The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them
Short description
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them follows Eleanor and Conor, a married couple living in Manhattan whose relationship is upended by a tragic loss. Eleanor, a university student, and Conor, who runs a small restaurant, had built a private world together despite the disapproval of her academic and musical family and the indifference of his father. After the tragedy, the two respond in opposite ways: Eleanor withdraws and eventually disappears, while Conor is left trying to hold together what remains of their life together. Friends and relatives push both of them toward new beginnings as they struggle to understand each other and themselves.
The film is written and directed by Ned Benson and is the combined theatrical version of the two separate volumes, Him and Her, that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, presenting the story from both partners' perspectives in a single narrative. Jessica Chastain plays Eleanor and James McAvoy plays Conor, with supporting turns from Viola Davis, Bill Hader, Isabelle Huppert and Ciarán Hinds, among a credited cast of 26. Chastain and Benson also served as producers alongside Cassandra Kulukundis.
Made for about 3 million USD, it earned roughly 1 million USD worldwide. It holds a 6.3/10 on IMDb from around 14,000 votes and a 6.1/10 on TMDB from over 300 votes, with critics' ratings similarly in the mid-range at 6.3/10 from 89 reviews. The film was Benson's first feature as director; his next came a decade later with The Greatest Hits.
What's left behind the scenes
- To star in this film, Jessica Chastain turned down a role in Shane Black’s action film “Iron Man 3” (2013).
- Director Ned Benson initially wanted to make Eleanor Rigby's role less significant, to give the character an air of mystery. Jessica Chastain, however, read the script and stated that she wanted to know more about her character. Benson had to significantly expand Rigby's role.
- The film's title is a reference to The Beatles' song "Eleanor Rigby" (1966).
- The project was filmed as a two-part film – a story about the couple played by James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain from his point of view and separately – from hers. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013. The film received positive reviews, but the director and screenwriter Ned Benson returned to the editing, combined both parts into one, and showed the result at the Cannes Film Festival. Both versions of the project (in two films and in one) were released widely.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
