FILM · 2003 · GERMANY
Beyond Borders
26 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (26)
- #001
Angelina Jolie plays her own piano.
- #002
Angelina Jolie adopted her son Maddox in Cambodia during the filming of this movie.
- #003
This is the film that inspired lead actress Angelina Jolie to take an interest in and become active in third-world aid and relief work.
- #004
The amputees seen in the Khmer Rouge scene were real landmine victims.
- #005
Beyond Borders (2003) is a film Angelina Jolie wanted to show her son once he was old enough to understand it.
- #006
Martin Campbell cast Clive Owen because he was not known in the US at the time. This made the character of Dr Nick Callahan seem more real, and a more famous actor could have hurt that. He did not even need a screen test. Campbell knew after meeting Owen that he was right.
- #007
Some parts of the film were shot at temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius. And then at temperatures of +40 degrees Celsius.
- #008
Angelina Jolie said Clive Owen is a very sexy man. When she said it, she fell to the floor laughing.
- #009
Although Beyond Borders (2003) drew criticism, on the film's official website the head of an international aid organization praised it: "Beyond Borders is an accurate portrayal of the helplessness of people on both sides of the equation, those in need and those trying to help them."
- #010
At one point Oliver Stone was planned to direct this film as his last, but he decided to make Alexander (2004) instead.
- #011
To reflect the harsh realities of the war-documentary style, color was removed from the image in some scenes.
- #012
Thailand stood in for the scenes set in Cambodia.
- #013
According to an interview Fiennes gave on Charlie Rose (28 December 2000), Ralph Fiennes was involved in this project during the period when Oliver Stone was still planned to direct.
- #014
It was shot over five months on three continents. There were delays because of fog and heavy rain, but foreign extras entertained the crew with an improvised song and dance show.
- #015
The film's edit was cut down from three hours to two hours.
- #016
The film crew wanted to portray aid workers not as saints but as real people.
- #017
Clive Owen is a big Liverpool fan and would watch football matches between takes.
- #018
Keelan Anthony, who plays Jojo in the fundraising scene, was designed to appear emaciated through digital effects.
- #019
Some of the original casting choices were Catherine Zeta-Jones, Meg Ryan, Kevin Costner, Richard Gere, Ralph Fiennes and Julia Roberts.
- #020
The production team hoped that if Beyond Borders (2003) was successful, more films about aid workers would be made. Given the film's weak box office performance, that seems unlikely.
- #021
The screenplay went through twelve drafts before it was completed.
- #022
Catherine Zeta Jones was initially set to star but left due to pregnancy.
- #023
Julia Roberts indicated she was interested in replacing Catherine Zeta Jones.
- #024
The film was initially to be directed by Oliver Stone.
- #025
Kevin Costner dropped out to consider other projects and then returned.
- #026
Oliver Stone was planned to direct.
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