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The Air I Breathe

5.8

5,257

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Original title

The Air I Breathe

Year

2007

Running time

97 min.

Country

United States

Director

Jieho Lee

Screenwriter

Jieho Lee, Bob DeRosa

Cast

Music

Marcelo Zarvos

Cinematography

Walt Lloyd

Producer

Co-production United States-Mexico;

THINKFilm, NALA Films

Genre

Drama. Romance. Thriller | Crime. Independent Film (US). Ensemble Film

Synopsis

A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman (Whitaker) bets his life on a horse race; a gangster (Fraser) sees the future; a pop star (Gellar) falls prey to a crime boss (Garcia); a doctor (Bacon) must save the love of his life.

The Air I Breathe is told in four short fables, each built around a character who embodies one of these key emotions. In Happiness, a timid banker who impulsively bets every cent he has, and then some, on a supposedly “sure thing.” In “Sorrow,” a rising pop star whose contract falls under the control of a ruthless crime boss, and his corrupt nephew. In “Pleasure,” a man who can see into the future of everyone he meets, but is totally blind when it comes to his own; and in “Love,” a doctor who pines for a woman he can never possess, only to find that he suddenly holds her life in his hands. Though each of the characters believes that his or her life is governed by hazard and chance, their unbridled emotions, impulsive choices, and reckless moves all prove one universal truth: character is destiny, and each of us makes our own fate.

Critics' reviews

"An ingenious contraption that holds your attention for as long as it whirs and clicks like a mechanized Rubik’s Cube. After it’s over, however, you may find yourself scratching your head and wondering if there was any purpose to this sleek little gizmo."

Stephen Holden: The New York Times
"An attempt at fusing the styles of Robert Altman and Quentin Tarantino. (...) Each story has its moments, but 'Air' lacks an overarching vision. (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 4)"

Claudia Puig: USA Today
"Situations get increasingly ridiculous, and none of the characters ever seems like anything but a screenwriter’s sketch."

Kyle Smith: New York Post
"A poor addition to a cycle of movies in which a succession of people (played by well-known actors) is linked by coincidence or perverse destiny"

Philip French: The Guardian
"Thanks to a lively plot and a strong cast, it's not an unpleasant watch, just a disposable one (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"

Anna Smith: Empire

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User history

The Air I Breathe

2007

Jieho Lee

5.8

(5,257)