Main Cast: Demi Moore, Stellan Skarsgård, William Fichtner, Sinéad Cusack, Peter Riegert
Release Year: 2000
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Demi Moore stars in this unusual psychological drama about two women caught between reality and imagination. Marie (Moore) is an American widow trying to raise two children under difficult circumstances in a small town in France. Marty (also played by Moore) is a successful businesswoman in New York City who wants to leave her busy life and lead a quieter existence in Europe. But Marty is just a product of Marie's imagination -- or at least that's what Marie thinks. Marty, on the other hand, is convinced that Marie is just someone she dreamed up. Who is right? Or are both of them wrong? And where does it leave the men in their lives (Stellan Skarsgard and William Fichtner)? Passion of Mind was the first English-language film from French director Alain Berliner, best known for the arthouse success Ma Vie en Rose. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Joss Ackland - Dr. Langer; Eloise Eonnet - Jennifer; Chaya Cuenot - Sarah
Credit
Deborah Aquila - Casting, Sarah Halley-Finn - Casting, Andre Lamal - Co-producer, Valerie Pozzo di Borgo - Costume Designer, Douglas Law - First Assistant Director, Alain Berliner - Director, Anne V. Coates - Editor, Sigurjon Sighvatsson - Executive Producer, Gary Lucchesi - Executive Producer, Ted Tannenbaum - Executive Producer, William Kepper - Executive Producer, Randy Edelman - Composer (Music Score), Pierre-Francois Limbosch - Production Designer, Eduardo Serra - Cinematographer, Ronald Bass - Producer, Tom Rosenberg - Producer, Carole Scotta - Producer, Ludovic Henault - Sound/Sound Designer, Ronald Bass - Screenwriter, David Field - Screenwriter, Philippe Leveque - Set Decorator
Marty (Moore) is a high-powered single literary agent in Manhattan. Marie (also Moore) is a widow in Provence with two daughters and a peaceful life. Marty has been seeing a therapist (Peter Riegert) to deal with her vivid dreams of Marie's life; when Marie falls asleep she dreams Marty's life, but is much less disturbed by it. Each woman is convinced that the other is a figment of her imagination. When Marty meets Aaron (William Fichtner) they become friends and eventually lovers; terrified that her vivid other life means that she's losing her mind, Marty does not want to tell Aaron about it but finally does. Marie, meanwhile, has met William (Stellan Skarsgård); she too is reluctant to tell William about her dreams, particularly since she (as Marty) is falling in love with Aaron, but realizes that she cannot keep such an important part of her life a secret.
The two men react very differently: William is jealous, while Aaron is skeptical but not at all threatened, and wants only for Marty to be happy. Dreams and real life begin to merge when Marie goes on holiday with William to Paris, and Marty wakes up with an ashtray from the hotel on her night stand. Eventually Marty/Marie must come to terms with reality and choose which life is real and which is illusion.
Reviews were mixed, from "A lyrical and pensive romantic drama about the important roles dreams can play in our lives" to "exhibits little passion and even less mind".
Awards
Moore was nominated for a Razzie for Worst Actress for this film.
