Reviews (31)

LOVE STORY WITH A CUTTING TWIST
Vanessa Paradis (Adelle) plays a sad 22 year old woman whose life has been strewn with failures and disappointments. In a single take lasting ten minutes, Paradis transforms before our eyes from an indifferent minx into a tearful plaintiff. That's terrific acting!

Adelle grew up believing sex is what life is all about, and so she never learned how to say "no" to any man or boy. Daniel Auteuil (Gabor) is an over 40 year old, tall, dark, contemplative knife throwing artiste who never smiles and has haunting eyes. After Adelle opens the film with a wryly amusing monologue on the failure of her life, an early scene places her perched in the middle of a bridge over the River Seine on a wintry night. Just as she is about to jump into the icy water, Gabor's voice comes out of the dark, "you don't really want to make this mistake." Adelle is annoyed at this intrusion, and she argues with Gabor about her intentions and his meddling. Gabor is a knife thower, he informs Adelle, and bridges are where he finds the best women candidates to serve as his targets for his dangerous art form. Adelle shrugs this off, accusing Gabor of trying to take sexual advantage of a desperate girl on a bridge. He indignantly dismisses her charge saying that he NEVER sleeps with his targets. "That's YOUR problem!" retorts Adelle. And so begins their relationship.

The black and white format lends drama to this often very funny movie. After they wind up in the icy water and in a hospital, Gabor virtually abducts Adelle into his act with the promise that they will be very lucky as a pair. Their odyssey takes the pair through Fellini-esque scenes of circuses, night clubs and a cruise ship as Gabor's act becomes increasingly dangerous . . . and sensual. Adelle continues to be distracted by "trying on, like new clothing" one young man after another while the duo travel from gig to gig in the south of France and Italy. But something profound develops between Adelle and Gabor. It climaxes in an impulsive knife throwing scene that is so well acted and filmed that we are presented with an erotic pas de deux between the couple that transcends pedestrian sex.

This film is a French fanatasy romance which is funny and erotic in a Hitchkokian way (e.g., Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant train scenes in "North by Northwest"). What we don't see has a bigger impact on us than what is so skillfully placed before our eyes. The movie asks the question: can a beautiful young woman who has given up hope, live with a man twice her age whose art and life need her? There are many plot twists and turns brought to the viewer by exceptionally fine acting by French pop singing star Paradis, the self disciplined Auteuil, and excellent direction by Patrice Leconte ("The Hairdresser's Husband" and "Ridicule"). The subtitles are easy to read and the music is cleverly well selected. For example, we are haunted by Brenda Lee's far away, almost ironicly singing "I'm Sorry" (this in a French film) as Adelle and Gabor break up at one point. Very satisfying entertainment!

Im In Love...
I looooved this movie when it was in the theaters....not in too many theaters unfortunatly....tooo bad......this movie was really sexy without alot of the stupid pop culture ... that becomes old after 2 months or is trying too hard to be "cool"

If you like indie movies and movies from europe....you will probably like it....who hasent felt like jumping off a bridge at one time or another? :)
I can relate.....I liked all the sex scenes and the trip across europe was neat too, as well as the circus and knife throwing scenes.....I will probably rent it soon to see it again!
I also like that Vanessa Paradis is beautiful without being "perfect" like alot of american actresses and music stars are kind of pressed out of the same mold......imagine a popular actress or singer with a gap in her front teeth? wouldnt happen here in the usa.......

Not worth a single star
I curse, spit upon, and abhor this movie and its leading actress. She has no talent and appears listless in this film as adele. The only good on her cd Bliss was her long-standing boyfriend Johnny Depp's help in writing some songs and playing guitar with his outstanding talent. But I'm getting off this subject. The point is, she should never have tried her deformed hand at acting for her long neck is very distracting and takes away from the movie. The other actor's performances were fine, I am sure, but I would not know since her lisp was too prominent for me to pay atention to anything else.

Takes Your Breath Away
I don't even know where to begin writing about this movie. It follows young Adele, who thinks that her life is worthless and wants to kill herself by jumping off a bridge. Of corse, she dosen't (or else we wouldn't have much of a movie) and is confronted by a circus-knife-throwing man who says he can make her life better as she starts to plunge. This movie is all about how you control your own luck in life, or atleast that is what I felt the message was. It wasn't until I had finished the movie and gotten into bed that i realized that this THE most beautiful movie I have ever seen. It was just so light and and enjoyable, and made you smile inside. Beautiful is a word I have never used to describe a movie before. I always say "funny" or "cute" or "awful" or even "awsome". But never "beautiful" -until now. I have no idea why it's rated R. There was one profain word and nothing explicit (I mean NOTHING) in the whole film. I would even let a 10 year old watch it- just so they can see what a good movie is supposed to be like. Vanessa Paradis has proven to me with this that she is not just one of my favorite singers and models, but is a really great and serious actress. Everything I saw in this film impressed me. And please don't worry about having to read the subtitles! After 2 minutes, I promise you'll be so involved you won't notice or care. If you loved Chocolat, or Amelie, or anything like that, TRY THIS. (It's so inexpensive you might as well buy it. I couldn't find it in Blockbuster anyway.) Absolutley incredible! I don't know if I'll ever find another movie that can touch me this deeply.

la la love you don't mean maybe
A girl with hard luck in love meets up with a destitute knife thrower as she is about to jump off a bridge to her death. They base an act and latent romance on luck and telekinesis. He talks to her when she is about to go wrong outside of his presence and she answers back in perfect syncopation. She twirls on a wheel and he jams knives close to her skin near enough to maim or spiral her into ecstasy. She [blanks] every man who shows the slighest interest in her and he makes snide remarks and introduces new impossible tricks to his arsenal of sideshow cutlery. All in all the movie is a farce but very believable. Even the propped up rainbow is golden beneath. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

"I never belonged to anyone."
I make a point of watching any film directed by Patrice Leconte, and "The Hairdresser's Husband" is perhaps both his finest and his most obscure work. The veteran French actor Jean Rochefort is Antoine--the hairdresser's husband, and Anna Galiena is Mathilde, the hairdresser.

As a child, Antoine learns to love going to the hairdresser--Madame Shaeffer, a rubenseque, heavily-scented woman whose impressive bosom awakens Antoine's budding sexuality. Antoine becomes obsessed with the hairdresser, and when Antoine's father asks the boy about his future ambitions, Antoine proudly announces to his shocked parents that his ambition is to be a married to a hairdresser one day.

Mamy years later, Antoine--now a man in late middle-age--spies the beautiful Mathilde as she flicks idly through a glossy magazine in the window of her hairdressing salon. Antoine is intrigued with Mathilde, and when she gives him his first haircut, all thechildhood memories of Madame Shaeffer return. The powerful memories of those first childhood sexual experiences lead Antione to immediately propose marriage. Mathilde accepts, and the two lead a blissfully happy life in a world that has very little to do with reality.

Mathilde is a mystery. She never brings up her past, and yet it is clear that her life has not been happy--hence her willingness to escape into Antoine's fantasies. But there are warning signs--she refuses to discuss her past and dreads growing old, but in her role as Antoine's living, breathing fantasy, Mathilde holds no curiosities for Antoine. Antoine's need--to transform Mathilde into the object of his desire and obsession absorbs her into this role, and this inevitably leads to destruction--for fantasies that become reality shatter under examination.

This strange tragic love story juxtaposes memories from Antoine's childhood against Antoine's idyllic life with Mathilde, and this accentuates the idea that we evolve into adulthood, but still connect with the childhood passions we can remember--sometimes all too well.

The acting in this beautiful film is simply superb--Jean Rochefort is sympathetic as the lonely Antoine who loves without asking questions, and Anna Galiena is exquisite as the mysterious, sensual, and sad Mathilde who exists only within the confines of her husband's fantasies.

A One of a Kind Romance Story
This truly unique film goes deep inside the development of a man's true love for the woman of his dreams. What appears to be a fixation rooted from childhood feelings towards a hairdresser and the good-feeling they represent, is a unique love that spurs pure from the heart. In return, the recipient of this love is also a giver and the relationship these two people share is greater than any outsider can understand. A twist in the end of this picture forces one to analyze the true passion this couple had for each other. A refreshing unique expression of love is displayed here, which sets itself apart from the typical boy meets girl film. As most foriegn films dicate: God is in the Details. Watch closely and enjoy.

Touching and emotional film
Like a previous person, I make a point of watching any film directed by Patrice Leconte. I also think "The Hairdresser's Husband" is perhaps both his finest and his most obscure work.

This touching film stars veteran French actor Jean Rochefort as Antoine--the hairdresser's husband, and Anna Galiena is Mathilde, the hairdresser ... enough said!

The film portrays life at its finest as well as its most sad times. I found the film a little slow at some points but neccessary to enforce the fact that sometimes life is just peaceful and inactive and at times - rash and quick.

Bittersweet Vision of Love and Sex
I found this film to be fascinating and touching, especially if you are yourself in the middle of the first three months of a torrid love affair. As a woman, I hope that men are capable of feeling as the protagonist does about his personal fetish-female--I tend to think not, but it's the kind of thing we long for (ok, maybe only some of us long for...others may find it merely weird and incomprehensible). The film definitely touches on many erotic elements that may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the film is so visually charming and almost tactile in its depiction of sex that I think everyone will find something to like in it.
I agree with the other reviewer in that it is a real shame they have never released the soundtrack. It should come as no surprise that the composer for this film, Michael Nyman, also did the music for "The Piano"--a movie which has a similar sensibility (and both films were directed by women, I believe!)

Try to see this film when you are either in love or thinking about it.

Amusing, Sexy, Bewildering, Must watch
I've watched this flick now with two groups of people. The first time was with a bunch of my guy friends, some of who are artsy fartsy and some who are white trash. We all loved it. We found it hilarious, especially the "dancing" scenes. We also found it bewildering, but not quite weird. I just recently watched it with my girlfriend and 4 of her friends and their recations were quite different. Of course they found it funny by his dancing, but they found their relationship downright weird and the whole plot weird, but yet they still couldn't keep talking about it. Nontheless this is a good non-mainstream movie to check out, it may leave you wondering what the heck you just watched, but your life will be better from watching it. Trust me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Patrice Leconte's cool, precise moral comedy Ridicule, the corrupt, sycophantic court of King Louis XVI is invaded by a provincial nobleman, Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling), who with the help of his own sharp tongue, the coaching of the retired courtier Marquis de Bellegarde (Jean Rochefort), and the love of the Marquis's beautiful, nature-loving daughter (Judith Godrèche) hopes to win funds for his project to drain the fever-infested swamps of his homeland. But first he has to get by the cunning, sexually manipulative Madame de Blayac (Fanny Ardant, imperious and superb) and her waspish, priestly ally, the Abbot de Vilecourt (Bernard Giraudeau).

As shaped by screenwriter Rémi Waterhouse, Ridicule is a kind of dashing verbal swashbuckler in which duels aren't fought with swords, but with the equally fatal weapon of words--rapier wit in its most literal sense. Laconte directs withan appealing elegance and a scathing sobriety as he unfolds a fable that could just as easily take place in a Wall Street boardroom, a Park Avenue executive suite, or a Hollywood commissary. --Dave Kehr ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Fantastic film
Hmmm, not sure why it's referred to as a book, so I hope this review shows up along with the actual video. 'Ridicule' is a brilliant film, in French, that details the quest of a idealistic nobleman as he confronts the ways of Louis XIV's court. Gregoire Ponceludon de Malavoy wishes to see the king regarding important matters, vital to the survival of his peasants, but soon learns that court is a place where men concern themselves with matters that Ponceludon considers trivial, and where all priority is placed one's wit. There's a bit of romance tossed in as well. Overall, a great film that was nominated for the 1997 best foreign language picture Oscar (lost to 'Kolya'- a delightful little Czech film). Definitely worth renting at the very least, but very enjoyable to watch over again. END

Fantastic Wit and Visuals!
I have to say that I am an expert in my own mind anyway, on 'costume dramas' and I came across this gem and was floored. As another reviwer said, it is a bit like Valmont, Vatel, The Affair of the Necklace and Dangerous Liasons rolled into one, but that would be visually. To be honest although I love all of the above mentioned films this one surpassed them and for me is right up there with "Restoration". The wit is ucanny and..well, very French. It's not a watered down version of a tale. I will leave the film details to the rest of the reviews but I can honestly say, if you like "period pieces" don't ,miss this, I would say this one would rank in the top 5 of anybodys list.

Cheers

hi
I didn't mean to write a review on this movie, but it looks lovely- hope to see it one day. Carry on:)

Ridicule or rediculous in English.
Although this film is not completely dreadful I had to give it 1 star after seeing glowing reviews form numerous naivetes.
Movie is highly derivative of costume dramas that came before.
I have to admit I love the genre. But this attempt at period movie falls short of noteworthy.
I rented it after reading how great it is on Amazon.com and was sorely disappointed. Nomination of this film for "Academy" award should've been a fare warning to me. They give Oscars to Shakespeare in Love and geniuses like Catherine Zeta Jones after all.
Back to the film. It opens up with the close up of urinating penis. Mind you urinating on elderly gentlemen. Although, visual itself doesn't bother me the rest of the movie is not all raw and graphic drama as you would expect. It quickly slumps to a level of caricature and vaudeville. I felt that all characters should've being singing their lines, it was so convoluted and implausible.
Did author read anything on a French history or even go to school? It is ridiculous movie that has no passion, no historical sense, no drama and no noteworthy performance in sight. It is suppose to be all about Versailles wit and deadliness of it. I hope it is English translation that makes all the jokes so flat and primitive. Otherwise I must say this movie is a joke upon itself.
Do not expect anything close in drama, acting, storyline or eroticism to Valmont or Dangerous Liaisons.

"Honesty and wit are so rarely combined."
The characters of "Ridicule" walk a tenuous line in a setting where wit is the only currency. They lead lives filled with shallow hypocrisies and carefully planned jokes. Every pleasantry is two-faced; earnestness is shunned in favour of irony. They exchange scathing bon mots and comebacks, ridiculing each other in order to be accepted. They embark upon passionless affairs to climb socially. Gravitas is frowned upon, and there is always the knowledge that one day they will lose their sharpness or go too far, and be ridiculed themselves.

Gregoire Ponceludon de Malavoy (Charles Berling) comes to the court of Versailles to see the king. He needs money to drain a disease-riddled swamp where his people work and die. His chances look slim until it turns out that he has a quick tongue. He is taken under the wing of an elderly courtier, Monsieur Bellegarde (Jean Rochefort) and trained in the ways of the court (never laugh at your own jokes, never laugh with your mouth open - and never pun).

Ponceludon is soon captivated by Bellegarde's beautiful daughter Mathilde (Judith Godreche), who has plans of her own - she is designing a diving suit and marrying a rich old man to finance it. Meanwhile, Madame de Blayac (Fanny Ardant), an affluent widow of the court with great social placing, spots Ponceludon herself and they embark upon an affair of mutual convenience. His only desire for her lies in the fact that her bedroom leads to the king, and therefore to financial gain for his project. They both know this, and there is a scene where she laughs at him and tells him, "Learn to hide your insincerity so that I may yield without dishonour".

Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, "Ridicule" is a treat for the senses. Fanny Ardant in particular is outstanding: she is a captivating actress who should be seen more often here, and to better advantage. The film itself is perhaps a little like the French version of "Dangerous Liaisons". Filled with sharp wit that isn't necessarily coming out of the mouths of the characters, it serves as a reminder that perhaps we have more in common with the shallow butterflies of this film that we might care to admit. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Tragic, multilayered, and sweepingly romantic.
"The Widow of Saint-Pierre" is one of those brooding, romantic costume dramas that only the French seem to do well these days. Far from being escapist fare, it is a dark, often profound meditation on the human condition and the vagaries of the human heart. In 1849, on the remote French island of Saint-Pierre off the coast of Newfoundland, an illiterate fisherman commits a drunken, senseless murder and is sentenced to the guillotine. But since the island has no guillotine, the governor must send for one--a process that will take years. Meanwhile, the fisherman is imprisoned in the island fortress; the wife of the garrison commander takes pity on the condemned man, and sets out to rehabilitate him, with the help (at first reluctant, later wholehearted) of her loving husband. Soon the captain and his wife are defying the governor in their attempts to help the condemned man--with tragic consequences. "The Widow of Saint-Pierre" works on several levels: as a romantic drama; as a denunciation of capital punishment and the cruelty of confusing the letter of the law with justice; and as a brilliant delineation of the nature of love, courage and self-sacrifice. Eduardo Serra's photography of the wintry landscape of Saint-Pierre (actually Nova Scotia) is marvelous, and the acting deserves the highest praise. By now, of course, everyone knows how exquisite Juliette Binoche is, and she is as good as ever here. But the thespian honors in this movie go to Daniel Auteuil, an actor of masterful subtlety and power, who makes Gerard Depardieu look like a double order of "jambon a' l'os."

A romantic drama with a progressive social conscience
Juliet Binoche demonstrates a steely grace in this French film set in the 1840s Newfoundland. A man commits murder during a night of drunken hyjinks. He's sentenced to the guillotine except for one the remote town of St. Pierre doesn't have the necessary executive device (nicknamed the "Widow"). The town officials send away for one from France (that must be some mail-order catalog they consulted), but in the meantime the convicted man is held in custody by a captain (enigmatically played by Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Binoche).

*** Binoche's character is progressively-minded, and instead of keeping the convict locked up, she puts him to work helping her with her garden and then with chores around St. Pierre. The townsfolk take a shine to the convict and begin to protest his pending execution.

*** This is an odd little period film with an anti-capital punishment stance. While not entirely surprising, the premise is remains a novelty to behold. You're never quite sure what made the characters who they are, but Binoche and Auteuil are a curiously striking couple and succeed in bringing plausibility to their roles.

Quality film with poignant story and excellent acting.
Set in 1849 on the Island of Saint Pierre off the coast of Canada, this 2001 French film is a sad and human drama about love, sin and redemption. The film starts with a senseless murder and a death sentence for the culprit, played by Emir Kustuica. However, the execution must be carried out by guillotine, which is referred to as "the widow" and there is no such instrument of death in the town. It has to be sent by ship from a French Island in the Caribbean. And this could take as long as a year.

The prisoner is under the control of a Captain, played by Daniel Auteuil. He is deeply in love with his wife, played by Juliette Binoche. There are some tender scenes of their lovemaking as well as scenes in which it is clear that he adores her and respects her in all ways. And so, when she sets out to reform the convicted murderer, he supports her wish. The convicted man is allowed out of his prison cell and accompanies her all over the province. He helps out the townspeople and works with her to plant a garden and learns to read. He even impregnates a local woman and marries her. Everyone in the town grows to admire this man and nobody wants the execution to take place.

What will happen? I was drawn into the story and, along with the townspeople, I too hoped he would eventually get his freedom. But the story is not as simple as that. And, as the tension heightened and moved towards its conclusion, I found myself clearly upset as I saw the way it was going.

This is a good film. The story and acting and cinematography are all excellent. It moved a little too slowly for my taste, however. And I found it hard to believe that the condemned man would be given so much freedom to move around the town. But this doesn't detract from the quality of the film, the empathy I felt throughout for all the characters or the subtleties of characterization that made the story seem real and poignant.

Do not watch this film
This film is laughably bad. The entire plot is completely unrealistic and it is difficult to have any sympathy for the cruel murderer who is central to the plot, who is not only a murderer but also totally retarded, missing numerous opportunities to escape and make life easier for himself and the saps who for some random reason have taken it upon themselves to look after him. This film is an absolute waste of time, but feel free to watch it if you feel like wasting 107 minutes of your life.

A sad, hyper-ideological film of little consequence
Lots of stilted pseudo-intellectual dialogue. A pseudo existentialist hero. A painfully ideological lecture against the death penalty. Stilted performances by brilliant actors. A receipe for disaster. Why this film was a hit, I have no idea. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Another wonderful French film
Two men of entirely different makes, have a chance meeting in a small French town drugstore. One, a quiet midlife bank robber and the movie's namesake, has arrived by train in order to case the town's bank and prepare a team to rob it. The other, a much older chatterbox, is a retired French teacher, and still tutors children, as well as read poetry and play the piano. The bank robber yearns for a more peaceful and quiet life, whereas the teacher longs for excitement, fearing that his life is close to finishing. The bank robber, by means of unforeseen circumstances, is forced to stay at the teacher's home for the week while he prepares his work. The unlikely pair begin a tender friendship that starts to move both men toward the things they are really looking for in life. By the end of the week, both men have been affected in ways that will change their life for good.

This movie is a character piece. No sex, minimal violence. It moves in a slow but very steady pace. The director recognizes that this is a movie based on dialogue, and the things going on in the two protagonists' heads. It's very enjoyable and yet just another wonderful film coming out of France.

Understated, Curious Character Study.
A stranger arrives in a sleepy French town with plans to rob its bank. The man is Milan (Johnny Hallyday), an aging and world-weary career criminal. When he discovers that the town's hotel is closed, an elderly gentleman invites Milan to stay in his home. The elderly man is Monsieur Manesquier (Jean Rochefort), a retired literature teacher whose life has always been routine, and now the routine is spent mostly alone in his family's lovely but somewhat dilapidated mansion. As these two men spend time observing each other, each man is drawn by curiosity to the other man's lifestyle. They both begin to see long-dormant aspects of their own characters in the other man. As their growing friendship induces in each man a new way of seeing himself, the two men develop a taciturn but deep bond.

"The Man on the Train" is a stereotypical French film in that nothing actually happens overtly. The action is all internal, in the hearts and minds of Milan and M. Manesquier. It is less typical of a French film in that not much is said either. Milan is a laconic character, and M. Manesquier likes to talk but seems to lack anyone to talk to. This is a quiet film that actually seems to distrust language. The story of these two unlikely companions discovering each other in themselves is told through two sensitive, outstanding performances by Jean Rochefort and Johnny Hallyday and through the cinematography of Jean-Marie Dreujou. I could have done with less filtration on some of the outdoor scenes, but Dreujou's cinematography really shines inside M. Manesquier's mansion. The camera work gives the audience the distinct impression of a closed, isolated space in which we are concealed observers of the unusual relationship that is developing between the two men. Fans of character studies will appreciate this little gem of a film. If that's you, "The Man on the Train" is highly recommended. French with English subtitles. There are no bonus features on the DVD, and the subtitles cannot be turned off.

slow and boring
Slow and boring. The first hour and fifteen minutes are nothing but a dawdling and pointless dialogue between two very different strangers who become somewhat of friends. If you are still awake for the last 15 minutes, there is a very brief moment of action. The music is intentionally reminiscent of an American Western but since the film is set in a modern French town, it's a combination that didn't appeal to me in the least. The picture quality is great, however the English subtitles are fixed, and can't be removed. Furthermore the translations aren't completely accurate, and they are often poorly timed.

Great film pity about the fixed English subtitles
The irremovable English subtitles get in the way especially if you are trying to learn a language. Normally subtitles are optional, these are not.

Cute Flick
I loved the characters in this film. The old retired teacher in a small French town, invites a raggedy drifter who is in town (to rob a bank), to stay in his mansion since the local hotel is closed for the season. As the film progresses, each begin to admire the others' way of life. The old teacher, who is a very loveable person, is in love with American western movies, and tries to start fights, but just can't, since he is so well known and respected. The drifter is the silent type who gets a chance to try on slippers for the very first time while with the teacher.
This film really drew me into the protagonists' lives, and though I'm not really sure if there is a definite moral to it, it kept me thinking of my own life, and the choices that I've made, and why I chose what I did. This is a great film if you're looking for something to inspire you into gaining some hindsight.
The acting is terrific, the script is lovely, this is a must-see for all drama aficionados. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Filmmakers Dream Project
In 1885, the Lumiere Brothers perfected a hand-cranked movie camera that moved the world. This 100th year anniversary takes forty filmmakers to task with the same camera to produce a film less than a minute. It's not as interesting in its results as one might have hoped. It was a huge challenge and few really completed something of interest. Of those, David Lynch, Patrice Leconte and Alaine Corneau are the most intriguing, while well known directors like Spike Lee and Liv Ullmann are less so. However, this is subjective. Many of the directors are asked simple questions with the hopes of profound answers. "Why do you film" and "Is cinema immortal" get answers as mundane as 'climbing a mountain because it is there'. Film students will, however, be fascinated with this project and historians will marvel that an invention so old can still be of artistic use. For the average viewer, this 88 minute documentary might seem boring, but at the very least, it is historic.

Cinemaphiles will love this film
As a tribute to the spirit of motion pictures, Lumiere & Company is a tremendous achievement and a sublime experience for true cineastes who are fortunate to find a copy on DVD. Produced in celebration of the centennial of what is considered to be the first motion picture camera, invented by the Lumiere Brothers of France, the approach is similar to asking the most accomplished electric guitar player to go acoustic.

The producers asked a collection of international film directors to create a 52-second piece each using the same technology as the Lumieres did more than one hundred years ago, 52 seconds being the amount of time it takes for one spool of film to run through their camera. Therefore, each of the segments is done in one take. All the directors are well respected, but among the more well-known participants are David Lynch, Wim Wenders, John Boorman, Spike Lee, James Ivory, Zhang Yimou and Liv Ullman.

Each segment is intriguing. While the results are understandably uneven, the pleasure of watching this film is in discovering the remarkable diversity in the working minds of motion picture's prominent practitioners. The DVD allows for free roaming and alternative selection of each short film. Given the nearly limitless possibilities available in the modern film industry, it's worth noting how the directors make use of their limited time and yet still reveal their own styles.

The subject matter ranges from miniature narratives to political statements and social documents. The locations are as varied as the directors themselves, from Bedford-Stuyvesant to Hiroshima. Although this film may seem a bit obscure and tedious to the non-enthusiast, historians and die-hard cinema fans will marvel not only at how limitations forcibly create ingenious ideas to spring forth, but also at how well the Lumiere camera still functions.

The DVD release also offers production notes, a trailer, French language, and English subtitles.

GOOD GOOD VERY GOOD
THIS IS GREAT WORK,GOOD GOOD GOOD VERY GOOD,YOU MUST TO SEE

A gem.
Lumiere and Company (Sarah Moon, 1995)

No, Lumiere and Company is not some sort of obscure sequel to Disney's Beauty and the Beast. (And where I got that idea, which I had for years, is completely beyond me.) Instead, it's Sarah Moon's third film, and a kind of global version of her second, Contriere l'oubli. Moon took the original camera manufactured by the Lumiere brothers, set some ground rules, and asked forty world-famous directors to shoot a fifty-two second scene with it. She then made a documentary incorporating behind-the-scenes footage with the short pieces themselves.

The result is a wonderful look into the mind of the filmmaker as he goes about the filmmaker's art. Each of the filmmakers does something completely different, and each answers the five questions put to him by Moon so disparately that the overall effect is one of a sort of comprehensive feeling about how films get made; one that no one director would subscribe to, but all embrace.

The short films themselves are directed by such luminaries as Costa-Gavras, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Liv Ullmann, Lasse Hallstrom, and many others who are easily recognizable; the trick was to get Moon, the relative neophyte, to create a wrapper that is the equal of the movies therein. And she did so, admirably. The is a fine little gem of a film, and well worth seeing. **** ½

Less Is More
What an intriguing idea. Take several well known directors used to working with today's state of the art equipment and see what they can do with the first practical motion picture camera. And to make it more of a challenge, give them less than a minute to work with. The results are naturally uneven. How could they not be? I won't name names but even the weakest entries have something to offer while the best lend credence to the old adage "less is more". The viewer will ultimately have to decide for him or herself which is which. As a longtime admirer of silent films I found the voiceovers during the segments rather distracting in the manner of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. One of the rules should have called for no comments made during filming to be allowed on the soundtrack. Let us supply our own voices to what we see. All in all an interesting concept that is well executed and worth seeing for any serious student of film. The DVD format is ideal for this type of omnibus film as you can easily select the segments that you want to see again and again. You should also check out the LUMIERE BROTHERS FIRST FILMS on DVD to see what was originally done with this remarkable piece of equipment. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Tragic, multilayered, and sweepingly romantic.
"The Widow of Saint-Pierre" is one of those brooding, romantic costume dramas that only the French seem to do well these days. Far from being escapist fare, it is a dark, often profound meditation on the human condition and the vagaries of the human heart. In 1849, on the remote French island of Saint-Pierre off the coast of Newfoundland, an illiterate fisherman commits a drunken, senseless murder and is sentenced to the guillotine. But since the island has no guillotine, the governor must send for one--a process that will take years. Meanwhile, the fisherman is imprisoned in the island fortress; the wife of the garrison commander takes pity on the condemned man, and sets out to rehabilitate him, with the help (at first reluctant, later wholehearted) of her loving husband. Soon the captain and his wife are defying the governor in their attempts to help the condemned man--with tragic consequences. "The Widow of Saint-Pierre" works on several levels: as a romantic drama; as a denunciation of capital punishment and the cruelty of confusing the letter of the law with justice; and as a brilliant delineation of the nature of love, courage and self-sacrifice. Eduardo Serra's photography of the wintry landscape of Saint-Pierre (actually Nova Scotia) is marvelous, and the acting deserves the highest praise. By now, of course, everyone knows how exquisite Juliette Binoche is, and she is as good as ever here. But the thespian honors in this movie go to Daniel Auteuil, an actor of masterful subtlety and power, who makes Gerard Depardieu look like a double order of "jambon a' l'os."

A romantic drama with a progressive social conscience
Juliet Binoche demonstrates a steely grace in this French film set in the 1840s Newfoundland. A man commits murder during a night of drunken hyjinks. He's sentenced to the guillotine except for one the remote town of St. Pierre doesn't have the necessary executive device (nicknamed the "Widow"). The town officials send away for one from France (that must be some mail-order catalog they consulted), but in the meantime the convicted man is held in custody by a captain (enigmatically played by Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Binoche).

*** Binoche's character is progressively-minded, and instead of keeping the convict locked up, she puts him to work helping her with her garden and then with chores around St. Pierre. The townsfolk take a shine to the convict and begin to protest his pending execution.

*** This is an odd little period film with an anti-capital punishment stance. While not entirely surprising, the premise is remains a novelty to behold. You're never quite sure what made the characters who they are, but Binoche and Auteuil are a curiously striking couple and succeed in bringing plausibility to their roles.

Quality film with poignant story and excellent acting.
Set in 1849 on the Island of Saint Pierre off the coast of Canada, this 2001 French film is a sad and human drama about love, sin and redemption. The film starts with a senseless murder and a death sentence for the culprit, played by Emir Kustuica. However, the execution must be carried out by guillotine, which is referred to as "the widow" and there is no such instrument of death in the town. It has to be sent by ship from a French Island in the Caribbean. And this could take as long as a year.

The prisoner is under the control of a Captain, played by Daniel Auteuil. He is deeply in love with his wife, played by Juliette Binoche. There are some tender scenes of their lovemaking as well as scenes in which it is clear that he adores her and respects her in all ways. And so, when she sets out to reform the convicted murderer, he supports her wish. The convicted man is allowed out of his prison cell and accompanies her all over the province. He helps out the townspeople and works with her to plant a garden and learns to read. He even impregnates a local woman and marries her. Everyone in the town grows to admire this man and nobody wants the execution to take place.

What will happen? I was drawn into the story and, along with the townspeople, I too hoped he would eventually get his freedom. But the story is not as simple as that. And, as the tension heightened and moved towards its conclusion, I found myself clearly upset as I saw the way it was going.

This is a good film. The story and acting and cinematography are all excellent. It moved a little too slowly for my taste, however. And I found it hard to believe that the condemned man would be given so much freedom to move around the town. But this doesn't detract from the quality of the film, the empathy I felt throughout for all the characters or the subtleties of characterization that made the story seem real and poignant.

Do not watch this film
This film is laughably bad. The entire plot is completely unrealistic and it is difficult to have any sympathy for the cruel murderer who is central to the plot, who is not only a murderer but also totally retarded, missing numerous opportunities to escape and make life easier for himself and the saps who for some random reason have taken it upon themselves to look after him. This film is an absolute waste of time, but feel free to watch it if you feel like wasting 107 minutes of your life.

A sad, hyper-ideological film of little consequence
Lots of stilted pseudo-intellectual dialogue. A pseudo existentialist hero. A painfully ideological lecture against the death penalty. Stilted performances by brilliant actors. A receipe for disaster. Why this film was a hit, I have no idea. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

una de las 10 mejores peliculas que he visto
soy El Padrino, cinefilo desde niño y esta es sin duda una de las mejores peliculas que he visto, y en algun tiempo la considere la mejor, la gran adaptacion a la novela de Simenon es perfecta, la musica y sobre todo la melodia de Brahms es perfecta. extraordinaria, esto sí es cine.

"Young girls can be so unpredictable."
Monsieur Hire (Michel Blanc) lives alone in a small flat in Paris. He has no friends and leads a solitary life--going back and forth to his office where he keeps a few pet mice. Hire is a creature of habit. Everything in his flat is kept neat and clean. A slight figure, middle-aged, balding, and wearing a long black coat, he stands out as a detested, strange figure in the noisy neighbourhood he lives in. When the body of a young woman is found near Hire's building, he becomes the number one suspect.

Hire seems bored and annoyed with the idea that he's the suspect in a murder case. He continues on as always. Each night, Monsieur Hire watches a young woman, Alice (Sandrine Bonnaire) in the opposite flat. He has a perfect view--until one night she spots him staring at her. Most women would run, scream, call the police or buy curtains--but not Alice, she approaches Hire very tentatively, and so their sad and bizarre relationship begins.

Michel Blanc is one of France's finest actors. He doesn't get the roles of the romantic leads. He usually gets the character parts, and in this film, he really shows how talented he is. Blanc plays a frozen, stunted human being whose loneliness cannot be breached easily. While Hire longs for human contact, he also loathes and fears intimacy. Blanc conveys all this with tremendous skill. This film is directed by Patrice Leconte, and all of his films are excellent character studies. The excellent and haunting musical score is by Michael Nyman. The film "Monsieur Hire" is based on a book by George Simenon--the writer best known for his Maigret novels. If you love French cinema, get your hands on a copy of this film while you still can--displacedhuman

A Classic Masterpiece
I watched Monsieur Hire few years ago, and it has been a while since I've seen it again, but the impact that it has had on me lingers to this day, as one of the most chilling, disturbing drama/thrillers to come from France for a long time.
The film has been compared to Hitchcock, because Monsieur Hire keeps watching his sexy Neighbor, Sandrine Bonnaire from his window, voyeurism ala Rear Window, but I think the comparison is not totally justified.
Monsieur Hire, first and foremost is a character study of a very sad, misunderstood by all and very very lonely man. All the events that follow, up to the climatic ending, which I will not spoil, revolve around Monsieur Hire's character and failings as a human being and in society at large.
His obsession with Bonnaire is quite chilling, yet harmless. It is the love of a man who has closed himself to the world outside, and can only deal with his infatuation the only way he knows. And the sad thing about him, is the fact that his emotions are very transparent and lead to exploitation by some and hostility by many.
The success of the film is due of course to director Patrice Leconte..(he has made many other films, like Hairdresser's Husband, Rue de Plaisir, and Parfum D'Yvonne, but Monsieur Hire is still his best)..Sandrine Bonnaire, in the tradition of French actresses, is very intense and plays her character flawlessly..But all credit should go to Michel Blanc! What a revelation of an actor!!
Many have talked and written about Hoffman or DeNiro's acting methods, but one should really watch actors like Blanc to really appreciate 'method' acting! He is Monsieur Hire and Monsieur Hire is him. He does not play the character but is the character. He does not speak much, but his facial expressions speak volumes. There is a scene that I can never forget to this day. Blanc watching Bonnaire from his flat above. She is doing some ironing, and a thunder lights the dark night to reveal Blanc's face staring chillingly at her, with cold yet twistingly loving expression! What benefits the films as well, is its lenght. It is just over 80 mins, and the great talent of Leconte is to be able in this time to develop the characters, and the story without over analysis or sentimentality.
When the DVD market has been littered with so many unwatchable films along with the good and excellent, it is about time that this film gets its digital release to join the rank of the latter, and be appreciated as one of the most heartbreaking, chilling and sad films ever made.

A French Rear Window
A voyeur (Michel Blanc), who spends all his spare time staring out his back window at his beautiful blonde neighbor (Sandrine Bonnaire), becomes the number one suspect of the police when a nasty murder occurs nearby. Then, when the neighbor discovers the voyeur and actually likes being watched by him, things really get kinky. Somehow, this sexually charged mystery movie got a PG-13 rating. It is all very Hitchcockian, full of tension, repression, and surprising plot twists. Based on the novel "Les Fiancailles de Monsieur Hire" by Georges Simenon, and directed by the always capable Patrice Leconte, this film proves to be an intriguing, if creepy, psychological study.

Fascinating Hitchcock-Style Movie
Shades of Hitchcock's "Rear Window" permeate this fascinating mystery which explores loneliness and betrayal. There is a surprise ending which I will not reveal but seems logical considering the motives of each character. The acting especially of Michel Blanc is exceptionally good. The story moves at a brisk pace, and you will not be bored. I hope this movie becomes available on DVD soon! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

una de las 10 mejores peliculas que he visto
soy El Padrino, cinefilo desde niño y esta es sin duda una de las mejores peliculas que he visto, y en algun tiempo la considere la mejor, la gran adaptacion a la novela de Simenon es perfecta, la musica y sobre todo la melodia de Brahms es perfecta. extraordinaria, esto sí es cine.

"Young girls can be so unpredictable."
Monsieur Hire (Michel Blanc) lives alone in a small flat in Paris. He has no friends and leads a solitary life--going back and forth to his office where he keeps a few pet mice. Hire is a creature of habit. Everything in his flat is kept neat and clean. A slight figure, middle-aged, balding, and wearing a long black coat, he stands out as a detested, strange figure in the noisy neighbourhood he lives in. When the body of a young woman is found near Hire's building, he becomes the number one suspect.

Hire seems bored and annoyed with the idea that he's the suspect in a murder case. He continues on as always. Each night, Monsieur Hire watches a young woman, Alice (Sandrine Bonnaire) in the opposite flat. He has a perfect view--until one night she spots him staring at her. Most women would run, scream, call the police or buy curtains--but not Alice, she approaches Hire very tentatively, and so their sad and bizarre relationship begins.

Michel Blanc is one of France's finest actors. He doesn't get the roles of the romantic leads. He usually gets the character parts, and in this film, he really shows how talented he is. Blanc plays a frozen, stunted human being whose loneliness cannot be breached easily. While Hire longs for human contact, he also loathes and fears intimacy. Blanc conveys all this with tremendous skill. This film is directed by Patrice Leconte, and all of his films are excellent character studies. The excellent and haunting musical score is by Michael Nyman. The film "Monsieur Hire" is based on a book by George Simenon--the writer best known for his Maigret novels. If you love French cinema, get your hands on a copy of this film while you still can--displacedhuman

A Classic Masterpiece
I watched Monsieur Hire few years ago, and it has been a while since I've seen it again, but the impact that it has had on me lingers to this day, as one of the most chilling, disturbing drama/thrillers to come from France for a long time.
The film has been compared to Hitchcock, because Monsieur Hire keeps watching his sexy Neighbor, Sandrine Bonnaire from his window, voyeurism ala Rear Window, but I think the comparison is not totally justified.
Monsieur Hire, first and foremost is a character study of a very sad, misunderstood by all and very very lonely man. All the events that follow, up to the climatic ending, which I will not spoil, revolve around Monsieur Hire's character and failings as a human being and in society at large.
His obsession with Bonnaire is quite chilling, yet harmless. It is the love of a man who has closed himself to the world outside, and can only deal with his infatuation the only way he knows. And the sad thing about him, is the fact that his emotions are very transparent and lead to exploitation by some and hostility by many.
The success of the film is due of course to director Patrice Leconte..(he has made many other films, like Hairdresser's Husband, Rue de Plaisir, and Parfum D'Yvonne, but Monsieur Hire is still his best)..Sandrine Bonnaire, in the tradition of French actresses, is very intense and plays her character flawlessly..But all credit should go to Michel Blanc! What a revelation of an actor!!
Many have talked and written about Hoffman or DeNiro's acting methods, but one should really watch actors like Blanc to really appreciate 'method' acting! He is Monsieur Hire and Monsieur Hire is him. He does not play the character but is the character. He does not speak much, but his facial expressions speak volumes. There is a scene that I can never forget to this day. Blanc watching Bonnaire from his flat above. She is doing some ironing, and a thunder lights the dark night to reveal Blanc's face staring chillingly at her, with cold yet twistingly loving expression! What benefits the films as well, is its lenght. It is just over 80 mins, and the great talent of Leconte is to be able in this time to develop the characters, and the story without over analysis or sentimentality.
When the DVD market has been littered with so many unwatchable films along with the good and excellent, it is about time that this film gets its digital release to join the rank of the latter, and be appreciated as one of the most heartbreaking, chilling and sad films ever made.

A French Rear Window
A voyeur (Michel Blanc), who spends all his spare time staring out his back window at his beautiful blonde neighbor (Sandrine Bonnaire), becomes the number one suspect of the police when a nasty murder occurs nearby. Then, when the neighbor discovers the voyeur and actually likes being watched by him, things really get kinky. Somehow, this sexually charged mystery movie got a PG-13 rating. It is all very Hitchcockian, full of tension, repression, and surprising plot twists. Based on the novel "Les Fiancailles de Monsieur Hire" by Georges Simenon, and directed by the always capable Patrice Leconte, this film proves to be an intriguing, if creepy, psychological study.

Fascinating Hitchcock-Style Movie
Shades of Hitchcock's "Rear Window" permeate this fascinating mystery which explores loneliness and betrayal. There is a surprise ending which I will not reveal but seems logical considering the motives of each character. The acting especially of Michel Blanc is exceptionally good. The story moves at a brisk pace, and you will not be bored. I hope this movie becomes available on DVD soon! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Tragic, multilayered, and sweepingly romantic.
"The Widow of Saint-Pierre" is one of those brooding, romantic costume dramas that only the French seem to do well these days. Far from being escapist fare, it is a dark, often profound meditation on the human condition and the vagaries of the human heart. In 1849, on the remote French island of Saint-Pierre off the coast of Newfoundland, an illiterate fisherman commits a drunken, senseless murder and is sentenced to the guillotine. But since the island has no guillotine, the governor must send for one--a process that will take years. Meanwhile, the fisherman is imprisoned in the island fortress; the wife of the garrison commander takes pity on the condemned man, and sets out to rehabilitate him, with the help (at first reluctant, later wholehearted) of her loving husband. Soon the captain and his wife are defying the governor in their attempts to help the condemned man--with tragic consequences. "The Widow of Saint-Pierre" works on several levels: as a romantic drama; as a denunciation of capital punishment and the cruelty of confusing the letter of the law with justice; and as a brilliant delineation of the nature of love, courage and self-sacrifice. Eduardo Serra's photography of the wintry landscape of Saint-Pierre (actually Nova Scotia) is marvelous, and the acting deserves the highest praise. By now, of course, everyone knows how exquisite Juliette Binoche is, and she is as good as ever here. But the thespian honors in this movie go to Daniel Auteuil, an actor of masterful subtlety and power, who makes Gerard Depardieu look like a double order of "jambon a' l'os."

A romantic drama with a progressive social conscience
Juliet Binoche demonstrates a steely grace in this French film set in the 1840s Newfoundland. A man commits murder during a night of drunken hyjinks. He's sentenced to the guillotine except for one the remote town of St. Pierre doesn't have the necessary executive device (nicknamed the "Widow"). The town officials send away for one from France (that must be some mail-order catalog they consulted), but in the meantime the convicted man is held in custody by a captain (enigmatically played by Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Binoche).

*** Binoche's character is progressively-minded, and instead of keeping the convict locked up, she puts him to work helping her with her garden and then with chores around St. Pierre. The townsfolk take a shine to the convict and begin to protest his pending execution.

*** This is an odd little period film with an anti-capital punishment stance. While not entirely surprising, the premise is remains a novelty to behold. You're never quite sure what made the characters who they are, but Binoche and Auteuil are a curiously striking couple and succeed in bringing plausibility to their roles.

Quality film with poignant story and excellent acting.
Set in 1849 on the Island of Saint Pierre off the coast of Canada, this 2001 French film is a sad and human drama about love, sin and redemption. The film starts with a senseless murder and a death sentence for the culprit, played by Emir Kustuica. However, the execution must be carried out by guillotine, which is referred to as "the widow" and there is no such instrument of death in the town. It has to be sent by ship from a French Island in the Caribbean. And this could take as long as a year.

The prisoner is under the control of a Captain, played by Daniel Auteuil. He is deeply in love with his wife, played by Juliette Binoche. There are some tender scenes of their lovemaking as well as scenes in which it is clear that he adores her and respects her in all ways. And so, when she sets out to reform the convicted murderer, he supports her wish. The convicted man is allowed out of his prison cell and accompanies her all over the province. He helps out the townspeople and works with her to plant a garden and learns to read. He even impregnates a local woman and marries her. Everyone in the town grows to admire this man and nobody wants the execution to take place.

What will happen? I was drawn into the story and, along with the townspeople, I too hoped he would eventually get his freedom. But the story is not as simple as that. And, as the tension heightened and moved towards its conclusion, I found myself clearly upset as I saw the way it was going.

This is a good film. The story and acting and cinematography are all excellent. It moved a little too slowly for my taste, however. And I found it hard to believe that the condemned man would be given so much freedom to move around the town. But this doesn't detract from the quality of the film, the empathy I felt throughout for all the characters or the subtleties of characterization that made the story seem real and poignant.

Do not watch this film
This film is laughably bad. The entire plot is completely unrealistic and it is difficult to have any sympathy for the cruel murderer who is central to the plot, who is not only a murderer but also totally retarded, missing numerous opportunities to escape and make life easier for himself and the saps who for some random reason have taken it upon themselves to look after him. This film is an absolute waste of time, but feel free to watch it if you feel like wasting 107 minutes of your life.

A sad, hyper-ideological film of little consequence
Lots of stilted pseudo-intellectual dialogue. A pseudo existentialist hero. A painfully ideological lecture against the death penalty. Stilted performances by brilliant actors. A receipe for disaster. Why this film was a hit, I have no idea. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Tragic, multilayered, and sweepingly romantic.
"The Widow of Saint-Pierre" is one of those brooding, romantic costume dramas that only the French seem to do well these days. Far from being escapist fare, it is a dark, often profound meditation on the human condition and the vagaries of the human heart. In 1849, on the remote French island of Saint-Pierre off the coast of Newfoundland, an illiterate fisherman commits a drunken, senseless murder and is sentenced to the guillotine. But since the island has no guillotine, the governor must send for one--a process that will take years. Meanwhile, the fisherman is imprisoned in the island fortress; the wife of the garrison commander takes pity on the condemned man, and sets out to rehabilitate him, with the help (at first reluctant, later wholehearted) of her loving husband. Soon the captain and his wife are defying the governor in their attempts to help the condemned man--with tragic consequences. "The Widow of Saint-Pierre" works on several levels: as a romantic drama; as a denunciation of capital punishment and the cruelty of confusing the letter of the law with justice; and as a brilliant delineation of the nature of love, courage and self-sacrifice. Eduardo Serra's photography of the wintry landscape of Saint-Pierre (actually Nova Scotia) is marvelous, and the acting deserves the highest praise. By now, of course, everyone knows how exquisite Juliette Binoche is, and she is as good as ever here. But the thespian honors in this movie go to Daniel Auteuil, an actor of masterful subtlety and power, who makes Gerard Depardieu look like a double order of "jambon a' l'os."

A romantic drama with a progressive social conscience
Juliet Binoche demonstrates a steely grace in this French film set in the 1840s Newfoundland. A man commits murder during a night of drunken hyjinks. He's sentenced to the guillotine except for one the remote town of St. Pierre doesn't have the necessary executive device (nicknamed the "Widow"). The town officials send away for one from France (that must be some mail-order catalog they consulted), but in the meantime the convicted man is held in custody by a captain (enigmatically played by Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Binoche).

*** Binoche's character is progressively-minded, and instead of keeping the convict locked up, she puts him to work helping her with her garden and then with chores around St. Pierre. The townsfolk take a shine to the convict and begin to protest his pending execution.

*** This is an odd little period film with an anti-capital punishment stance. While not entirely surprising, the premise is remains a novelty to behold. You're never quite sure what made the characters who they are, but Binoche and Auteuil are a curiously striking couple and succeed in bringing plausibility to their roles.

Quality film with poignant story and excellent acting.
Set in 1849 on the Island of Saint Pierre off the coast of Canada, this 2001 French film is a sad and human drama about love, sin and redemption. The film starts with a senseless murder and a death sentence for the culprit, played by Emir Kustuica. However, the execution must be carried out by guillotine, which is referred to as "the widow" and there is no such instrument of death in the town. It has to be sent by ship from a French Island in the Caribbean. And this could take as long as a year.

The prisoner is under the control of a Captain, played by Daniel Auteuil. He is deeply in love with his wife, played by Juliette Binoche. There are some tender scenes of their lovemaking as well as scenes in which it is clear that he adores her and respects her in all ways. And so, when she sets out to reform the convicted murderer, he supports her wish. The convicted man is allowed out of his prison cell and accompanies her all over the province. He helps out the townspeople and works with her to plant a garden and learns to read. He even impregnates a local woman and marries her. Everyone in the town grows to admire this man and nobody wants the execution to take place.

What will happen? I was drawn into the story and, along with the townspeople, I too hoped he would eventually get his freedom. But the story is not as simple as that. And, as the tension heightened and moved towards its conclusion, I found myself clearly upset as I saw the way it was going.

This is a good film. The story and acting and cinematography are all excellent. It moved a little too slowly for my taste, however. And I found it hard to believe that the condemned man would be given so much freedom to move around the town. But this doesn't detract from the quality of the film, the empathy I felt throughout for all the characters or the subtleties of characterization that made the story seem real and poignant.

Do not watch this film
This film is laughably bad. The entire plot is completely unrealistic and it is difficult to have any sympathy for the cruel murderer who is central to the plot, who is not only a murderer but also totally retarded, missing numerous opportunities to escape and make life easier for himself and the saps who for some random reason have taken it upon themselves to look after him. This film is an absolute waste of time, but feel free to watch it if you feel like wasting 107 minutes of your life.

A sad, hyper-ideological film of little consequence
Lots of stilted pseudo-intellectual dialogue. A pseudo existentialist hero. A painfully ideological lecture against the death penalty. Stilted performances by brilliant actors. A receipe for disaster. Why this film was a hit, I have no idea. ... Read more