The Interpreter


For other uses, see Interpretation (disambiguation).
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The Interpreter

The Interpreter film poster
Directed by Sydney Pollack
Produced by Tim Bevan
Eric Fellner
Kevin Misher
Written by Martin Stellman (story)
Brian Ward (story)
Charles Randolph
Scott Frank
Steven Zaillian
David Rayfiel uncredited
Starring Nicole Kidman
Sean Penn
Catherine Keener
Music by James Newton Howard
Cinematography Darius Khondji
Editing by William Steinkamp
Studio Working Title Films
Mirage Enterprises
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) April 22, 2005
Running time 128 min.
Country United States
Mozambique
Language English
Ku
Budget $80,000,000
Gross revenue $162,944,923

The Interpreter is a 2005 American thriller film starring Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, and Catherine Keener. It was the final film to be directed by Sydney Pollack.

Contents

Plot

Silvia Broome (Nicole Kidman) is an interpreter working at the United Nations in New York, who was raised in the Republic of Matobo, a fictional African country.

The United Nations is considering indicting Edmond Zuwanie (Earl Cameron), president of Matobo, to trial in the International Criminal Court. Initially a liberator, over the past 20 years he has become as corrupt and tyrannical as the government he overthrew, and is now responsible for ethnic cleansing and other atrocities within Matobo. Zuwanie is soon to visit the United Nations and put forward his own case to the General Assembly, in an attempt to avoid the indictment.

A security scare forces the evacuation of the UN building, and Silvia returns at night to reclaim some personal belongings. At that time she overhears discussion of an assassination plot, and runs scared from the building when those discussing the plot become aware of her presence. The next day, Silvia recognises words in a meeting where she is interpreting from phrases she overheard the night before, and reports the incident to UN security; the target of the plot appears to be Zuwanie himself. They, in turn, call in the United States Secret Service, who assign Tobin Keller (Sean Penn) and Dot Woods (Catherine Keener) to investigate, as well as protect Zuwanie when he arrives. Keller learns that Silvia has, in the past, been involved in a Matoban guerrilla group, that her parents and sister were killed by land mines laid by Zuwanie, and that she has dated one of Zuwanie's political opponents. Although Keller considers Silvia a prime suspect, the two grow close and Keller ends up protecting her.

The assassin is discovered while Zuwanie is in the middle of his address to the General Assembly, and security personnel rush Zuwanie to a safe room for his protection. In the confusion, Silvia attempts to take revenge on Zuwanie for all that has happened, and Keller arrives just in time to prevent her from murdering him. The assassination plot is revealed to be a sham; Zuwanie planned it to enhance his own credibility, and thus avoid the indictment, while also eliminating his political opponents. Zuwanie is indicted, and Silvia is expelled from the UN, returning home to Matobo soon afterwards.

Production

Filming in UN buildings

The Interpreter is the first movie ever filmed inside the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council chambers. Earlier films used only the exteriors or were filmed back when the buildings were under construction (and did not really have an "inside"). The producers approached the U.N. about filming there before, but their request was turned down. The production would have relocated to Toronto with a constructed set; however, this would have substantially increased costs, and so Sydney Pollack approached then-Secretary General Kofi Annan directly, and personally negotiated permission to film inside the United Nations. Annan commented on The Interpreter that "the intention was really to do something dignified, something that is honest and reflects the work that this Organization does. And it is with that spirit that the producers and the directors approached their work, and I hope you will all agree they have done that."

Because the UN Security Council can call an emergency meeting at any time with 3 hours notice, the film crew had to take into account that they could be asked to leave almost immediately.

Ambassadors at the United Nations had hoped to appear in the film, but actors were asked to play the roles of diplomats. Spain's UN Ambassador Inocencio Arias jokingly complained that his "opportunity to have a nomination for the Oscar next year went away because of some stupid regulation."[1]

Matobo and Ku

The country "Republic of Matobo" and its corresponding constructed language "Ku" were created for this film. The director of the Centre for African Language Learning in England, Said el-Gheithy, was commissioned in January 2004 to create Ku. Ku is based on Bantu languages spoken in Eastern and Southern Africa, and is a cross between Swahili and Shona, with some unique elements.

The tagline for the film, "The truth needs no translation.", in Ku is Angota ho ne njumata.

Cast

Box office

According to Box Office Mojo, The Interpreter had a domestic gross of $72,708,161 and an international tally of $90,236,762, bringing the picture's worldwide gross to $162,944,923. Its budget was $80 million.

Awards

In 2005, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association awarded Catherine Keener as Best Supporting Actress, for her parts in several films including The Interpreter.

See also

References

  1. ^ Diplomats' movie hopes dashed

External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Sydney Pollack
1960s
1970s
1980s
Absence of Malice (1981) • Tootsie (1982) • Out of Africa (1985)
1990s
Havana (1990) • The Firm (1993) • Sabrina (1995) • Random Hearts (1999)
2000s
The Interpreter (2005) • Sketches of Frank Gehry (2005)






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