Elegy (2008): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Elegy is a 2008 romantic drama directed by Isabel Coixet, starring Ben Kingsley, Penélope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson. It is partly based on The Dying Animal by Philip Roth. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $14.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Isabel Coixet
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Samuel Goldwyn Company, The
- Based on
- The Dying Animal by Philip Roth
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Elegy About?
The premise of Elegy without spoilers, adapted from The Dying Animal by Philip Roth. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A celebrated professor finds his life irrevocably altered by a passionate and intense relationship with a younger woman. Their connection deepens, profoundly changing them both as they navigate the complexities of love and desire. The film explores the powerful influence beauty can exert, examining its ability to both captivate and challenge, ultimately leading to personal transformation and a search for redemption.
Elegy Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- sex
- sexual attraction
- breasts
- narrated by character
- breast cancer
- cancer
- female nudity
- fear of commitment
- fear of death
- flash forward
- loneliness
- flashback
+38 more Show fewer
- watching tv
- f rated
- older man younger woman romance
- older man younger woman affair
- male teacher female student affair
- male teacher female student sex
- male teacher female student kiss
- male teacher female student relationship
- female topless nudity
- hairy chested male
- smoking after sex
- stage play
- father son estrangement
- reference to a threesome
- female rear nudity
- cuban woman
- medical doctor
- graduation party
- reference to menstruation
- striptease
- oncology
- bare chested male
- female director
- female filmmaker
- student
- psychological drama
- tragic romance
- tearjerker romance
- friend
- photographer
- professor
- poet
- critic
- piano
- hedonism
- older man younger woman sex
- vomiting
- talking about sex
Elegy Cast
Ben Kingsley leads the cast, with Penélope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson. Directed by Isabel Coixet.
-
Director Isabel Coixet
More from Isabel Coixet
More films directed by Isabel Coixet, best-rated first: Another Me, The Secret Life of Words, The Bookshop and My Life Without Me.
Elegy Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Elegy 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
-
IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 74% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 61%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 66 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 63% User score
See on TMDB
Elegy Plot Summary
What happens in Elegy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
David Kepesh, portrayed by Ben Kingsley, is a once-married critic and professor approaching his later years, embodying a state he calls “emancipated manhood.” With a son who holds a grudge for his abandonment of his mother, David navigates various fleeting and sexual relationships. His close friend, George O’Hearn (played by Dennis Hopper), offers him a unique proposal: to compartmentalize his life by engaging in conversation and art with a wife while reserving sex for other encounters.
Full summary
The whole story of Elegy, scene by scene
Elegy Box Office
Elegy grossed $14.9 million worldwide. $3.6 million came from the US and Canada and $11.3 million (76%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$14.9M
- US & Canada
- $3.6M
- International
- $11.3M
Elegy Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Elegy.
How Well Do You Know Elegy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the character David Kepesh?
Cars in Elegy
12 cars on screen, including the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria and the 1996 SAAB 900.
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2001 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role -
1996 SAAB 900 Minor role -
BMW 3 Cabrio E46 Background role -
2005 Chrysler 300 Background role
Elegy Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Elégia” and “Kauneuden valta”.
- Also known as
-
- Elégia
- Kauneuden valta
- 엘레지
- Elegy oder die Kunst zu lieben
- Aşkın Peşinde
- Lovers
- Fatal
- Lezioni d'amore
- 挽歌
- Elegia
- พิษรัก พิศวาส
- Элегия
+11 more Show fewer
- Umírající zvíře
- Elegy - Skönhetens makt
- Ελεγεία Ενός Έρωτα
- חולשה ליופי
- Елегия
- エレジー
- Elēģija
- Елегія
- 禁慾
- Elegija
- La elegida
Seen Elegy?
Movies Like Elegy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Elegy of the North, Ecstasy and Feast of Love.
Elegy FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Elegy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Elegy?
Elegy runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was Elegy released?
Elegy was released on August 8, 2008.
Who directed Elegy?
Elegy was directed by Isabel Coixet.
More films by Isabel Coixet Who is in the cast of Elegy?
Elegy stars Ben Kingsley, Penélope Cruz and Patricia Clarkson.
How much did Elegy make at the box office?
Elegy grossed $14.9 million worldwide ($3.6 million domestic, $11.3 million international).
How is Elegy rated?
Elegy has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.
Is Elegy based on a book?
Yes. Elegy is partly adapted from The Dying Animal by Philip Roth.
Does Elegy have a post-credit scene?
No. Elegy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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