Picture
Best Director (Joel Cohen)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Ethan Cohen, Joel Cohen, Sam Raimi)
Best Actor (Gary Oldman)
Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush)
Best Score
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup
Best Sound Mixing
Best Sound Editing
Best Visual Effects