Alex & Emma

Alex & Emma

Alex Sheldon

Tony / Flamenco Dancer #2

Bobby / Flamenco Dancer #1

Wirschafter

Emma Dinsmore

Whistling John Shaw

John Shaw

Andre Delacroix

Michele Delacroix

Polina's Father

Madame Blanche

Claude

Croupier

Bus Driver

Grandmother

Bernard Pompier

Flamenco Dancer #3

Casino Owner (as Michael Rappaport)

Receptionist

Scooter Boy (uncredited)

Croupier (uncredited)

The plot for this movie comes roughly from the life of Fyodor Dostoyevsky (author of "Crime and Punishment"). He had promised to complete a new novel by a certain date, but had not written any of it yet when there was only one month left before the deadline. After a recommendation, he hired a stenographer named Anna, who helped him complete the book ("The Gambler") in 26 days. The plot of "The Gambler", which is based off of one of the author's own experiences, is about a tutor (Alexei) who falls in love with Polina, who toys with him. During the writing process, Dostoyevsky and the stenographer fall in love; they later marry and have 4 children. Thus the movie mirrors loosely both Dostoyevsky's life and the novel he wrote during that time.

Despite what Emma believes, Ylva *is* a Swedish name.

The German version of the film supplants the Germans-such-as-Adolf Hitler gag with Russians-such-as-Joseph Stalin.

When the guys break into their apartment to scare them, Emma is holding her hands over her mouth the entire time in fear. In the first shot both sleeves of her shirt are down to her wrist. In the next shot the left sleeve is down and the right sleeve is pulled up. In the last shot both sleeves are down again.

Alex's face is unshaven before he kisses Emma, and in the next shot (as they actually kiss) is completely smooth.

When Alex and Emma are talking in Alex's bedroom, the time on the alarm clock jumps forward and back several hours.

Emma Dinsmore: What is it with guys like Adam? Do they really like being driven crazy by women like Paulina? They're like lemmings running into the sea. They can't wait to be drowning in their own misery. If they're not in agony, then it can't be love! Why do men want women like that?

Alex: The grandmother lives!

Emma Dinsmore: I can't figure out what's worse, having to know every single detail of your desperate love for some other woman, or having to know that you obviously didn't even come close to feeling the same way about me.