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A Very Long Engagement
2004
This World War I mystery finds limitless beauty in the nostalgia of loss. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, whose whimsical AMELIE riveted audiences, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT also stars Audrey Tautou--the 21st century's Audrey Hepburn--in the stubbornly emotional role of a widow in denial. Here she is Mathilde, a waifish young .. Read more
| Starring | Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Ticky Holgado, Chantal Neuwirth |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Pierre Jeunet |
| Genres | Drama, Romance, World Cinema |
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A Very Long Engagement
This World War I mystery finds limitless beauty in the nostalgia of loss. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, whose whimsical AMELIE riveted audiences, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT also stars Audrey Tautou--the 21st century's Audrey Hepburn--in the stubbornly emotional role of a widow in denial. Here she is Mathilde, a waifish young woman with a pronounced limp from childhood polio. Living with her quirky aunt and uncle in a farmhouse by the sea, and waiting desperately for her fiance Manech (Gaspard Ulliel) to return from the war, she believes that if he were truly lost she would feel it in her heart. Thus, when the bad news arrives--Manech and five fellow soldiers were exiled to No Man's Land for shooting off their own fingers in hope of being discharged--Mathilde refuses to believe he is dead. Instead, she begins her own investigation into Manech's infantry, hiring a private detective and tracking down the wives and girlfriends of each of Manech's compatriots. Conducting countless interviews, Mathilde pieces together Manech's war stories--which are told in earthshaking flashbacks involving gruesome explosions, flying guts, and massive suffering. And yet, the all-in-this-together humanity of these awful scenes, and the heartfelt bravery with which Mathilde absorbs the details of each battle, is undeniably moving. Jodie Foster appears as Elodie, one of the widows, in a charismatic yet muted performance and with a flawless accent. However, the most intriguing of the widows is Tina Lombardi (Marion Cotillard), a thrilling dominatrix-assassin bent on avenging her lover. A timeless masterwork that raises the bar for breathtaking camerawork, vivid landscapes, and fantastical storytelling, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT is adapted from the novel by Sebastien Japriscot.
| Starring | Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Ticky Holgado, Chantal Neuwirth, Jean-Pierre Becker, Jodie Foster |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Pierre Jeunet |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 14 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, Romance, World Cinema |
| Language | French |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 13 Jun 2005 Production year: 2004 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Although based on the late Sébastien Japrisot's 1991 novel, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's lyrical treat for the eye and heart plays a little like “Amélie Goes to the Front”. Grittier in tone than that romantic fable — A Very Long Engagement contains unflinching scenes of battlefield carnage — and with flashes of the dark humour of Jeunet's Delicatessen, this epic romantic mystery still has whimsical charm to spare. The gorgeously gamine Audrey Tautou stars as Mathilde, the fiancée of a First World War soldier abandoned to face an ignominious death in no-man's land as punishment for a self-inflicted wound. Mathilde, trusting her intuition, refuses to believe he has been killed and begins an investigation into her lover's fate. This sweeping saga is fabulous looking and beautifully performed — two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster has an uncredited but pivotal role — and, though overlong, remains an engaging, utterly involving portrait of unswerving devotion.
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Grand, gently moving movie on an epic scale, encompassing not only the horrors of war but also the effect it had on life after: the lush landscapes, through which our heroine travels, recover, but the people don't.
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Most helpful member's review
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104 out of 105 people found this review helpful
Expectations
After the other films of Jeunet (Amelie, delicatessen, and the city of the lost children - Alien apart), one is entitled to expect another quirky, funny and fast paced movie...
This one is, but it is not so full of all the funny quirks Jeunet got us used to. This film is more serious - it is the adaptation of a novel whereas all the other films were purely coming from Jeunet's imagination.
But he still placed a few of these touching quirks, and the whole film is touching too. He shows the war as it is, cruel, but in a very watchable way, even for sensitive souls, and an Audrey Toutou lovely, a bit naughty, and still very determined character.
I did prefer the other films to this one, but it is still worth its 5 star, no doubt.
AND, my jaw dropped when I saw Jodie Foster, in this small, but still rewarding role: no hint of an american accent, whatsoever, as if she was another person, a real french person as that (French is my first language). I am very impressed by her performance.
In this film, you will also find all the (odd looking and excellent)actors Jeunet usually works with.
The film is captivating, with a very aesthetic washed out colour, and very well studied characters. The end is also urprising, and very poetic...
I need to say something negative?
I can't. -
Most recent members' review
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6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Sub titles put us off
Did'nt see this movie as english subtitles and war films do not mix
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News and features
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A cast worthy of Da Vinci
- 24 Jan 2005
The film version of The Da Vinci Code looks set to cause as much excitement as the bestselling novel by Dan Brown as the cast for the forthcoming production is gradually revealed. Reports suggest that Audrey Tautou, the star of quirky French romance Amelie, is to line up alongside Tom Hanks and Jean Reno when filming on the Christian history thriller begins later this year. Tautou, who is currently starring in A Very Long Engagement, is being tipped for the role of cryptologist Sophie Neveu -... Read more
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This World War I mystery finds limitless beauty in the nostalgia of loss. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, whose whimsical AMELIE riveted audiences, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT also stars Audrey Tautou--... -