9 Songs (2005)
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A couple's intense relationship is explored through a series of musical performances and intimate encounters.
The story
After meeting at a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gig, Matt and Lisa, an exchange student, begin a relationship. Matt narrates their journey from the future while he is a climatologist in Antarctica. The narrative follows their interactions across various musical events and intimate moments, as they navigate a connection defined by shared experiences and physical intimacy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Matt and Lisa meet at a concert and begin a relationship characterized by frequent sexual encounters and shared musical experiences. The narrative follows them through several concerts by bands like The Von Bondies, Elbow, and Primal Scream. They spend time in a cottage, go clubbing, and visit a strip club. Their relationship fluctuates, becoming distant after a trip to a strip club. Later, they reconcile and have sex again before Lisa tells Matt she is returning to America. The film concludes with a jump forward in time to Matt in Antarctica, followed by a final performance by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 70
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Winterbottom
- Writers
- Michael Winterbottom · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kieran O'Brien · Matt; Margo Stilley · Lisa
- Genres
- erotic art film; romantic drama
- Themes
- sexuality; relationship
- Tone and mood
- art house; explicit
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; romance
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its artistic use of sex as a metaphor for the relationship, while others criticized it as an exercise in style over content.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 43 · scale: 100 · review count: 29
- Production trivia
- The film was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival.; The title refers to nine songs played by eight rock bands.; It was the most explicit mainstream film to be so rated in the UK.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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