Cold Souls

In Cinemas: 26/11/2009 Watch Cold Souls trailer Other Links

In response to shiny, bigger, better American consumerism comes COLD SOULS, a surreal comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities. Balancing on a tightrope between deadpan humor and pathos, and reality and fantasy, the film presents Paul Giamatti as himself, agonizing over his interpretation of Uncle Vanya. Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via a New Yorker article about a high-tech company promising to alleviate suffering by extracting souls. Giamatti enlists their service only to discover that his soul is the shape and size of a chickpea. His intention is to reinstate it once he survives the performance but complications ensue when a mysterious, soul-trafficking "mule" borrows Giamatti's stored soul for an ambitious, but unfortunately talentless, Russian soap-opera actress.

Release Date: 26/11/2009
Languages: English
Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction

Starring
Paul Giamatti (AMERICAN SPLENDOR, SIDEWAYS)
Davd Strathairn (GOODNIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, LA CONFIDENTIAL)
Emily Watson (BREAKING THE WAVES, PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE)
Lauren Ambrose (SIX FEET UNDER, CAN’T HARDLY WAIT)

"Smart and funny, it's an amusing showcase for a great idea and the terrific Giamatti." Michael Adams, EMPIRE

"There's added appeal thanks to Barthes' silly but fun film via the outstanding cinematography by her collaborator, Andrij Parekh, whose arty lighting and careful framing make the film a visual treat. And there's also Giamatti, wonderful in whatever he's playing." COURIER MAIL

"It's so beautifully detailed and so cleverly realised that you smile and go on smiling for days afterwards as yet another nuance occurs to you. It's a film not easily forgotten." Sandra Hall, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

1/2 "dark-tinged humour and clever concepts, is the trip offered by this soul train." Ben McEachen, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

"COLD SOULS is an outrageously funny film, but one that gives you pause for thought at the whole concept of living a life without soul." Priscella Engall, DRUM MEDIA