SYNOPSIS

IMAGES

PRODUCTION NOTES

Filming began in September 1998. It shot two weeks in New York, two weeks in Paris, and seven weeks in Provence.

DIRECTOR:

"I never considered directing a film that I hadn't written, but 'Passion' came to me through my American agent and I liked it. This is an independent film with a small budget. Most of the international cast - Stellan Skarsgård, Sinéad Cusack, Peter Riegert and William Fichtner worked for scale, and Moore got points. Shooting in New York is very different from shooting in France. For one thing, in Paris we pay for permits." [Production photos of Alain Berliner]

PRAISE FOR STELLAN:

"Skarsgård and Fichtner provide an interesting contrast, both playing strong feelings with admirable restraint."   ...Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

"Passion Of Mind has a wonderful cast, including the rarely seen and compelling Sinéad Cusack. The film offers a romantic lead role for the seriously underrated William Fichtner and another romantic lead for Stellan Skarsgård, whose wonderfully dissolute face is finally being appreciated by filmmakers as the gal bait it truly is." ...Liz Braun, Toronto Sun

"One thing the movie does have going for it are interesting, unlikely choices for Demi's love interests... The great Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård finally gets to play a robust sex symbol and not a dirty old bugger who drinks too much. He plays William, the writer who chases after earth mother Marie. He gets to be paternal with children, carnal under the sheets and even a little befuddled when trying to speak of matters of the heart."  ...Flipside Movie Emporium

"There are good performances here -William Fichtner and Stellan Skarsgård (neither the conventional leading-man type) are genuinely sweet and romantic as Marie/Marty's rival lovers."  ...Digitally Obsessed

"Skarsgård is wonderful, full of life and complex emotion."   ...CNN

"Skarsgård and Fichtner bring more to the movie than is needed. These are complex actors with subtly disturbing undertones. They both play nice guys, but we can't quite believe them. We suspect secrets or hidden agendas. They smile, they're warm and pleasant and supportive, and we're wondering, what's their angle? For this particular story, it might have been better to cast actors who were more bland and one-dimensional, so that they could represent only what is needed (two nice guys) rather than veiled complications.   ...Roger Ebert

"Stellan Skarsgård is a very flexible actor. His previous credits include roles in Good Will Hunting, Amistad, Ronin and Deep Blue Sea. He delivers an 'almost too nice' and patient performance as Marie's love interest, William. I enjoy watching Skarsgård work; he has a wide-open future ahead of him."  ...The Z Review (UK)

"Marie begins falling for a struggling writer, played by the moody, hard-working Stellan Skarsgård... Skarsgård handles his role with the insight and honesty that fans of his are coming to expect."  ...Filmcritic.com

"She's a book reviewer for the New York Times, and her scathing review of a recent publication sends her into an unexpected romance with the writer (played by Stellan Skarsgård, who gives one of the film's few credible performances).     ...Film Critic James Berardinelli

"The only character with any semblance of depth or realism (until the very end of the film when he just gets disturbing) is William (a strong performance by Stellan Skarsgård).   ...Cinema Confidential

"Enter William (Skarsgård), an author and chef so sturdy and inoffensive in his Banana Republic finery that he makes William Hurt look like G.G. Allin, flirting with Marie and her daughters in a perfect mating dance, right down to the candlelight dinner in a castle."  ...Phoenix New Times

"Director Alain Berliner has a ravishing eye for the environment - he seldom lets his camera go anywhere we wouldn't like to visit - and a gentle, steady hand with the cast... Skarsgård plays William, the suitor in France, with tidal urgency, making us believe he's putting up with a great deal out of tremendous need that is shown more than articulated." ...iF Magazine

"Moore acquits herself well in both roles...  Skarsgård and Fichtner are both excellent as well."   ...San Diego Metro

"Moore, Skarsgård, and Fichtner perform ably and strike more than a few pleasant moments."  ...Austin Chronicle

"Save for a smattering of stunning photography during the French sequences, and winning performances by Fichtner and Skarsgård, Belgian director Alain Berliner's American debut is sadly inauspicious."   ...TV Guide

"Whatever passion there is in the film comes from the two men - the ever-reliable Stellan Skarsgård and William Fichtner."     ...Film Critic Richard Scheib, NZ

"But I suppose the film is worth watching if only for the performances of Skarsgård and Fichtner. As the two men in Moore's life (lives?), they bring a lot of charisma and tenderness."  ... Reel Film

Skarsgård is smooth as the romantic writer, although the extreme sensitivity the script demands of his character can be taken as either oily manipulation or just plain unbelievable, given his overall agressiveness."   ...Reeling Reviews

PUBLICITY PHOTOS