The Good Heart
Encyclopedia
The Good Heart is a Icelandic independent film
written and directed by Dagur Kári
, starring Brian Cox and Paul Dano
. It debuted at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
.
Jacques (Brian Cox) has a heart-attack. Young homeless man Lucas (Paul Dano
) fails in a suicide attempt. They share a room in the hospital. They agree that Lucas can stay in the bar, and that Jacques will coach him to become his successor. In the beginning Jacques complains that Lucas is too soft toward guests.
Lucas allows April (Isild Le Besco
) to stay in his room, but Jacques tells Lucas that he should send her away. However, Lucas and April get married and both leave. Reluctantly Jacques allows April to come back, because he finds it important that the bar will stay after his retirement or death, and therefore that intended successor Lucas stays.
Lucas is jealous about April's interaction with guests, and they break up. Jacques gets softer and Lucas less so. Lucas is killed after being hit by a car. His heart goes to Jacques, who has been waiting for a donor for a heart transplant. Although he always refused to sell his bar, he does so now, and starts living in the tropics, where he has friends who supplied the coffee for his bar.
, the file received a "rotten" 29% rating. On the movie Internet Movie Database, the movie received a 6.7/10 rating.
, and in international countries, the movie received a total $322,888, making the total movie box office $343,818 worldwide.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
written and directed by Dagur Kári
Dagur Kári
Dagur Kári is an Icelandic film director.He was born in Paris, France to Icelandic parents and returned to Iceland when he was 3 years old. Dagur graduated from the National Film School of Denmark in 1999, with art house short movie Lost Weekend...
, starring Brian Cox and Paul Dano
Paul Dano
Paul Franklin Dano is an American actor and producer. He has appeared in films such as L.I.E. , The Girl Next Door , Little Miss Sunshine , There Will Be Blood , and Where the Wild Things Are .-Early life:Dano was born in New York City, the son of Gladys and Paul Dano...
. It debuted at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
2009 Toronto International Film Festival
The 34th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 10 and September 19, 2009. The opening night gala presented the Charles Darwin biography Creation...
.
Plot
Short-tempered bartenderBartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
Jacques (Brian Cox) has a heart-attack. Young homeless man Lucas (Paul Dano
Paul Dano
Paul Franklin Dano is an American actor and producer. He has appeared in films such as L.I.E. , The Girl Next Door , Little Miss Sunshine , There Will Be Blood , and Where the Wild Things Are .-Early life:Dano was born in New York City, the son of Gladys and Paul Dano...
) fails in a suicide attempt. They share a room in the hospital. They agree that Lucas can stay in the bar, and that Jacques will coach him to become his successor. In the beginning Jacques complains that Lucas is too soft toward guests.
Lucas allows April (Isild Le Besco
Isild Le Besco
Isild Le Besco is a French actress and the daughter of Catherine Belkhodja. She is of mixed Breton, Vietnamese, French and Algerian descent....
) to stay in his room, but Jacques tells Lucas that he should send her away. However, Lucas and April get married and both leave. Reluctantly Jacques allows April to come back, because he finds it important that the bar will stay after his retirement or death, and therefore that intended successor Lucas stays.
Lucas is jealous about April's interaction with guests, and they break up. Jacques gets softer and Lucas less so. Lucas is killed after being hit by a car. His heart goes to Jacques, who has been waiting for a donor for a heart transplant. Although he always refused to sell his bar, he does so now, and starts living in the tropics, where he has friends who supplied the coffee for his bar.
Cast
- Brian Cox as Jacques
- Paul DanoPaul DanoPaul Franklin Dano is an American actor and producer. He has appeared in films such as L.I.E. , The Girl Next Door , Little Miss Sunshine , There Will Be Blood , and Where the Wild Things Are .-Early life:Dano was born in New York City, the son of Gladys and Paul Dano...
as Lucas - Stephanie SzostakStephanie Szostak-External links:***...
as Sarah - Isild Le BescoIsild Le BescoIsild Le Besco is a French actress and the daughter of Catherine Belkhodja. She is of mixed Breton, Vietnamese, French and Algerian descent....
as April - Nicolas BroNicolas BroNicolas Bro is a Danish actor born in Copenhagen, Denmark.He has grown up in the family of actors – mother is Danish actress Helle Hertz and father is an actor Christoffer Bro....
as Ib Dolby
Reception
On the movie reviewer Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, the file received a "rotten" 29% rating. On the movie Internet Movie Database, the movie received a 6.7/10 rating.
Box Office
The file received a domestic total of $20,930 in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in international countries, the movie received a total $322,888, making the total movie box office $343,818 worldwide.