''Beyond Borders'' is a 2003 American romantic-drama film about

aid worker Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance to people who need help. It is usually short-term help until the long-term help by the government and other institutions replaces it. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and v ...

s, directed by

Martin Campbell Martin Campbell (born 24 October 1943) is a New Zealand film and television director based in the United Kingdom. He is known for having directed ''The Mask of Zorro'' as well as the James Bond in film, James Bond films ''GoldenEye'' and ''Cas ...

and starring

Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie (; born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and former Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award ...

Clive Owen Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series '' Chancer'' from 1990 to 1991. He received critical acclaim for his work in the film '' Close ...

, Teri Polo and Kate Ashfield. The original music score was composed by

James Horner James Roy Horner (August 14, 1953 – June 22, 2015) was an American composer. He was known for the integration of choral and electronic elements, and for his frequent use of motifs associated with Celtic music. Horner's first film score was in ...

. Reflecting Jolie's real-life interest in promoting humanitarian relief, the film was critically and financially unsuccessful. The film was marketed with the tagline ''"In a place she didn't belong, among people she never knew, she found a way to make a difference."'' Concurrently with the release of the film, Jolie published ''

Notes from My Travels ''Notes from My Travels: Visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan and Ecuador'' is a collection of journal excerpts kept by actress Angelina Jolie written from February 2001 through June 2002 detailing her experiences travelling to troubl ...

'', a collection of journal entries from her real-life experiences as a

Goodwill Ambassador Goodwill ambassador is a post-nominal honorific title, a professional occupation and/or authoritative designation that is assigned to a person who advocates for a specific cause or global issue on the basis of their notability such as a public ...

for the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...

(

UNHCR The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integrati ...

) — similar to her character in the film.

Plot

While attending a fund-raising gala, Sarah Jordan (

), a naive, married American socialite living in England, witnesses a fiery plea delivered by an intruder – a renegade humanitarian, Dr. Nick Callahan (

). His plea made on behalf of impoverished children under his care turns Sarah's life upside down. Attracted to Nick and his cause, she impulsively abandons her job at an art gallery and sheltered life in England to do what she can to aid his efforts at the refugee camps. She travels to Ethiopia bringing with her a caravan of essential medical supplies to the impossibly remote camp, where she finds Nick and his closest colleague, Dr Elliott Hauser (

Noah Emmerich Noah Nicholas Emmerich (born February 27, 1965) is an American actor and director who is best known for his roles in films such as '' Beautiful Girls'' (1996), '' The Truman Show'' (1998), ''Frequency'' (2000), ''Miracle'' (2004), '' Little Child ...

). As Sarah's work based in England takes her to other volatile areas, where few people have traveled and even fewer have survived, she discovers that the harsh realities she encounters, and her persistent romantic attraction to the charismatic, unpredictable doctor, ignite in her a burning passion for saving lives, while risking her own in the process. She works for humanitarian and human rights organizations for ten years after she first travels to Ethiopia. At Dr Hauser's urging, she helps with another key shipment blocked by warring factions and corruption, and again finds Nick, now in the border region of Cambodia and Vietnam. Here she discovers the same nexus of war and refugee suffering but even more tightly bound than in Ethiopia. Khmer Rouge forces terrorize the camp, and Dr. Hauser is killed in a successful effort to free the camp from their grip. Upon her return to London, she gives birth to Nick's daughter, and eventually is appointed the regional representative for the United Kingdom for the U.N.H.C.R. At the same time, Nick now finds himself inevitably caught up on the humanitarian crisis in Chechnya, and goes missing. Sarah realizes she must find him a third time and tell him he is a father, and that she can never forget him. As they desperately escape his captors, she defiantly refuses to abandon him and dies in a landmine which Nick survives. The film ends with Nick arriving at Sarah and Henry's home in England to first meet his young daughter.

Cast

as Sarah Jordan Beauford *

as Dr. Nick Callahan *

Teri Polo Theresa Elizabeth Polo (born June 1, 1969) is an American actress. She starred as Pam Byrnes-Focker in the ''Meet the Parents'' trilogy and played the role of police officer Stef Adams Foster in the Freeform series '' The Fosters'' (2013–201 ...

as Charlotte Jordan *

Kate Ashfield Kate Ashfield (born 28 May 1972) is an English actress, who has appeared in stage, TV and film roles, most famously in her role as Liz in the 2004 zombie comedy ''Shaun of the Dead''. She is the co-writer of the 2017 TV series ''Born to Kill''. ...

as Kat *

Linus Roache Linus William Roache (born 1 February 1964) is a British actor. He is known for playing Executive ADA Michael Cutter in the NBC dramas ''Law & Order'' (2008–2010) and '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' (2011–2012). More recently, Roach ...

as Henry Beauford *

as Elliott Hauser *

Yorick van Wageningen Yorick van Wageningen (born 16 April 1964) is a Dutch actor who has performed in Dutch and American films, including ''The Chronicles of Riddick'' and the 2011 remake of ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''. Life and career Van Wageningen was b ...

as Jan Steiger *

Timothy West Timothy Lancaster West, CBE (born 20 October 1934) is an English actor and presenter. He has appeared frequently on both stage and television, including stints in both ''Coronation Street'' (as Eric Babbage) and ''EastEnders'' (as Stan Carter) ...

as Lawrence Bauford * Kate Trotter as Mrs. Bauford *Jonathan Higgins as Philip *John Gausden as Jimmy Bauford *Isabelle Horler as Anna Beauford *

Iain Lee Iain Lee (born Iain Lee Rougvie; 9 June 1973) is an English broadcaster, writer, and former television presenter and stand-up comedian who hosts the phone-in talk show '' The Late Night Alternative'' on "pay to view" Patreon. Lee's career began ...

as Master of Ceremonies *Keelan Anthony as Jojo *John Bourgeois as Rolly *Kalyane Tea as Steiger's Girlfriend *Julian Casey as Police Officer *Norman Mikeal Berketa as Police Officer *Aidan Pickering as TV Reporter *

Nambitha Mpumlwana Nambitha Mpumlwana (born 12 February 1967) is a South African actress, presenter, producer and niece to Loyiso Mpumlwana. She's known for her role as Mawande Memela in SABC 1's soapie, '' Generations''. She was also cast in e.tv's '' Ashes to A ...

as Tula *Fikile Nyandeni as Gemilla *Tony Robinow as Art Dealer *Andrew French as Meles *

Jamie Bartlett James Bartlett (9 July 1966 – 23 May 2022) was a British-born South African actor best known for his role as the wicked puppet master, David Genaro, in '' Rhythm City'' and his theatre work. Career Television Bartlett was a well-known South ...

as Joss *Tumisho Masha as Hamadi *Faye Peters as Monica *

John Matshikiza John Matshikiza (26 November 1954 – 15 September 2008) was a South African actor, theatre director, poet and journalist. Biography John Matshikiza was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Todd Matshikiza - renowned jazz pianist, composer ...

as Dawit Ningpopo * Zaa Nkweta as Titus *Sahajak Boonthanakit as Port Official *Dennis Tan as Port Official *Doan Jaroen-Ngarm Mckenzie as Tao *

Burt Kwouk Herbert Tsangtse Kwouk, (; ; 18 July 1930 – 24 May 2016) was a British actor, known for his role as Cato in the ''Pink Panther'' films. He made appearances in many television programmes, including a portrayal of Imperial Japanese Army Ma ...

as Colonel Gao *Teerawat Mulvilai as Ma Sok *Bertrand A. Henri as Speaker *

Jasmin Geljo Jasmin Geljo (born September 18, 1959) is a Bosnian-Canadian actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Cube Zero'', as Ryjkin, and in the films ''Land of the Dead'', ''Assault on Precinct 13 (2005 film), Assault on Precinct 13'' and ''The Sentine ...

as Truck Driver *

Francis X. McCarthy Francis Xavier McCarthy (born February 15, 1942) is an American actor who has appeared in films such as '' Interstellar'' (2014) and '' Deep Impact'' (1998). Filmography References External links * 1942 births Living people American ...

as Strauss * Manuel Tadros as Chechen Mobster *

Elizabeth Whitmere Elizabeth Whitmere is a Canadian actress working in the United States and Canada. Born and raised in northern Canada, she draws on her experiences there in the development of her characters and her stand-up comedy. Whitmere appeared in her first ...

as Beatrice

Production

Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of '' Midnight Express'' (1978), and wrote the gangster film remake '' Sc ...

was initially attached as director and producer.

Catherine Zeta-Jones Catherine Zeta-Jones (; born 25 September 1969) is a Welsh actress. Known for her versatility, she is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Tony Award. In 2010, she was appointed C ...

Julia Roberts Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and thr ...

, and

Meg Ryan Meg Ryan (born Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra; November 19, 1961) is an American actress. She began her acting career in 1981 when she made her acting debut in the drama film ''Rich and Famous''. She later joined the cast of the CBS soap opera ...

were considered for the role of Sarah Jordan Beauford, while

Kevin Costner Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American actor, producer, film director and musician. He has received various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actor ...

and

Ralph Fiennes Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes ( ; born 22 December 1962) is an English actor, film producer, and director. A Shakespeare interpreter, he excelled onstage at the Royal National Theatre before having further success at the Royal Shak ...

were considered for Dr. Nick Callahan. The film was shot on location in Thailand, Namibia and Canada.

Reception

''Beyond Borders'' received negative reviews from critics, as the movie currently holds a 14% rating on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

based on 103 reviews. Critical consensus on the film has it that "''Beyond Borders'' is good-intentioned, but the use of human suffering as a backdrop for a romance comes across as sanctimonious and exploitative." It was nominated for the Political Film Society Award for Peace, losing to ''

Sandstorm A dust storm, also called a sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions. Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface. Fine particles are transporte ...

''. Angelina Jolie received a

Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress Razzie Award for Worst Actress is an award presented at the annual Golden Raspberry Awards to the worst actress of the previous year. Male actors performing in drag are eligible, as it is intended as a humorous award. The following is a list of ...

nomination for her performances in this and '' Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life'', but lost to

Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...

for ''

Gigli ''Gigli'' ( ) is a 2003 American romantic comedy crime film written and directed by Martin Brest and starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bartha, Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Lainie Kazan. Despite popular media giving attention a ...

''.

References

External links

* * * * * {{Martin Campbell 2003 romantic drama films 2003 films American political drama films American romantic drama films Films shot in Montreal Films shot in Namibia Films shot in Thailand Paramount Pictures films Films directed by Martin Campbell Films set in Ethiopia Mandalay Pictures films Films scored by James Horner 2000s English-language films 2000s American films