21 Grams

21 Grams (2003)

Timing: 2:4 (124 min)

7.335/10
3026

7.766/10
79604

7.6/10
253000

All about film

Video 2

Photo 21

Actors and characters

Release date

2003-09-06

Country

United States

Production

Focus Features, This Is That, Y Productions, Mediana Productions Filmgesellschaft

Genre

Drama, Crime, Thriller

Budget

$20 000 000

Revenue

$60 427 839

Website

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Actors

Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Danny Huston, Carly Nahon, Claire Pakis, Benicio del Toro, Nick Nichols, Charlotte Gainsbourg, John Rubinstein, Eddie Marsan
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Guillermo Arriaga

Producer

Alejandro González Iñárritu, Robert Salerno, Ted Hope

Operator

Rodrigo Prieto

Composer

Gustavo Santaolalla

Artist

Audition

Francine Maisler

Editing

Stephen Mirrione, Diane L. Sabatini
All team (112)

• Practically all the shots in the film were filmed using inexpensive handheld cameras.
• Filming took place in chronological order, although the events in the film itself are jumbled.
• Naomi Watts agreed to play the role without even reading the script.
• The title of the film is borrowed from the works of Dr. Duncan MacDougall in the early 20th century. MacDougall weighed patients as they were dying, both before and after their actual death, attempting to prove that the soul is material and can even be weighed. In reality, the results of these studies were quite controversial, but the idea that a human soul weighs exactly 21 grams has firmly taken root in the public consciousness.
• Kathryn Cartlidge originally auditioned for the role of Marianne, but she died shortly before filming began. Melissa Leo, who had previously auditioned for the same role, was then invited to audition again and landed the part.
• During the scene where Jack Jordan attempts to hang himself, he is saved by a prisoner with a large tattoo on his chest – "Maria Eladia". This is the name of the wife of the film's director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, to whom the film is dedicated.
• Naomi Watts agreed to take on the role without even reading the script.
• Catherine Cartledge initially auditioned for the role of Marianne, but she died shortly before filming began. Then Melissa Leo, who had previously auditioned for the same role, was invited to audition again and landed the part in the film.
• Filming took place from December 5, 2002, to February 2003.
• During the scene in which Jack Jordan attempts to hang himself, he is saved by a prisoner with a large tattoo on his chest – "Maria Eladia." This is the name of the director Alejandro González Iñárritu's wife, to whom the film is actually dedicated.