So apparently (according to the FAQ), people often think this was set in the 80s. But was this just based on the fact that E.T. was in the cinema?
Cause to me other than that nothing much implies this was in the 80s. In fact in the opening minutes you can see Jessica Alba on a billboard, and that's just one of the many 'signs' this movie was set in the time it was filmed.
The movie is a semi-autobiographical story written by the director, Jim Sheridan, who came to the U.S. from Ireland in 1982 (when E.T. was released).
I suspect most of the plotline/storyline was originally written to take place in 1982 -- certain things like E.T., the air conditioner, Christy singing 'Desperado' in the talent show, the ease of getting across the border, the apparent ease/low cost of enrolling the kids in Catholic school all lean in that direction -- but as the movie went on, it became apparent that going to the trouble of period clothes, cars, etc etc to REALLY set the movie in 1982 would have been prohibitive, so they just said, "Let's set it in 2002."
Having her carry the video camera was simply a way to set it in the current day (any video cameras available in 1982 would have been way way too big for a little girl to carry around). If they wanted to set it in 1982 they could have had Christy carry a Polaroid or Instamatic camera and snap snapshots of what was going on.
================
4) You ever seen Superman $#$# his pants? Case closed.
Also, in the beginning after they cross the border, the DJ on the radio station they're listening to says "classics from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's."
shareMaybe that's what the real Christy did...
share[deleted]
Actually in the FAQ is says it is not the 80's but 2002. I suspect the 80's references like some of the music, ET, etc., were to TIE it into the 80's because that is when Sheridan first came here, but he didn't want it to actually take place then. Sort of a retro feel, like many independent films like Napoleon Dynamite and some of Wes Anderson's stuff like Rushmore.
share
holy god, I came here to post the one thing...
ET!!! IN THE THEATER!!
yeah, theaters can re-show movies but not in recent times.
You suck. It's your fault you're a disgusting person-- Ivy_Meer share
Huh?
Movies get re-released all the time. ET was itself re-released in 2002, on its 20th anniversary.
There are even movie houses that *gasp* specialize in showing "old" movies.
Where do you live, for goodness sakes?
______________________________________
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
Actually in the FAQ is says it is not the 80's but 2002.
It's a creative memoir, of sorts. It's not a documentary. It doesn't need to take place in any specific year. The entire movie has an 80s vibe - by 2002 that neighborhood was fully gentrified - plus the AIDS sub plot is very 80s - but it clearly is not as if the filmmaker is going to digitally remove ads of Jessica Alba. It's his memories told through a contemporary lense.
shareI just saw this yesterday. My cable company (Charter) got it wrong. In the description it says it takes place "in the 80's". It's funny though... I saw Jessica Alba right off the bat but I guess it didn't really register. Maybe it goes to show that the time period doesn't even matter? I was caught up in the story so much, I didn't hear the dj either. lol
shareErr....E.T. Had a theatrical reissue in 2002 for its 20th anniversary and camcorders that size didn't exist in 1985 but they did in 2002.
-"Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense." -Steve Landesberg
In the trivia section (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298845/trivia), it says:
"Originally written to take place in 1982 when E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) first came out, budget cuts obligated it to be set in 2002 when it was made. Coincidentally, the 20th anniversary edition of ET played in many cinemas in 2002, so that plot point didn't have to be changed."
From an early age I came to think of myself as others thought of me.