Flirt

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

80%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 10

72%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 718
User image

Flirt Photos

View All Photos (1)

Movie Info

This episodic, internationally-produced drama from filmmaker Hal Hartley offers three variations on a singular theme: the romantic dilemma faced by a flirtatious lover when his primary partner begins asking for a real commitment. The first introduces the basic tale. Set in New York in early 1993, this segment was pared down from a 23-minute short film. Bill stands at a pay phone; his lover Emily is in her apartment trying to persuade him to commit to her before she leaves for Paris because she has just received a marriage proposal from another. Eventually he agrees to have made his decision by the time he picks her up for the ride to the airport. While on the phone with her, he flirts shamelessly with a beautiful girl. Afterward, he calls Margaret, his other lover, and asks her the same questions Emily asked him. Later a good friend warns Bill that Margaret has just split up with her husband and another counsels him that Margaret is poison. Utterly confused, Bill visits a public restroom and begins talking to himself. Much to his surprise, three bums, in Greek chorus fashion, advise him. A little freaked, Bill heads for a bar and finds Margaret's disconsolate husband who is drinking himself blind in preparation to shoot himself. The men talk and Bill is accidentally shot. Later he lies in a hospital dreaming of women. As he does, he finally realizes what he must do. The second variation is set in 1944 Berlin and retells the same story, using the same dialog, with homosexuals playing the major roles. The third tale is set in Tokyo, 1995 during the rehearsal of a butoh mime troupe. All wear heavy white make-up and billowy clothing. This variation is freer than the others, but the story remains much the same.

Watch it now

Cast

Parker Posey
as Emily
Martin Donovan
as Walter
Bill Sage
as Bill
Dwight Ewell
as Dwight
Dominik Bender
as Johan
Miho Nikaido
as Miho
Geno Lechner
as Greta
Toshizo Fujiwara
as Ozu
Peter Fitz
as The Doctor
Elina Löwensohn
as The Nurse
Miho Nikaidoh
as Miho
Toshizo Fujisawa
as Ozu
Chikako Hara
as Yuki
Hal Hartley
as Hal
Maria Schrader
as Woman at Bar
Liana Pai
as Woman at Phone Booth
Kumiko Ishizuka
as Naomi, Miho's Friend
Michael Imperioli
as Michael, Bill's Friend
Holt McCallany
as Bartender
Karen Sillas
as Dr. Clint
Erica Gimpel
as Nurse
Lianna Pai
as Woman at Phone Booth
Hannah Sullivan
as Trish the Waitress
Harold Perrineau
as Men's Room Man No. 1
Lianna Pal
as [Uncredited]
Harold Perriman
as [Uncredited]
Robert John Burke
as Men's Room Man No. 2
Paul Austin
as Men's Room Man No. 3
Paul Schultze
as [Uncredited]
José Zúñiga
as Cab Driver
Patricia Scanlon
as Woman at Bar
Susanna Simon
as Elisabeth, Dwight's Friend
Jorg Biesler
as [Uncredited]
Boris Aljinovic
as Fashion Stylist
Nils Brück
as [Uncredited]
Sebastian Koch
as Dick
Frank Schendler
as Harry
Jacob Klaffke
as [Uncredited]
Hans Martin Stier
as Boris, Laborer No. 1
Lars Rudolph
as Peter, Laborer No. 2
Jorg Biester
as Mike, Laborer No. 3
Gerhard Severin
as Mac the Bartender
Sabine Svoboda
as Barkeeper
Susie Bick
as Model
Amina Gusner
as Photographer
Stefan Kolosko
as Assistant
Jakob Klaffke
as Werner
Joy Kraft
as Greta's Daughter
Bano Dost
as Neighbor
Hasan Ali Mete
as Man
Junji Iljima
as [Uncredited]
Meikyoh Yamada
as Mochi the Policeman
Mansaku Ikeuchi
as Tomo the Younger Policeman
Yutaka Matsushige
as Doctor
Mansaku Ikouchi
as [Uncredited]
Tomoko Fujita
as Nurse
Eri Yu
as Kazuko, Jailbird No. 1
Yuri Aso
as Shoko, Jailbird No. 2
Natsumi Mitzuno
as [Uncredited]
Natsumi Mizuno
as Narumi, Jailbird No. 3
Masatoshi Nagaso
as [Uncredited]
Masatoshi Nagase
as Hal's Assistant
Totsuya Tahata
as [Uncredited]
Tetsuya Tabata
as Dancer
Meikyo Yamada
as [Uncredited]
Hirofumi Nakagawa
as Dancer
Morito Ikeda
as Dancer
Kenji Yamaguchi
as Dancer
Junji Iijima
as Dancer
Tetsushi Yamazaki
as Dancer
View All

Critic Reviews for Flirt

All Critics (10) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (2)

View All Critic Reviews (10)

Audience Reviews for Flirt

  • Apr 05, 2014
    Not my favourite Hal Hartley, but interesting.
    Nicki M Super Reviewer
  • Jun 17, 2008
    Another Hal Hartley gem.
    Anthony V Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Flirt Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features