Taglines: Life can change in a heartbeat.
Adapted from Elinor Lipman’s novel of the same name, Helen Hunt makes her feature directing debut with “Then She Found Me,” a touching story of schoolteacher April Epner (Helen Hunt) and her very unlikely path towards personal fulfillment.
Following the separation from her husband (Matthew Broderick) and the death of her adopted mother, April is contacted by her apparent birth month (Bette Midler), who turns out to be a local talk show host Bernice Graves. As Bernice tries to become the mother to April that she was never able to be, April seems to find solace in the arms of the parent of one of her students (Colin Firth), only to find that the mystery to life’s questions cannot be solved by a simple revelation.
Then She Found Me is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Helen Hunt. The screenplay by Hunt, Alice Arlen, and Victor Levin is very loosely based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Elinor Lipman. The film marked Hunt’s feature film directorial debut. Helen Hunt was presented with the Audience Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Rogue Award at the Ashland Independent Film Festival.
About the Story
Deeply religious April Epner, a 39-year-old Brooklyn elementary school teacher, finds her life derailed by a series of events over which she has no control. Her husband Ben abruptly leaves her, her abrasive adoptive mother Trudy passes away the following day, and shortly after she is contacted by Alan, a representative of Bernice Graves, the flamboyant host of a local talk show, who introduces herself as her biological mother.
Although intrigued by Bernice’s claim she was fathered by Steve McQueen, April initially resists her efforts to forge a relationship. At the same time, she finds herself attracted to Frank, the divorced father of one of her students, as the two get to know each other via lengthy telephone conversations. For their first date he escorts her to a party at Bernice’s apartment.
Complications arise when April discovers she is pregnant, the result of a quick and clumsy coupling with Ben on the kitchen floor just before he left her. April has longed to have a child all her life and is delighted with the news, but is confused and upset by Ben’s sudden return, Frank’s hasty departure (when he discovers April and Ben had a ‘quickie’ after visiting the gynecologist), and Bernice’s insistent attempts to create a bond between them. Not helping the situation is the discovery Bernice voluntarily put her up for adoption a full year after her birth and not three days later at the urging of her parents, according to the scenario she initially presented.
About the Production
In a bonus feature included with the DVD release of the film, Helen Hunt discusses her ten-year-long journey to get Elinor Lipman’s novel to the screen. After first reading it she tried to interest numerous studios in the material, and her unsuccessful efforts led her to begin writing the screenplay and raising funds to produce it herself.
Longtime friend Matthew Broderick agreed to play the relatively small role of Ben for scale, and his commitment inspired Hunt to approach Bette Midler and Colin Firth, who were impressed by her passion for the project and agreed to work for minimum pay as well. Although she originally did not intend to portray April, Hunt decided casting herself in the role ultimately would lighten her work load as a director since she would have one less performance to help mould.
The film was shot on location in Brooklyn, including the waterfront community of Gerritsen Beach, and Manhattan. Interiors were filmed at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The film’s soundtrack includes “For You” by Duncan Sheik, “In The Red” by Tina Dickow, “I’ll Say I’m Sorry Now” by Shawn Colvin, “Naked As We Came” by Iron & Wine, and “Cool, Clear Water” by Bonnie Raitt.
The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, and was then shown at numerous 2008 film festivals, including the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the Portland International Film Festival, the Boulder International Film Festival, the Cleveland International Film Festival, South by Southwest, and the Ashland Independent Film Festival.
On April 25, 2008 it opened in nine theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, followed by a limited US release in 63 other theaters around the US on May 2, 2008. It earned $72,594 on nine screens on its opening weekend and eventually grossed $3,735,717 in the US and $4,697,331 in foreign markets, for a total worldwide box office of $8,433,048.
Then She Found Me (2008)
Directed by: Helen Hunt
Starring: Helen Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth, Matthew Broderick, Ben Shankman, Lynn Cohen, Lillias White, Daisy Tahan, Stephanie Yankwitt, Salman Rushdie, Robert LuPone
Screenplay by: Helen Hunt, Vic Levin, Alice Arlen
Production Design by: Stephen Beatrice
Cinematography by: Peter Donahue
Film Editing by: Pam Wise
Costume Design by: Donna Zakowska
Set Decoration by: Cristina Casanas
Music by: David Mansfield
MPAA Rating: R for language and some sexual content.
Distributed by: THINKFilm
Release Date: April 25, 2008
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