My Blueberry Nights
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Wong Kar-wai |
| Products | Romantic drama film |
My Blueberry Nights is a 2007 romantic drama film marking director Wong Kar-wai's debut in English-language cinema. The script, co-written by Wong and Lawrence Block, draws inspiration from a Chinese-language short film created by Wong himself. The cast features Norah Jones in her first acting role, alongside Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz, and Natalie Portman.
Plot
Jeremy, a Manchester émigré, runs a modest café in New York City. He discreetly informs his customer Elizabeth about her boyfriend's unfaithfulness. Heartbroken, Elizabeth ends the relationship and becomes a frequent visitor at the café, bonding with Jeremy over blueberry pie and shared stories. After both endure separate assaults one evening, Elizabeth falls asleep at the counter; Jeremy gently kisses her as she sleeps, which she subtly reciprocates. Later, Elizabeth observes her former boyfriend and his new partner through their apartment window.
Taking on the name Lizzie, Elizabeth relocates to Memphis, Tennessee, where she works as a waitress during the day and bartender at night to save money for a car. She regularly sends postcards to Jeremy but keeps her whereabouts undisclosed. Jeremy attempts to locate her by reaching out to local eateries but is unsuccessful.
Among the regulars is Arnie Copeland, a police officer struggling with alcoholism and unable to come to terms with his wife Sue Lynne's departure. Sue Lynne openly displays her new relationship, intensifying Arnie's anguish. He shares his AA sobriety tokens with Elizabeth and recounts his personal battles.
One evening off duty, Arnie drunkenly threatens Sue Lynne with a firearm but refrains from shooting. Subsequently, he dies in a drunk-driving accident. Elizabeth consoles Sue Lynne at the crash scene, suggesting that Arnie may have taken his own life. Before leaving Memphis, Sue Lynne entrusts Elizabeth with Arnie's bar tab money, admitting she still misses him.
Heading westward, Elizabeth—now going by Beth—finds employment at a casino in Nevada. She meets Leslie, an avid poker player who had borrowed $2,200 from Elizabeth with the agreement that Leslie would repay either through winnings or by handing over her Jaguar XK if she lost. Leslie loses the game and surrenders the car but requests a ride to Las Vegas to visit her estranged father.
Leslie learns that her father was hospitalized but discovers he passed away the previous night. She retains ownership of the car, which she had initially stolen but now legally possesses through title and registration documents sent by her father’s estate. Leslie reveals she actually won the poker game and assists Elizabeth in negotiating the purchase of her dream vehicle.
Elizabeth eventually returns to Jeremy’s café in Manhattan, where he has saved a stool for her since her departure. Sharing blueberry pie once more, they acknowledge their mutual affection. When Elizabeth falls asleep at the counter during their conversation, Jeremy kisses her again; this time she fully returns the kiss.
Development
My Blueberry Nights stemmed from Wong Kar-wai's initial concept for an anthology titled Three Stories About Food. One segment evolved into In the Mood for Love (2000), while another short film titled In the Mood for Love 2001 served as the foundation for My Blueberry Nights. To reduce expenses, Wong expanded this chapter into a road movie set beyond New York City and decided to produce it in 2005 after postponing another project.
Pre-production
The team undertook three scouting trips across the United States, with cinematographer Darius Khondji and Wong capturing a wide array of photographs featuring diners, highways, and motels. Ely, Nevada, located along U.S. Route 50, was ultimately chosen as a primary filming site, including notable locations such as the Hotel Nevada and the Liberty Club bar. Memphis, Tennessee, was selected instead of New Orleans due to logistical considerations.
Despite her lack of prior acting experience, singer Norah Jones was cast by Wong in the role of Elizabeth, whom he described as "a natural," recommending she avoid formal acting training. For the poker sequences, poker specialist Peter Alson provided coaching to Natalie Portman.
Filming
Production commenced in New York on June 21, 2006, before relocating to Ely by June 27. Peter Alson remained with the crew to offer guidance during the poker scenes. In Ely, filming took place at the Hotel Nevada and a bar chosen at the last minute for its appropriate size.
Since Ely lacked suitable venues for poker scenes, these were shot in a specially constructed poker room within the Art Bar in downtown Las Vegas. Filming at this location spanned one week and included sequences featuring both Jones and Portman. Additional Las Vegas shoots occurred along East Fremont Street, incorporating settings such as a diner, car dealership, medical clinic, and motels. Scenes were also captured at Desert Springs Hospital.
Memphis filming sessions took place from July 17 to 21 at Blues City Café and Arcade Restaurant; this portion served as an homage to Tennessee Williams. Scheduling adjustments were made due to Rachel Weisz’s pregnancy, with Memphis scenes filmed last to allow her time for recovery. Wong frequently modified and expanded the script during production; Jude Law described it as "a living story."
Primary New York filming resumed in August 2006 at Palacinka café in SoHo, including a kissing scene between Law and Jones that required 150 takes over three days. Law commended Wong’s intense attention to detail in capturing moments.
After seven weeks of shooting, principal photography concluded. Wong returned to Hong Kong in September 2006 with most footage completed. In November 2006, The Weinstein Company secured U.S. distribution rights while Wong and William Chang began editing. Although additional winter shooting was considered, Wong awaited the initial cut before finalizing the film’s ending.
Release
The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2007, preceded by David Lynch’s short film Absurda as an opening feature. Subsequent screenings occurred at festivals including Hamburg, Valladolid International Film Festival, and Munich Asia Filmfest before a limited theatrical release in Canada on November 16. It then opened throughout Europe and Asia prior to a U.S. release on six screens on April 4, 2008, featuring a slightly shortened version compared to its 2007 premiere.
Home media
On July 1, 2008, The Weinstein Company issued the film on DVD in the United States. While it has not been released on Blu-ray domestically, it first appeared on Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2008 (Region B locked). This was followed by a Region-free Blu-ray release in Japan on September 29, 2008, which included additional DVD bonus features.
Box office
During its opening weekend in the U.S., the film grossed $74,146 across six theaters, ranking number 43 at the box office. It accumulated $867,275 domestically and earned $21,140,396 internationally for a worldwide total of $22,007,671.
Critical reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, My Blueberry Nights has garnered a 45% approval rating derived from 130 critiques, with an average rating of 5.4 out of 10; the general consensus highlights compelling performances but notes a lack of depth in the storyline. According to Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average score of 52 based on 27 reviews, reflecting mixed or average feedback.
Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle commended the film for its succinct narrative and powerful acting, emphasizing Wong's purposeful directing style. Meghan Keane of the New York Sun recognized Wong Kar Wai's expertise in crafting relationship dramas but critiqued his first American feature for its detached depiction of American culture, prioritizing visual style over coherent storytelling.
In Hong Kong, opinions varied; Perry Lam writing for Muse Magazine viewed it as a less impactful piece compared to Wong’s earlier work, Chungking Express.
Awards and nominations
Wong Kar Wai earned a nomination for the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was also shortlisted for Best Foreign Film by Spain’s Cinema Writers Circle Awards.
|- | 2007 || Wong Kar Wai || Palme d'Or || nominated |-
|- | 2009 || My Blueberry Nights || Best Foreign Film || nominated |}
Soundtrack
Released through Blue Note Records, the soundtrack features performances from prominent musicians including actress and singer Norah Jones, Cat Power, Ry Cooder, Academy Award-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla, Otis Redding, Cassandra Wilson, and Amos Lee.
- "The Story" – Norah Jones – 4:10
- "Living Proof" – Cat Power – 3:10
- "Ely Nevada" – Ry Cooder – 2:31
- "Try a Little Tenderness" – Otis Redding – 3:19
- "Looking Back" – Ruth Brown – 4:16
- "Long Ride" – Ry Cooder – 3:13
- "Eyes on the Prize" – Mavis Staples – 4:06
- "Yumeji's Theme" – Chikara Tsuzuki – 2:22
- "Skipping Stone" – Amos Lee – 2:21
- "Bus Ride" – Ry Cooder – 2:58
- "Harvest Moon" (Neil Young) – Cassandra Wilson – 4:44
- "Devil's Highway" – Hello Stranger – 5:34
- "Pajaros" – Gustavo Santaolalla – 2:22
- "The Greatest" – Cat Power – 3:24