Nine Days (film)
Nine Days | |
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Directed by | Edson Oda |
Written by | Edson Oda |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Wyatt Garfield |
Edited by |
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Music by | Antônio Pinto |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics |
Release dates |
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Running time | 124 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $10 million |
Box office | $969,204 |
Nine Days is a 2020 American
In 2017, the
Nine Days premiered on January 27, 2020, at the
Plot
Will is an arbiter who judges souls before they inhabit bodies in the living. He lives in an isolated house in the middle of a desert landscape, interviewing candidate souls for the opportunity to be born. If they are not selected, Will gives them an experience of their choosing to enact before their existence is erased. His only company is Kyo, who acts as a sort of supervisor, making sure Will selects the best candidate and assisting him with the process. Unlike Will, who spent a previous lifetime as a living being, Kyo was never alive. Will spends his days watching and taking notes on a multitude of television screens, each displaying the life of a different individual that Will has previously selected. His favorite is Amanda, a 28-year-old violin prodigy. While observing Amanda drive to a major concert, Will sees her suddenly speed on the highway. Amanda crashes into an overpass and dies.
As Will grapples with Amanda's death, candidates begin arriving to interview for the vacancy Amanda left behind, a process that will take nine days. He asks the candidates simple questions about life and has them take notes on what they like or dislike about the lives of others who were chosen. Will is particularly intrigued by Emma, who displays heightened empathy and curiosity despite showing little interest in the selection process. Over the course of the nine days, most of the candidates are dismissed for various reasons, such as self-consciousness and lack of respect for suffering. Will does his best to recreate life events for the failed candidates, such as walking on the beach or bike-riding through a city, before the candidates disappear forever.
Kyo invites another nearby interviewer to meet with Will, as she had previously selected Amanda's cousin for birth. She shows Will a tape shortly after Amanda's death, which reveals that Amanda left behind a suicide note before her crash. Kyo attempts to help Will get over her death, but Will continues to watch tapes from her life, unable to understand why she did it. Will has told Emma that he cannot tell her anything about his previous life, but in response to her showing concern for him, he now indicates that in his previous life, he once gave a theater performance that made him feel alive but never pursued his passion after that. He reacts angrily when another candidate, Alex, points out Will's hypocrisy for judging people's lives when he never did anything meaningful with his own life.
The candidates are narrowed down to two: Emma and Kane. While Emma is carefree and sees the best in people, Kane is more pessimistic, recognizing the evil in the world and showing resolve to fight back against it. Despite Kyo recommending that Will pick Emma, he chooses Kane to be born. When Will offers Emma a last experience, she writes something down that Will says he cannot do. Emma then declines a last experience and opts to walk across the desert until she disappears. Will later finds a note from Emma where she thanks him and explains she wrote happy memories she had during the interview process. Will finds them written all over the house. Feeling regret, he runs across the desert after Emma, passionately recites selections from Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself, and thanks her.
Cast
- Winston Duke as Will
- Zazie Beetz as Emma
- Benedict Wong as Kyo
- Tony Hale as Alexander
- Bill Skarsgård as Kane
- David Rysdahl as Mike
- Arianna Ortiz as Maria
- Lisa Starrett as Amanda
Production
Development
Nine Days is an American co-production between Juniper Productions,
Oda said the film was an exploration of how a real loss can create both the burden and gift of being alive. The character of Will is based on his uncle, who died by suicide at age 50 when Oda was 12 years old. Oda said people would go on to remember his uncle for how he died instead of for the life he lived. He wanted to write a story about what his uncle was going through "instead of judging him through what he did".[4] In 2017, the Sundance Institute selected Oda as one of fifteen emerging screenwriters to participate in its annual screenwriting lab at the Sundance Resort in Utah.[5] Producers on Nine Days were Jason Michael Berman, Mette-Marie Kongsved, Matthew Linder, Laura Tunstall, and Datari Turner.[2] Securing funding for the film proved difficult as the producers had been turned down by several specialty distributors, including A24 and Searchlight Pictures. So, to obtain the $10 million budget necessary to finance it, Berman put together a team of at least a dozen executive producers. Spike Jonze boarded the project as an executive producer in October 2020 after the film's premiere.[3][6] Oda credited Jonze's Her (2013), a film tackling similar themes of humanity and vulnerability, as a major inspiration for Nine Days, taking notice of Scarlett Johansson's performance as Samantha in the film: "She's almost like a soul ... finding love and all those emotions so dramatically."[7]
Casting
Winston Duke read the screenplay after working on Us and was immediately interested in its depiction of mental illness and depression. Duke sat down with Oda for a meeting, which turned into a four-hour conversation about various topics ranging from filmmaking to content they both enjoyed to a discussion about life as an immigrant.[8] As Oda described it, "It was almost like, I don't know, love at first sight. It was just amazing to see that I could trust this guy so much. I had a feeling that he has this big heart for humanity inside him."[3][9] Though the lead role was originally set to be played by an Asian actor, Duke got the part the day after the meeting. According to Duke, the film's title is a reference to the funerary tradition practiced in the Caribbean known as the nine nights, where a person is mourned for nine days because it takes their spirit nine days to say goodbye.[10][11]
On June 7, 2019, Duke, Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgård, Benedict Wong and David Rysdahl were announced to star.[2] Beetz described her character as having a "childlike wonder", living in the present and confronting her issues instead of ignoring them like Will.[1] Wong described his character as a romantic about life, eager for company but alone.[12][13] To prepare for the role, Wong isolated himself from other people: "I locked myself up in a room ... [and] I didn't talk to anyone, solely just to have personal isolation. And when I came out, I wanted human contact, so that was like Kyo who would walk off into the dead of night, and no one knows where he goes."[14]
In August 2019, Tony Hale joined the cast.[15] Hale described his character as a jokester who wants to have a good time.[16] He categorized Arianna Ortiz's character as a romantic and Rysdahl's character as sensitive, stating that "there was a risk that we each took fully being ourselves. For some, for many, it didn't have the result we wanted, but we did take that risk." When asked about Will's response to his character, Hale said their "personalities triggered something that I think he felt he might've lacked. And so, since he didn't understand it, he didn't think we could take it when in actuality, it might've been a piece of him that was missing that could have helped."[17]
Filming
The cast had rehearsals for two weeks.
Principal photography lasted for 24 days.
Post-production
Editing was completed by Michael Taylor and
All music is composed by Antônio Pinto, David Bessler, Gabriel Ferreira and Yaniel Matos
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "10327 Days of Life" | 1:20 |
2. | "Emma" | 2:40 |
3. | "Will" | 1:17 |
4. | "A Moment You Like" | 1:08 |
5. | "Amanda's Solo" | 1:37 |
6. | "The Lull Before The Storm" | 1:24 |
7. | "Concerto Day" | 1:00 |
8. | "Nine Pianos" | 2:12 |
9. | "Eu Na Rua" | 2:09 |
10. | "Night Falls" | 0:48 |
11. | "Night Walk" | 1:20 |
12. | "Maria's Letter" | 1:15 |
13. | "Denial" | 0:45 |
14. | "Will and Katsuji" | 2:26 |
15. | "Will and Emma" | 2:38 |
16. | "The Ninth Day" | 2:46 |
17. | "Rebirth" | 4:21 |
18. | "Eu Na Rua (Full version)" | 3:29 |
19. | "Father and Daughter" | 3:45 |
Total length: | 39:43 |
Release
In December 2019, the Sundance Film Festival announced the lineup for the 2020 competition.[32] Nine Days premiered at the festival on January 27, 2020, competing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition with a runtime of 124 minutes.[33] At the premiere, Duke said "What's really beautiful about this story is that it doesn't ever try to spoon-feed you. It's not very didactic in any way. It just presents itself and asks you to have a reaction."[11] In February 2020, Sony Pictures Classics acquired the film's distribution rights.[34]
A trailer for the film was released on October 12, 2020.
Nine Days screened as the opening film of the
Reception
Box office
Nine Days grossed $694,849 in the United States and Canada, and $273,467 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $968,316.[44]
In the U.S. and Canada, the film made its debut in four theaters (two in New York and two in Los Angeles) on July 30, 2021.[45][46] It earned $15,700 in its opening weekend, for an average of $3,925 per theater. In its second weekend, the film made $232,509 after expanding to 443 theaters nationwide.[47]
Outside the U.S. and Canada, the film earned $217,021 in Australia, $56,288 in the Netherlands, and $158 in the United Kingdom.[44]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 151 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A knockout feature directorial debut from Edson Oda, Nine Days is an ethereal and evocative film about the meaning of life – elevated by a phenomenal performance from Winston Duke."[48] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 72 out of 100 based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[49] The film would go on to appear in multiple critics' lists of the best film from 2021.[50] Mark Dujsik of RogerEbert.com and Jared Mobarak of The Film Stage called it their favorite film of the year.[51][52]
Oda was praised for his direction and screenplay. Jacob Oller of Paste called him "one of our most exciting new directors, a filmmaker possessing an innovative cinematic mind with a heart to match."[53] The Guardian's Leslie Felperin said it was "a smidge too ponderous and self-serious for its own good" but still a "reasonably promising debut".[54] Film Threat's Lorry Kikta lauded the script because it communicated its themes in a way that would successfully remind viewers about the value of life without being "preachy or pedantic."[55] The performances of Duke and Beetz were also well-received. Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times noted the "brilliant work" from both actors and said he enjoyed the film due to its straightforward narrative and accessibility, describing it as a combination of Soul and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).[56] Peter Debruge from Variety gave positive notes to the story, production design, cinematography, and score and categorized it as the "rare work of art that invites you to re-consider your entire worldview."[57]
Accolades
Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Reel Awards | February 28, 2022 | Outstanding Actor | Winston Duke | Nominated | [58] |
Outstanding Independent Film | Nine Days[a] | Nominated | |||
Denver International Film Festival
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November 13, 2020 | Excellence in Acting | Zazie Beetz | Won | [59] |
Winston Duke | Won | ||||
Gotham Awards | November 29, 2021 | Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award | Edson Oda | Nominated | [60] |
Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 17, 2021 | Best Original Score in an Independent Film | Antônio Pinto | Nominated | [61] |
Independent Spirit Awards | April 22, 2021 | Best Supporting Male | Benedict Wong | Nominated | [62] |
Best First Feature | Nine Days[b] | Nominated | |||
IndieWire Critics Poll | December 13, 2021 | Best Films Opening in 2021 | Nine Days | 39th place | [63] |
Newport Beach Film Festival | October 24, 2021 | Maverick Award | Winston Duke | Won | [64] |
Stockholm International Film Festival | November 19, 2020 | Best Film | Nine Days | Nominated | [65] |
Sundance Film Festival | February 1, 2020 | Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic | Nine Days | Nominated | [66] |
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award – Dramatic | Edson Oda | Won |
Notes
- ^ Nominees: Edson Oda
- ^ Nominees: Edson Oda, Jason Michael Berman, Mette-Marie Kongsved, Matthew Linder, Laura Tunstall, and Datari Turner
References
- ^ a b Radish, Christina (July 31, 2021). "Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz on Nine Days and How Writer-Director Edson Oda Brought the World to Life". Collider. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 7, 2019). "Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgård Atop Hot Pic Package Nine Days; Edson Oda Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Ford, Rebecca (January 25, 2020). "How a Commercials Director Landed a $10 Million Budget and Created a Soul-Searching Sundance Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (July 30, 2020). "Nine Days: Director Edson Oda on How His Uncle's Death Inspired Film (Video)". TheWrap. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Sundance Institute 2017 Screenwriters Lab Nurtures Global Creativity". Sundance Institute. December 16, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 12, 2020). "Spike Jonze Boards Sony Pictures Classics' Nine Days As EP; Pic Eyes Early 2021 Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Jackson, Angelique (August 10, 2021). "Nine Days Helmer Edson Oda Talks Working With His Filmmaking Hero Spike Jonze". Variety. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ Harris-Perry, Melissa (August 10, 2021). "How Actor Winston Duke Brought All of Himself to Nine Days". WNYC Studios. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ Daniels, Robert (July 30, 2021). "How the Pandemic and Black Lives Matter Led the Director of Nine Days to Rethink His Own Film". IndieWire. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (October 22, 2020). "Winston Duke confronts the meaning of life in Nine Days". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Syfy Wire. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Riley, Jenelle (July 30, 2021). "Benedict Wong on the Isolation of Nine Days, Not Having an Agent and Landing Doctor Strange". Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ Radish, Christina (August 6, 2021). "Benedict Wong on Nine Days, the Importance of Shang-Chi, and Working with Sam Raimi on Doctor Strange 2". Collider. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ Syfy Wire. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (August 28, 2019). "Veep Star Tony Hale Joins Winston Duke & Bill Skarsgård In Nine Days Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ "Winston Duke, Zazie Beets, & their co-stars talk about making Nine Days". Moviefone. August 7, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Cohn, Paulette (July 30, 2021). "Exclusive: Tony Hale on how Nine Days explores the meaning of life and community". Monsters & Critics. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c K., Britt (July 30, 2021). "Interview: Tony Hale, Arianna Ortiz, and David Rysdahl Talk About New Film Nine Days [Exclusive]". Nerds & Beyond. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "'A Very Fine Line Between Realism and Surrealism': DP Wyatt Garfield on Nine Days". Filmmaker. February 3, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Saito, Stephen (July 30, 2021). "Edson Oda on Making Memories in Nine Days". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Hullfish, Steve (August 19, 2021). "Art of the Cut: Asking the Big Questions in Edson Oda's Nine Days". Frame.io Insider. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Garfield, Wyatt (July 28, 2021). "Nine Days DP Wyatt Garfield Uses a Sony DSLR as a Viewfinder and Multi-Color Pens for Better Diagrams". MovieMaker. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Radish, Christina (August 12, 2021). "Bill Skarsgård on Playing a Character with No Backstory in Nine Days and Being Part of John Wick 4". Collider. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ Roka, Les (January 26, 2021). "Sundance 2021: Utah film industry weathers pandemic with resilience, resourceful risk taking". The Utah Review. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Means, Sean P. (December 4, 2019). "Utah provides desolate backdrops for two movies at Sundance 2020". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Weintraub, Steve (February 10, 2020). "Nine Days Cast and Director Edson Oda on Making an Original Science Fiction Movie". Collider. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ^ "'We Learned to Lean into the More Lyrical Aspects of the Story and Let the Emotion Carry the Day': Editors Michael Taylor and Jeff Betancourt on Nine Days". Filmmaker. February 3, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (July 28, 2021). "How the Nine Days Sound Team Built Winston Duke's Wall of Televisions". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ^ "Antonio Pinto Scoring Edson Oda's Nine Days". Film Music Reporter. December 24, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
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- ^ "Nine Days Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. May 19, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Siegel, Tatiana (December 4, 2019). "Sundance Unveils Female-Powered Lineup Featuring Taylor Swift, Gloria Steinem, Abortion Road Trip Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ "Nine Days". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
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- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved April 18, 2022.
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- ^ Felperin, Leslie (December 15, 2021). "Nine Days review – flavoursome metaphysical fable of souls queueing up to be born". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
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- Denver International Film Festival. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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External links
- Official website
- Nine Days at IMDb
- Original screenplay by Edson Oda