Trivia / High Life

• Ability over Appearance: Robert Pattinson was initially refused for being too young for Monte, who had been written to be much older, but he eventually won the part.
• Acclaimed Flop: Despite an 82% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a limited theatrical release by A24 and grossed a mere $1,225,852 in the United States and Canada, with $875,926 overseas for a worldwide total of $2,101,778. Its budget is an estimated €8 million (which translates to about US$9 million).
• Creator Breakdown: Claire Denis admits that the film is sadder than she intended it to be, as a result of having to visit her dying mother on weekends while shooting.
• Darkhorse Casting: Only four cast members are known actors (Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Andre Benjamin (who is mainly known as a musician) and Mia Goth); everyone else is unknown or making their debut.
• Extremely Lengthy Creation: Claire Denis has said it took her fifteen years to properly fine tune the story.
• Fake American: Robert Pattinson continues his long streak of not playing British characters.
• Never Work with Children or Animals: Robert Pattinson was having trouble bonding with the babies cast to play Willow, so the role was given to his goddaughter Scarlett Lindsey, who he remembered being friendly around adults.
• Promoted Fanboy: Pattinson is a fan of Denis’ films and was elated to work with her here.
• Those Two Actors: This isn't the first time Pattinson and Binoche have starred together. And also not the first time the latter is attracted to the former.
• What Could Have Been:
  • The role of Monte was written with Philip Seymour Hoffman in mind and he was keen on taking the role but he tragically passed away in 2014. Denis almost gave up entirely as she had no other actor in mind, but when Pattinson heard about the film, he immediately asked Denis to be a part of it. And the rest is history.
  • Patricia Arquette was announced as being in the cast, but she eventually dropped out. Juliette Binoche replaced her.

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