"Green Card" 11 January 1991 (USA).
Tagline: An irresistibly charming comedy!
Images from the movie:
User review: 6.0
PlotGeorge Faure is a Frenchman who has been offered a job in the U.S. But in order to get the job he must obtain a work permit - green card, and the easiest way is to marry an American. Bronte Parrish is a New Yorker who is a keen horticulturist and just found the perfect flat with its own greenhouse. Unfortunately the flat is for married couples only. A marriage of convenience seems the ideal solution to both problems. To convince the immigration officers they are married for love, they must move in with each other. As the mismatched couple attempt to cope with life together, they start to fall in love. Written by Sami Al-Taher {staher2000@yahoo.com}
Movie Trivia First film in English for Gérard Depardieu.
Movie GoofupsContinuity: Bronte is barelegged at the party, but removes black stockings upon returning home.
Continuity: Bronte's arm on Georges' arm when they talk for the first time to the government agents.
Plot holes: Georges repeatedly tells immigration officers about his Africa trips. The script overlooks that fact that INS would have or request a copy of his passport to process his case. In real life, INS would have realized immediately that the Africa story was not real: no entry/departure stamps in his passport.
Movie QuotesBrontë Mitchell Faure: We don't have to like each other. We just have to get married. [trying to shift all the blame for their bogus marriage onto Georges] Brontë Mitchell Faure: You stroll around my apartment, touching my things. Do you know what trouble you've gotten me into? Do you? Georges: I am the husband! Georges: [in response to Bronte's telling him that she will donate her time to a children's agriculture charity] If it amuses you, then do it.
Filming LocationsNew York City, New York, USA
Information
Directed by: Peter Weir Runtime: 103 min | UK:107 min | USA:107 min (TCM print) (dvd release) Released in: Australia | France | USA Language(s): English | French Production company: Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
Official CertificationsIceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG
Movie Songs & Sound tracks "Holdin' On" Written by Beresford Romeo and Simon Law Performed by Soul II Soul Courtesy of Virgin Records Ltd.
"Clarinet Concerto In A Major: Adagio" Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Richard Stolzman, Clarinet Performed by the English Chamber Orchestra Courtesy of RCA Victor Red Seal, A Division of BMG Classics
"Remember Slow Fox?" Written by Ole Georg Performed by The David Carr Orchestra Courtesy of Capitol Production Music / Ole Georg
"Strossa Stroma Sou" From the motion picture soundtrack of "Zorba The Greek" Written by Mikis Theodorakis and I. Kambanellis Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
"Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major: Rendo and Adagio" Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Hans-Martin Linde, Flute Performed by The Munich Chamber Orchestra Conducted by Hans Stadlmair Courtesy of Polydor International GmbH A Division of PolyGram Classics
"River" Written by Enya, Roma Ryan and Nicky Ryan Performed by Enya Courtesy of WEA Records Ltd. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
"Watermark" Written by Enya, Roma Ryan and Nicky Ryan Performed by Enya Courtesy of WEA Records Ltd. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
"Storms In Africa" Written by Enya, Roma Ryan and Nicky Ryan Performed by Enya Courtesy of WEA Records Ltd. By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
"Pass The Ammo" Written and Performed by Professor Griff and L.A.D. Courtesy of Luke Records
"Oyin Momo Ado" Written and Performed by Michael Olatunji Courtesy of CBS Records, Music Licensing Department
"Flute and Harp Concerto in C Major: Andantino" Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Performed by Suddeutsches Kammerorchester Stuttgart Courtesy of Teldec Records By Arrangement with Warner Special Products
"Surfin' Safari" Written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson Performed by The Beach Boys Courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc. By Arrangement with CEMA Special Markets
"Subway Drums" Written and Performed by Larry Wright
"Eyes On The Prize" Written by Harry Stewart Performed by the Emmaus Group Singers
User CommentsGreen Light for Viewing (DVD) - XavissimuS from PariSA movie isn't never as much great as it can speak personally. This
movie does it for me and I'm lucky. This review is thus very subjective
but it comes from the heart....
First, it is a rare movie in which I feel my favorite town, New York as
my neighborhood. The town really appears as an endless collection of
big cubic buildings, but under the soft menace of the green invasion
(trees, garden,...). All the roof scenes are memorable...
Then, McDowell plays an almost introvert woman in contrast to the
French extraversion of Depardieu. Sure, being French, I support our
national icon, who is particularly in his turf here, but I was more
over captivated by the development of the Bronte character and her
feelings. From her initial motivation, then indifference to
exasperation and finally complicity & deep devotion, it was a
remarkable evolution to behold and understand.
Finally, there's also a lot of subtext & subtlety here and it's great
for the brain: I mean some things talks to our unconscious and the
connection isn't immediate. For example, think how Africa is the main
background: the emigration subject, the Afrika bar, the drums, the
safari life ... There's also the sweet translation from Green Card to
Green House, and the role of ecology... Like I already said, the green
tries to grow in every free space left from the rock buildings, which
is a poetic metaphor for the emigration...
So, a great romantic story in a wonderful setting & which leaves many
doors to open...
Different - Mort-31 from Vienna, AustriaUsually, romantic comedies are all the same, concerning their tone and their
dialogue. Green Card` by the great director Peter Weir (Truman Show`,
Witness`!), is a little different, which alone makes it
sympathetic.
The film evokes interest right at the beginning because if people don't know
exactly what it is all about, they might not get immediately what's
happening. Brontë is already married to Georges the French composer. Other
directors or screenwriters would have shown their wedding in detail,
peppered with gags. But Weir sees that this is not necessary, it would only
follow the convention.
Later we have unexpected plot twists and changes in the characters that are
not always convincing but give the film an interesting, not too light base
tone. And actually, Peter Weir is a too enthusiastic director to make a
visually rather undemanding romance film. So he introduces some wonderful
visual ideas like the scene where Georges is standing in front of Brontë's
door, covered with a blanket, calling her name, while the camera shoots him
from inside, through the watcher`.
I'm not particularly fond of Andie MacDowell because she always seems even
more nervous than my English teacher, always presenting herself with a
pained smile. In Green Card` of course, the fact that she is not at all
likeable (to me at least) fits perfectly, and one little wonder of the movie
is that Gérard Depardieu can convincingly play that he is falling in love
with her.
A comedy surprise.
Offbeat and uplifting - Amy Adler from Toledo, OhioFor those looking for an offbeat, uplifting romantic comedy, this
one
fits the bill. Andie McDowell plays Bronte; she is a young city gardener
who has her eye on a beautiful apartment with a greenhouse.
The problem is she must be married in order to apply for it. Enter Gerard
Depardieu. He plays an immigrant Frenchman looking to marry an American so
he will have permanent residency status in the United States. A mutual
friend arranges a paper marriage between the two. Bronte gets her
apartment; Depardieu has what he wants, also. Unfortunately, the INS
suspects it is a bogus marriage and the two have
to "temporarily" move in together in order to prove their marriage
is
real. From the start, Bronte and her immigrant husband dislike each other.
Yet, strange things can happen. This is a sweet story with plenty of laughs
sprinkled throughout. McDowell looks stunning and
Depardieu, despite carrying a lot of extra weight, charms and
delights.
Nice little touches, such as the scenes where the couple take fake
photographs of their honeymoon, are prevalent. Take a chance on Green Card;
it's guaranteed to give the viewer permanent smiling status.
the beautiful garden and the magnificence of Bronte - chuck winchester from north and south carolina*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
The film was a sensual master piece with a ending that leaves you spell
bound and mystified as to the fact when will they meet again and
embrace the reality of the love that transformed from a relationship
that was never to be. I especially loved the garden it was so
magnificent and to even imagine that such beauty could exist in a city
of concrete and pavement. Bronte has such passion for this magnificent
garden that she is willing to forgo all obstacles in such blindness
that she does not even see the beauty with in the beast of her new
husband until it is too late to really let him know how much she cares
for him. in the end you can feel the pain that both lovers have as they
no longer have the ability to be together in the garden of eden as with
Adam and eve where Adam and eve were cast out of the garden Bronte was
left with the garden all alone.
Worth Watching - aliceburnGreen Card is a good movie. Worth watching. The first time I saw it I
wasn't
impressed, but then watching it again I found it realistic and refreshingly
charming, in that "simple/against the tide" sort of way that is so Peter
Weir. He's also done The Witness, Dead Poets Society, and The Truman Show;
and Green Card, most certainly, is another of his films about people who
don't quite fit in their environment or in the world of their aspirations
but are drawn into finding life where probably they were not looking for.
The scene about finding the bathroom is both hilarious and very
suspenseful.
It's funny how in a house, or even in a small apartment, we're never quite
sure where the bathroom is. Our first instinct is to ask, even though it
probably wouldn't be a difficult move to find that on our own. Now imagine
having to deal with that bathroom situation (something you only care about
when you need it) pretending that the place where you're in is your house.
It's almost like in those nightmares where there are so many doors but
which
one is the one that will take you to that next level you so much need but
have not the slightest idea of what it might really be? I guess the
metaphor
here is that you keep on opening a chain of wrong doors until you find the
right one for you. It's frustrating, but the door was always there, always,
with the exception that you never noticed it. Just like in everyday life,
love and spirituality might flash into your face as banal sight at first,
but they're made of hopes and fears that are always bigger than us,
unexplainable, maybe fate. We don't have control of it (the Greeks knew
it),
we're still the same but again we're not. And here we are, groping,
surviving. How do you relate to people and to your present circumstances --
whatever they might be --that is what Green Card is about.
DVD please? - the_worlok from NJ, USAThis movie is strangely addictive. Gérard Depardieu displays a very
noble
and charming character who is at the same time a simple and gruff man.
He
doesn't do the pretentiousness that is so common today. He is
unsophisticated yet not uncomplicated. Andie MacDowell plays her part
wonderfully. You just want to smack her silly at times, which proves
that
McDowell is a great actress. She is also one of Hollywood's "Classic"
beauties. She is a pleasure to watch not only for her first rate acting
but
also because she is such a handsome woman.
My wife hooked me on this movie. I am a typical American man, who is
usuually into action and SciFi movies. I usually run screaming from
romantic movies. The fact that this is a Romantic COMEDY made it fun to
watch. Depardieu plays the large "oafish" commoner to a "T". He is a
very
funny man indeed, as well as a first rate actor in his own right. He is
not
in enough movies, IMNSHO.
I wish the studio that owns this would release it on DVD in the
US.
A great date movie - kimmy7771 from San Jose, CAThis is a great date movie. I love it how they fall in love, despite
they're difference. I also love it how she loves him for him, and not
this
built up romantic image that many American woman have about French men.
(This is quite evident throughout the movie) Obviously the movie is just
like the tag line, but how they get their, is a wonderful story within
itself. I recommend this for anyone who wants to see a great date movie,
and who doesn't mind a movie set in the 80s.
Green Card: A film whose romantic moments outweighs its dramatic scenes - Lalit Rao (cpowerccc@yahoo.com) from Paris,FranceIt is no so often that good films like "Green Card" are made.But when
they are made,it is not so easy for dedicated viewers to remove such
cinematographic gems from their minds as they captivate us to such an
extent that we tend to think of them on all occasions."Green Card" is
not only a good film but also a film with serious purpose.It tackles
albeit in a non political manner, the need to obtain a green card in
order to make a life better.By making,"Green Card" Australian director
Peter Weir has created a film which highlights the importance of good
things of life such as friends,love and music.Much of this film's
strength comes in the form of fine performances by lead actors Gerard
Depardieu and Andie MacDowell.They look like a real life couple madly
in love with each other.As Gerard Depardieu is at the top of his acting
abilities it can be said that no one would mind his accented English.A
film with an obvious title "Green Card" might be perceived as a movie
with a lot of drama but the cinematographic genius of Peter Weir is
revealed in the form of his decision to relegate drama to back
seat.This is the reason why he has shown credulous romance to make us
all believe in the power of love in our lives.
Love for sale - goya-4 from pa usaGerard Depardieu and Andie McDowell meet and for mutually beneficial
reasons
end up getting married..he so he can stay in the country and she so she can
get the rent controlled Manhatten apartment..alas they must convince the
INS
that their marriage is true so they get to know each other, grudgingly of
course at first..until love intervenes.
A charming movie that features a good matchup with McDowell and
Depardieu..good date film too.
on a scale of one to ten..7
Decent though rarely hilarious romcom - (thehumanduvet@hotmail.com) from ukA romantic comedy-drama really, with far fewer laughs and much
more
sentiment than typical for the genre, though seemingly based on
the
favourite romcom premise that two people thrown into a position of
intimacy
for an extended period will inevitably fall into a touching and romantic
love no matter how incompatible they at first appear. Depardieu comes
across
very well, though really doesn't need to try very hard to pull off the
fairly stereotypical 'big french feller' he plays here, and MacDowell is
her
usual droney-voiced, moody-faced self, there to look pretty but prim
rather
than inspire any great feeling. The story ambles along nicely, taking in
most of the standard licks of the genre ? impressing the friends, the
family, high jinks with the neighbours, bad behaviour and heroism,
shouting
and laughing together to illustrate how love can emerge from conflict. Not
hugely funny or romantic, but very nice to see that a romantic leading man
could still smoke, drink and eat lots of butter in health-obsessed
Hollywood
back in 1990.
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