Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, The: Dissection of Marriage

This ambitious feature debut from writer-director Ned Benson, who’s a graduate of Columbia University, tries to capture a more comprehensive potraiture of a relationship based love, empathy, and truth by showing two POVs.

The script (that made the coveted Black List) is actually two feature-length films. shown back-to-back, subtitled “Him” and “Her,” respectively.

“Eleanor Rigby” benefits from a strong cast, headed by Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy, and supported by Bill Hader and Gallic icon Isabelle Huppert.

Once happily married, Conor (McAvoy) and Eleanor (Chastain), suddenly find themselves as strangers longing to understand each other in the wake of tragedy.

The film opens a window into the subjectivity of relationships by exploring both sides of one couple’s story as they try to reclaim the life and love that they once knew and enjoyed.

The Weinstein Company, which acquired it after its showing at last year’s Toronto Film Fest, is releasing the film on September 12. 

It was originally shot as two films, with a running time of over 3 hours, but audiences will first see a combined edit, which is dubbed Them.  The full 201-minute Him/Her will be out on October 10.

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‘It was like I played two different characters,” says Chastain, who also produced. ”In Conor’s film, I play his perception of Eleanor, and in my film, I play Eleanor.’

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While the two-hour Them stands on its own, she says, ”if you want to go deeper, you have that chance.”

Release: Septmber 12, 2014

Rated: R

Running time: 119 Minutes

Cast:

Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, William Hurt, Viola Davis, Isabelle Huppert, Ciarán Hinds, Bill Hader, Nina Arianda, Jess Weixler