
Birth
2004, Mystery & thriller/Drama, 1h 40m
146 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A well-mounted production is undermined by a muddled, absurd storyline of questionable taste. Read critic reviews
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Where to watch
Birth Photos
Movie Info
It took Anna (Nicole Kidman) 10 years to recover from the death of her husband, Sean, but now she's on the verge of marrying her boyfriend, Joseph (Danny Huston), and finally moving on. However, on the night of her engagement party, a young boy named Sean (Cameron Bright) turns up, saying he is her dead husband reincarnated. At first she ignores the child, but his knowledge of her former husband's life is uncanny, leading her to believe that he might be telling the truth.
Cast & Crew
Nicole Kidman
Anna
Anna
Cameron Bright
Young Boy, Sean
Young Boy, Sean
Danny Huston
Joseph
Joseph
Lauren Bacall
Eleanor
Eleanor
Alison Elliott
Laura
Laura
Arliss Howard
Bob
Bob
Critic Reviews for Birth
Audience Reviews for Birth
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Nov 03, 2011The very first scene (A flashback) shows a a man running through Central Park, New York who dies of a heartattack. Who is this person? Jump to the present and a woman is seen standing at a gravesite in mourning. The woman's name is Anna played by Nicole Kidman. Her husband, the one who died at Central Park, is Sean. Anna is going to be married to another man and yet there is a third character, a child actually who claims he is Anna's first husband Sean. The child is also named Sean (Cameron Bright) shows up at Anna's house unexpectedly and breaks out the news. Anna at first doesn't believe him but later does when the young Sean collapses. "Birth" is an intelligent and intriguing picture. I am not sure if the film wants the audience to believe in reincarnations and such but does so with maturity. The performances is all first rate from Nicole Kidman (her best since Eyes Wide Shut), Danny Houston, Lauren Becall, and Cameron Bright. The director Jonathan Glazer uses tight close-ups and slow dolly shots for the audience to get into the minds of Anna and the young Sean. The look of the film is done beautifully and yet quietly creepy by Harris Savides. The interiors is posh and wealthy (something i'm not even accustomed too) but with every wealthy interior lies dread or gloom. Im puzzled why a lot of people didn't like this? Maybe they just don't like dark pictures that carry some sort of spiritual texture?Brian R Super Reviewer
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Sep 04, 2011Birth is a beautiful and provocative story of love, death and irrationality. Haunting and lingering performances from Nicole Kidman and young Cameron Bright. Birth is the story of a young boy who claims to be the re-incarnation of the husband of a woman about to remarry after 10 years. Itâ(TM)s an eerie and elegant psychological film brilliantly crafted and paced by director Jonathan Glazer. I tend to think, if you ever been truly in love youâ(TM)ll find Birth less offensive and more emotionally riveting.Jasen L Super Reviewer
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Jun 02, 2011I feel like there's something missing here....anyway, I fucking love Desplat's amazing scores.Cita W Super Reviewer
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Nov 01, 2009I initially dismissed this as pretentious tripe, watching "Birth" again softened my view considerably and I rather like it. Still pretentious, but I have a better sense of what Glazer is trying to say about the American aristocracy (that they are shallow, empty morons) and that the film is less of a mystery centered on the possibility that this boy is the reincarnated soul of the dead husband, and more about how we assign identity . . . both to ourselves and to others. This might also be Kidman's best performance.Alec B Super Reviewer
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