Powder Keg

2001 0h 14m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 96

ActionWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The Driver is drafted by the UN to rescue a wounded war photographer named Harvey Jacobs from out of hostile territory. While they are leaving Jacobs tells the Driver about the horrors he saw as a photographer, but he regrets his inability to help war victims. Jacobs answers the driver curiosity about why he is a photographer by saying how his mother taught him to see. He gives the Driver the film needed for a New York Times story and also his dog tags to give to his mother. When they reach the border, they are confronted by a guard who begins to draw arms as Jacobs begins taking pictures, trying to get himself killed. The Driver drives through a hail of gunfire to the border, but finds Jacobs killed by a bullet through the seat. The Driver arrives in America to visit Jacobs' mother and share the news of him winning the Pulitzer prize and hand over the dog tags, only to discover that she is blind.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Clive Owen
The Driver
Stellan Skarsgård
Harvey Jacobs
Lois Smith
Mother
Javier Zaragoza
Paramilitary 1
Luis Francisco Escobedo
Paramilitary 2
Gilberto Barraza
Paramilitary 3
Alfredo Escobar
Begging Man
Carlos Torres Torrija
Police 1

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Writers: David Carter, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Guillermo Arriaga
Languages: English, Spanish
Countries: Germany, Mexico, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 14-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Germany, Mexico, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Part of the "The Hire" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, shot by Robert Richardson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Luis Carballar shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alejandro G. Iñárritu directs. Robert Richardson behind the camera. Harry Gregson-Williams scores. Luis Carballar cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany, Mexico, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 14-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
225 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Spanish.
4International production across 3 countries: Germany, Mexico, United States of America.
5Part of the "The Hire" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
6Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, shot by Robert Richardson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Luis Carballar shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Clive Owen and Stellan Skarsgård and Lois Smith carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt0285930 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Only 96 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Richardson
Original score: Harry Gregson-Williams
Editing: Luis Carballar
Production design: Brigitte Broch
Costume design: Gabriela Diaque
Makeup / hair: Regina Reyes
Runtime: 14 min · 0h 14m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Powder Keg (2001)

Part of

The Hire

"The Hire" is an eight part BMW short film series created between 2001 and 2002. A form of branded content, all eight films are directed by popular filmmakers from across the globe, star Clive Owen as the "Driver", and highlight the performance aspects of various BMW automobiles.