19 Months

19 Months Randall Cole Benjamin Ratner Angela Vint Danny Friedman Harald Bachmann Kathy Weinkauf Cole/Mauro Productions Inc. Randall Cole James Mauro ThinkFilm 2002 09 28 Vancouver 2004 05 21 Canada y 78 minutes Canada English 19 Months is a 2002 Canadian mockumentary film written and directed by Randall Cole, starring Benjamin Ratner and Angela Vint. It was Cole's directorial debut. Synopsis Believing that all romantic partnerships turn sour, a couple decide to pre-emptively end their relationship with a perfect, amicable breakup – and agree to have a low-budget documentary film crew record it all. This includes seeing each other securely into new relationships with other people, so that neither will be left single. Cast Benjamin Ratner as Rob Angela Vint as Melanie Kari Matchett as Page Sergio Di Zio as Steve Carolyn Taylor as Lisa Marqus Bobesich as Glen Scott McLaren as The Interviewer Brooke D'Orsay as Sandy Tamara Levitt as Drunk Girl 1 Chuck Shamata as Rob's Dad Production The film was written and directed by Randall Cole, and is his first feature film. He began writing the script around 2001, inspired by articles which stated that love was the result of a chemical response that faded over time. It was about 80% scripted and 20% improvised. The film was produced through the Feature Film Project of the Canadian Film Centre, which provided a $500,000 budget. The production received assistance from Telefilm Canada and the Ontario Media Development Corporation. The film was shot over 15 days in Toronto and is set there, using iconic Toronto locations. Actors are often filmed in close-up, which helped avoid the time and expense of set design and location dressing. Release The film opened in theatres in Canada on 21 May 2004. Reception Film critic Ken Eisner called the film a "smart, highly entertaining" mockumentary with "funny and provocative results", and praised the performances of the cast. Wendy Banks of Now gave the film an "honourable mention" and called it a "mercilessly funny and astute satire of contemporary relationships." Vanessa Farquharson drew comparisons to Annie Hall with the "obsessive-compulsive male and frustrated, fey female lead". Katherine Monk of the Vancouver Sun gave the film a rating of 3 stars out of 5, calling it "highly believable", and wrote that the actors "sell every line". Susan Walker of the Toronto Star called the film a "smart script driving some intense performances." Erin Oke of Exclaim! wrote that the film "offers nothing new or interesting to the genre" and called the characters "almost impossible to care about". References There's nothing really romantic about it Farquharson Vanessa 21 May 2004 National Post Toronto, Ontario PM2 330343775 19 Months Eisner Ken 16 October 2002 Variety 389 2 26–27 https://variety.com/2002/film/reviews/19-months-1200545414/ 19 November 2022 236224227 '19 Months' airs search for a better breakup Eisner Ken 20 May 2004 The Georgia Straight Overstory Media Group Vancouver, British Columbia https://www.straight.com/article/19-months-airs-search-for-a-better-breakup# 27 May 2026 19 Months Banks Wendy Now Toronto, Ontario https://nowtoronto.com/cgi-bin/film/film.cgi?film=2912 19 November 2022 25 May 2005 https://web.archive.org/web/20050525021417/https://nowtoronto.com/cgi-bin/film/film.cgi?film=2912 dead Wicked freshness to comic romance: Childish behaviour rises like bubbles in a swamp Monk Katherine 21 May 2004 Vancouver Sun D3 https://www.proquest.com/docview/242345082/ Breakup flick holds together despite its cheap-date budget Walker Susan 21 May 2004 Toronto Star D04 438701084 Rita Zekas When a couple exceeds their best before date 21 May 2004 Toronto Star D05 438699887 19 Months Oke Erin May 2004 Exclaim! https://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=5&fid1=1930&csid1=58 19 November 2022 24 May 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070524183406/https://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid2=5&fid1=1930&csid1=58 dead External links Category:2002 films Category:Canadian mockumentary films Category:2000s mockumentary films Category:Films directed by Randall Cole Category:2002 Canadian films Category:English-language Canadian films