Apartment Zero (1988)

Director:

Martin Donovan

Writers:

Martin Donovan (story)
Martin Donovan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 September 1989 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Set in modern day Buenos Aires, the film centers around a relationship between two emotionally crippled roommates...

Plot Keywords:

Roommate | Mercenary | Serial Killer | Deceit | Insanity

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Hart Bochner	...	Jack Carney
Colin Firth	...	Adrian LeDuc
Dora Bryan	...	Margaret McKinney
Liz Smith	...	Mary Louise McKinney
Fabrizio Bentivoglio	...	Carlos Sanchez-Verne
James Telfer	...	Vanessa
Mirella D'Angelo	...	Laura Werpachowsky
Juan Vitali	...	Alberto Werpachowsky
Cipe Lincovsky	...	Mrs. Treniev
Francesca d'Aloja	...	Claudia
Miguel Ligero	...	Mr. Palma
Elvia Andreoli	...	Adrian's Mother
Marikena Monti	...	Tango Singer
Luis Romero	...	Projectionist
Oca Spirito	...	Woman in Cinema 1

Also Known As:

Conviviendo con la muerte (Argentina)

Runtime:

124 min | USA:117 min (DVD)

Country:

UK | Argentina

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Producers Representative Organization

Trivia:

Liz Smith was cast at short notice after the original cast performer withdrew because of illness.

Quotes:

Jack Carney: [after breaking a dead woman's back] I should have been a chiropractor.

Movie Connections:

References The Godfather (1972)

Soundtrack:

Cambalache

A film to be experienced

I'm in the middle of a Martin Donovan marathon. I've seen "Apartment Zero" at least once a year for the last 14 years and every time, it changes, surprises you. I can't say that about many other films, Repulsion, Odd Man Out and very few others. What makes this film unique is that it doesn't try to make it easy for you. All of the gems that it offers have to be earned. Colin Firth, is simply monumental. The faces of his performance are endless. Look at the way he smiles, as if he didn't know how to. How he walks, as if his limbs had independent life. The world the film explores is filled with trap doors if you fall into the wrong one you're going to hate the experience, like a bad trip. But if you manage to get through the right one, the pleasures are infinite.