21 Grams (2003)
Release Year: 2003
Nation: United States of America
Alternative Title: 21 gram, 21 gramos, 21 Gramm, 21 grammes, 21 Gramas, 21 grammaa, 21 grammaria, 21 grammi, 21 grammi - Il peso dell'anima
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Writer: Guillermo Arriaga
Production & Genre
Producer(s):
Companies: Focus Features, Mediana Productions Filmgesellschaft, This is that, Y Productions
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Awards & Similar
Awards:
Similar:
Keywords
Keywords: car crash, ex-detainee, faith, life and death, loss of loved one, multiple storylines, new mexico, rage and hate, sadness, suicide attempt, transplantation, widow
Story
The movie '21 Grams' weaves together three interconnected narratives that revolve around a devastating car accident. The central characters are Paul Rivers (Sean Penn), an ailing mathematician married to an English woman; Christina Peck (Naomi Watts), a suburban housewife with a secret past; and Jack Jordan (Benicio del Toro), a born-again ex-convict who has found Jesus after serving time for murdering his wife and children in a fit of rage. The lives of these three individuals converge when Paul, a recipient of a heart transplant, suffers from guilt and anxiety stemming from his newfound ability to live a longer life at the expense of another's death. Christina is hiding a past where she was once involved with Jack before he went to prison for killing her family in a drunken rage. Meanwhile, Jack struggles with his faith after being released early due to overcrowding and finds himself haunted by visions of his deceased wife and children. The accident brings these three strangers together in a complex web of guilt, redemption, loss, and ultimately, transformation.
Summary
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu ('Amores Perros', 'Birdman'), '21 Grams' is a nonlinear narrative film that explores themes of fate, interconnectedness, and the emotional weight carried by its characters. The title refers to the supposed loss of weight at the moment of death, alluding to the spiritual heaviness felt by Paul, Christina, and Jack as they grapple with their pasts and search for redemption. Set in New Mexico, the film's multiple storylines are presented out of chronological order, requiring viewers to piece together the puzzle as it unfolds. '21 Grams' is a haunting exploration of grief, guilt, and the human capacity for change, anchored by powerful performances from its lead actors.
