A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.A hearing impaired factory worker gives up her first holiday in years and instead travels out to an oil rig, where she cares for a man suffering from severe burns.
- Awards
- 25 wins & 15 nominations total
- Dimitri
- (as Sverre Ousdal)
- Liam
- (as Dean Lenox Kelly)
- Child
- (as Joshua Milligan)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe contact lenses damaged Tim Robbins' eyes. An ophthalmologist has required on set for a few days to supervise because Robbins refused to take them off while shooting.
- GoofsIf an employee requires medical treatment on an off-shore installation he would immediately be evacuated off.
- Quotes
Josef: I thought um, you and I, maybe we could go away somewhere. Together. One of these days. Today. Right now. Come with me.
Hanna: No, I don't think that's going to be possible.
Josef: Why not?
Hanna: Um, because I think that if we go away to someplace together, I'm afraid that, ah, one day, maybe not today, maybe, maybe not tomorrow either, but one day suddenly, I may begin to cry and cry so very much that nothing or nobody can stop me and the tears will fill the room and I won't be able to breath and I will pull you down with me and we'll both drown.
Josef: I'll learn how to swim, Hanna. I swear, I'll learn how to swim.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Mr. Nobody (2009)
"The Secret Life of Words" is the contemplative, poignant story of a young hearing impaired woman (Polley), who takes care of a man (Tim Robbins) who suffered severe burns in an accident on an oil rig. The accident made him blind for a while, and though he can't even see her, they develop an unlikely emotional bond. Polley and Robbins deliver some of their best performances; the supporting cast (Javier Cámara, Daniel Mays and Julie Christie, among others) is also top-notch. Coixet's sensitive, multi-layered script/directing, plus the excellent cinematography and soundtrack, help make the enterprise so powerful and absorbing. For those who like human stories, this one shouldn't be missed. Coixet is currently filming "Elegy", with Ben Kingsley, Penélope Cruz and Peter Sarsgaard - I'm looking forward to whatever comes next from her, and that one looks quite promising!
My vote: 10/10.
- Benedict_Cumberbatch
- Jun 12, 2007
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- La vida secreta de las palabras
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $5,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $20,678
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,309
- Dec 17, 2006
- Gross worldwide
- $6,410,058
- Runtime1 hour 55 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1