BIRTHDAY GIRL

UK, 2001, 93 minutes, Colour.
Nicole Kidman, Ben Chaplin, Matthieu Kassowitz, Vincent Cassel.
Directed by Jez Butterworth.

Birthday Girl was written by playwright Jez Butterworth with his brother Tom. He had previously made a film of his play, Mojo.

With Birthday Girl, it is a mixture of romance, screwball comedy and financial scam. Nicole Kidman, looking at first very demure, plays Nadia, the birthday girl, who answers a Personals on-line advertisement and comes to a meek clerk John who lives in St Albans and who wants some excitement in his life. Nadia certainly brings it. However, on her birthday her two friends, Alexei and Uri, also turn up. John is then forced to help them rob a bank.

When he is finally tied up and Nadia explains to Alexei and Uri that she really loves him, she also is tied up and after their escape, they are able to better the associates and live happily ever after. What makes the film different is that Nadia, allegedly a bride coming from Russia and not speaking English, speaks English very well and has played this kind of scam with Alexi and Uri on businessmen all over Europe.

Nicole Kidman enjoys the opportunity for some light comedy. Ben Chaplin is the earnest bank clerk. For the Russians, two prominent French actors have been cast, Vincent Cassel and Mathieu Kassovitz. While there are some funny moments, the film is sometimes flat, especially in its portrait of John. In fact, part of the film seems like the typical sex fantasy of a bank clerk like John.

1. The work of the director as writer, writer of plays, director of theatre? Transition to the screen?

2. A contemporary British story, the lonely man, going online, seeking a partner, running the risks, being deceived by Eastern Europeans? The effect on him? Vengeance, change of heart, falling in love? A fantasy ending?

3. The British settings, the city of St Albans, the homes, the streets, the countryside, the bank? Motels, motorways, airport? Musical score?

4. The focus on John, talking to camera on his computer, his searching for a partner, the Russian candidates, the collage of women? His choice? Not checking out details? Going to the airport, waiting for Nadia, finally seeing her standing alone? Chatting in the car, her replies, realising she did not speak English? Smoking in the car? At home, the room, seeing her lying on the bed? The meals, the attempted communication? His repeated phone calls about the problem, not answered? Her sexual advances and his succumbing? Going to work, his routines, the girl standing next to him? His sitting in the manager’s office, the manager reading the report, very straightforward, humdrum, his accepting this, getting the key to the safe? Returning home, going through Nadia’s things, the gun as cigarette lighter? Her communicating that it was her birthday?

5. Nadia, at the airport, not speaking English, in her room, the meals, cooking? Going through John’s things, discovering the bondage pornography, her offering the same kind of experience? Her binoculars memories and flashbacks? Communicating her birthday?

6. The birthday celebration, party, the birthday cake and candles? The arrival of Yuri and Alexei, Yuri speaking English, Alexei.? The exuberance, the takeover? The celebration, Nadia’s response? John and his bewilderment? The explanation about the band, and Alexei as a musician, meeting up with Nadia? Their staying the night?

7. John, the confrontation, ousting them? The changing situation, began, taking over? Persuading him to give them the money? Their behaviour, raucous?

8. John, the musical instrument cases, going to the bank, the visit of the Inspector, the manager, praise of John? The background of the tutor with the fall and trust program? Their becoming involved? John and his stealing the money, the return home? Driving away?

9. Nadia, pregnant, her relationship with Alexei, behaviour in the car, John’s bewilderment? Their leaving her tied up? John freeing her? The ditching of the car? Walking? John and his anger, wanting vengeance? Going to the motel, realising she was pregnant?

10. Going to the police station, Nadia being sick, John and his changing his mind?

11. In the fields, the fire, communication? Falling in love despite his anger?

12. Nadia being taken? After the gift of the binoculars? John using them as a sign to Nadia that he was there? The confrontation with Yuri and Alexei, the
fight, tying up Alexei, taking his passport? The decision to go to the airport, to put Nadia on the plane? Yuri and Alexei and pursuit at the airport? John and his
using Alexei’s passport, going through control, going on the plane?

13. From realism to fantasy?