This dark drama explores a true tale set in 1850 on the isolated French-Canadian island of St. Pierre. Yugoslav director Emir Kustirica makes a fabulous acting debut as Neele August, an illiterate fisherman who brutally murders his ex-fishing captain in a night of drunken revelry. Sentenced to death, August cannot be killed .. Read more
| Starring | Juliette Binoche, Michel Duchaussoy, Marc Beland, Christian Charmetant |
|---|---|
| Director | Patrice Leconte |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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This dark drama explores a true tale set in 1850 on the isolated French-Canadian island of St. Pierre. Yugoslav director Emir Kustirica makes a fabulous acting debut as Neele August, an illiterate fisherman who brutally murders his ex-fishing captain in a night of drunken revelry. Sentenced to death, August cannot be killed until the remote island governor imports a used guillotine from the French government. While awaiting the arrival of the "widow," August is placed under the care of the reticent, iconoclastic Captain Jean (Daniel Auteuil) and his freethinking wife, Pauline (Juliette Binoche). Under Pauline's direction, August becomes a devoted social servant whose heroic deeds place the island's female population solidly against his death sentence.
The film's costuming and art direction are accomplished, setting the stage for Eduardo Serra's gorgeous landscape cinematography, at its best amongst the dreary seasonal changes of the remote island. Low angles, hand-held camerawork, and consistently foggy skies create a seasick feeling as director Patrice Leconte's pained attention to Jean's horse and the society surrounding the main characters elevates the film from a tidy chamber drama into a visually engaging philosophical discourse.
| Starring | Juliette Binoche, Michel Duchaussoy, Marc Beland, Christian Charmetant, Philippe Du Janerand, Emir Kusturica, Philippe Magnan, Daniel Auteuil |
|---|---|
| Director | Patrice Leconte |
| Studio | PARK CIRCUS |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 47 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: French |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 2000 To Rent: DVD: not available |
Saint-Pierre is a small island off Newfoundland. The year is 1850. Fog and scandal enwrap the island in the wake of a... read more on Time Out
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A very enjoyable film.
A beautiful period drama set on the french 'cod islands' off the Newfoundland coast in the 1850's.
La Veuve in the title has a double ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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What can you say but.... nul poi.
Absolutely dreadful tree hugging, hippy, save the world, peace man, boring clap trap as you'll ever watch. Honestly, there's no complex story, no twist ... read more »
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Disneyland Paris
Whilst clearly this is not set in Paris, the totally manufactured set seems emblematic of the whole mis-en-scene - which is about as artificial as you can get. ... read more »
- 0
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Thoroughly enjoyable
Thoroughly enjoyable film.
Period drama meets Pirates of the Caribbean. Although Hollywood would NEVER produce a fim with this storyline.
... read more »
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