MovieTimeहिन्दी
Drama · Crime · Thriller
21 Grams (2003)
21 ग्राम्स
21 Nov 2003124 minEnglish
21 Grams is an English-language drama in which three strangers are drawn together after a fatal hit-and-run: a seriously ill mathematician, a grieving mother and an ex-convict turned believer. The story is told out of chronological order. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
Editorial preview: written from official information, the trailer and public sources — not a full viewing of the film.
Synopsis
21 Grams is an English-language drama in which three strangers are drawn together after a fatal hit-and-run: a seriously ill mathematician, a grieving mother and an ex-convict turned believer. The story is told out of chronological order. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.
21 Grams 2003: a film you assemble as you watch
21 Grams 2003 is an American drama directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu from a screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga. It is described as the second part of their loose Trilogy of Death, after Amores perros and before Babel. For readers in India who know the later Iñárritu titles, this is a good point to understand how his style took shape.
The premise is simple to state. A hit-and-run accident links three people: Paul, a mathematician who is seriously ill, Cristina, a mother who is grieving, and Jack, an ex-convict who has found religious faith. What makes the film distinct is not the event but the telling, because it moves among past, present and future without a clean timeline.
That structure is the thing to prepare for. You are given pieces and expected to put them in order yourself, and the film lets you feel their weight before you understand them.
Cast, crew and recognition
Sean Penn plays Paul Rivers, Naomi Watts plays Cristina Peck and Benicio del Toro plays Jack Jordan. Charlotte Gainsbourg is Mary Rivers, Melissa Leo is Marianne Jordan, and Danny Huston, Eddie Marsan and Clea DuVall appear in supporting roles.
Behind the camera, Rodrigo Prieto is credited with cinematography, Stephen Mirrione with editing and Gustavo Santaolalla with the score. Iñárritu and Robert Salerno produced it, and Focus Features distributed it in the US.
On the awards record, Naomi Watts and Benicio del Toro were nominated at the 76th Academy Awards, for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, and Sean Penn won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at Venice. These are listed facts about the film's history. Since we have not watched it, we are not assessing the performances ourselves.
Release date, length and who it suits
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 5 September 2003 and opened in the United States on 21 November 2003. Its running time is given as 124 minutes, with some regional sources listing 125. We did not find a confirmed streaming platform, so check availability in your region.
This is a heavy watch about loss, guilt and what is left of a life. It will suit viewers who value performance-driven, emotionally demanding cinema and do not mind working at the chronology. If you want a straightforward thriller about a road accident, the fragmented structure may frustrate you.
Published aggregate figures place the critical response as generally positive, with Rotten Tomatoes listing 80 percent approval and Metacritic a score of 70. We quote these only as numbers reported by those sites.
Who will enjoy 21 Grams?
- Viewers who like emotionally demanding, performance-led drama
- Fans of Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo Arriaga's collaborations
- Anyone comfortable with non-linear storytelling
Trailer
Official Trailer: 21 Grams (2003) – Trailer · Channel: nickbtube
Cast
Sean PennPaul RiversBorn 1960 · Santa Monica, California
Naomi WattsCristina PeckBorn 1968 · Shoreham, Kent
Benicio del ToroJack JordanBorn 1967 · San Germán, Puerto Rico
Charlotte GainsbourgMary RiversBorn 1971 · London, England
Melissa LeoMarianne JordanBorn 1960 · Manhattan, New York City
Danny HustonMichaelBorn 1962 · Rome, ItalyPhoto: TMDB
FAQ
Is 21 Grams told in chronological order?
No. It interweaves past, present and future threads for its three main characters, so the order of events is deliberately scrambled.
Who directed 21 Grams and when was it released?
Alejandro González Iñárritu directed it from a screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga. It premiered at Venice on 5 September 2003 and opened in the US on 21 November 2003.
When was 21 Grams released?
21 Grams was released on 21 Nov 2003.
Who directed 21 Grams?
21 Grams was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
How long is 21 Grams?
21 Grams runs for 124 minutes.
