Esther Kahn is the first English-language film by the French director Arnaud Desplechin

Arnaud Desplechin

Arnaud Desplechin is a French film director.-Biography:Arnaud Desplechin is the son of Robert and Mado Desplechin, and grew up in the Nord department...

. It premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival

2000 Cannes Film Festival

The 2000 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Danish film Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier.-Jury:* Luc Besson, President * Jonathan Demme * Nicole Garcia...

 but was not distributed to the United States for two years until it played in New York City in 2002. Deplechin adapted the screenplay with regular collaborator Emmanuel Bourdieu from a short story by Arthur Symons

Arthur Symons

Arthur William Symons , was a British poet, critic and magazine editor.-Life:Born in Milford Haven, Wales, of Cornish parents, Symons was educated privately, spending much of his time in France and Italy...

 of the same name from his book Spiritual Adventures. It stars Summer Phoenix

Summer Phoenix

Summer Joy Phoenix is an American actress and model. She is the youngest sibling of the late River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, and Liberty Phoenix, and is married to actor Casey Affleck.-Early life:...

 as Esther and Ian Holm

Ian Holm

Sir Ian Holm, CBE is an English actor known for his stage work and for many film roles. He received the 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance as Lenny in The Homecoming and the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear...

 as her friend and teacher, Nathan Quellen.

Cast

• Summer Phoenix
  Summer Phoenix
  Summer Joy Phoenix is an American actress and model. She is the youngest sibling of the late River Phoenix, Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, and Liberty Phoenix, and is married to actor Casey Affleck.-Early life:...
  
   - Esther Kahn
• Ian Holm
  Ian Holm
  Sir Ian Holm, CBE is an English actor known for his stage work and for many film roles. He received the 1967 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor for his performance as Lenny in The Homecoming and the 1998 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor for his performance in the title role of King Lear...
  
   - Nathan Quellen
• Fabrice Desplechin - Philippe Haygard
• Akbar Kurtha
  Akbar Kurtha
  Akbar Kurtha is an actor born in India and living in England.Since 1993 Kurtha has played several roles in his native England and in the United States. He first appeared in the 1993 film Bhaji on the Beach in the role of Majit, and then played the lead role of “Farid” in the film My Son the...
  
   - Samuel Kahn
• Frances Barber
  Frances Barber
  Frances Barber is an Olivier Award-nominated English actress with a long and distinguished stage career. She has also appeared in numerous television productions...
  
   - Rivka Kahn
• László Szabó
  László Szabó (actor)
  László Szabó is a Hungarian actor, film director and screenwriter. He has appeared in over 120 films since 1952, including seven films that have been screened at the Cannes Film Festival.-Selected filmography:* La poupée...
  
   - Ytzhok Kahn
• Hilary Sesta - Buba
• Claudia Solti - Mina Kahn
• Berna Raif - Becky Kahn
• Paul Regan - Joel
• Arnold Brown - Rabbi
• Leon Lissek
  Leon Lissek
  Leon Lissek is an actor originated from Australia who primarily does work in England. He has appeared in over 80 films in his career, which started with Marat/Sade...
  
   - Theatre manager
• Ian Bartholomew
  Ian Bartholomew
  Ian Bartholomew is an English actor who has worked widely in both theatre and television.In television Bartholomew's work has ranged from The Darling Buds of May, Rumpole of the Bailey, Minder, and more recently, Making Waves and Spooks....
  
   - Norton
• Samantha Lavelle - Christel
• Paul Ritter
  Paul Ritter
  Paul Ritter was a Western Australian architect, town planner, sociologist, artist and author. He was born in Prague in 1925, the son of Carl Ritter and Elsa née Schnabel. He died on 14 June 2010, aged 85....
  
  - Alman, the photographer