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A Long Way Down (film)

A Long Way Down
A-Long-Way-Down-Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Pascal Chaumeil
Produced by Finola Dwyer
Amanda Posey
Written by Jack Thorne
Based on A Long Way Down
by Nick Hornby
Starring
Music by Dario Marianelli
Cinematography Ben Davis
Edited by Chris Gill
Barney Pilling
Production
company
Distributed by Lionsgate (UK)
Magnolia Pictures (US)
Release date
  • 10 February 2014 (2014-02-10) (Berlin)
  • 21 March 2014 (2014-03-21) (UK)
Running time
96 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Germany
Language English
Budget $22.7 million
Box office $7.1 million

A Long Way Down is a 2014 British black comedy film directed by Pascal Chaumeil, loosely based on author Nick Hornby's 2005 novel, A Long Way Down. It stars Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, and Aaron Paul as four strangers who happen to meet on the roof of a London building on New Year's Eve, each with the intent of committing suicide. Their plans for death in solitude are ruined when they meet as they decide to come down from the roof alive — however temporary that may be.

Martin Sharp (Pierce Brosnan) is contemplating suicide on New Year's Eve on the roof of the Toppers Building, high above London's streets. He is interrupted by a woman, Maureen (Toni Collette), who has the same fate in mind. She shyly offers to wait her turn, until two other strangers, a young woman named Jess (Imogen Poots) and a pizza deliverer called J.J. (Aaron Paul), also turn up.

Martin is recognized by the others, having been a popular television personality before going to prison for a relationship with a girl who turned out to be 15. After talking things over, the four strangers form a pact, vowing to wait at least until Valentine's Day before taking their lives.

Maureen has a disabled son she adores, but little life beyond that. Jess is the daughter of a politician (Sam Neill) and their relationship is strained. J.J. is an American who once played in a band, but while his three new acquaintances are suicidally depressed, he is terminally ill with cancer (or so he says).

To profit from misfortune, Martin hatches a scheme that makes them the talk of London, claiming their mass suicide was interrupted by a vision. They end up on his old TV chat show, where Martin's former co-host Penny (Rosamund Pike) makes her guests feel humiliated and even more depressed.

The four go off to a vacation resort to get away from London's attention. They enjoy each other's company, at least until a confession by one of them and the intervention of a reporter named Kathy drives them apart. Matty, Maureen's son, has a heart attack but recovers. Jess and Martin visit Maureen in the hospital but J.J. can't be contacted. They realise it's Valentine's Day and that their pact has ended. All four end up back in London on the very same rooftop with the other three coaxing J.J. off the edge successfully.


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