Synopsis

Over one turbulent day in California's San Fernando Valley, the lives of several troubled people begin to intersect. A dying old man, a lonely nurse, a disgraced game-show host, a recovering addict, a self-help celebrity, and others struggle with guilt, regret, abuse, and the hope of forgiveness. Their separate stories gradually converge through coincidence, revelation, and unexpected acts of compassion.

Factoids & Trivia

• The screenplay was heavily shaped by Aimee Mann's music. Several of her songs appear in the film, including "Save Me," which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

• The sequence in which the characters sing "Wise Up" was built around a song originally written for the 1996 film *Jerry Maguire*.

• Principal photography lasted 90 days, followed by 10 days of second-unit filming. Production ran from January 12 through June 24, 1999.

• A celebrated tracking shot follows young contestant Stanley Spector through the television studio in a continuous take lasting approximately two minutes and fifteen seconds.

• The opening prologue uses an iris-in effect associated with silent cinema, establishing the film's interest in coincidence, fate, and older cinematic traditions.

• Magnolia imagery recurs throughout the film in paintings, photographs, and production design. The visual palette was developed around greens, browns, and off-whites inspired by the flower.

• The film opened in seven theaters on December 17, 1999, before expanding nationwide on January 7, 2000.

• *Magnolia* received three Academy Award nominations and won the Golden Bear at the 2000 Berlin International Film Festival.