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The Lover Details

1992 Certificate 18
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 1495 members

In the Indo-China of the 1920's, a 15 year old French schoolgirl and a wealthy Chinese man more than twice her age are thrown together by a twist of fate. It is a moment of instant attraction and before long the couple find themselves caught up in an affair of uncontrollable desires. But this is a forbidden love... Read more

Starring Jane March, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Frederique Meininger, Jeanne Moreau
Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
Genres Drama

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The Lover

In the Indo-China of the 1920's, a 15 year old French schoolgirl and a wealthy Chinese man more than twice her age are thrown together by a twist of fate. It is a moment of instant attraction and before long the couple find themselves caught up in an affair of uncontrollable desires. But this is a forbidden love...

Starring Jane March, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Frederique Meininger, Jeanne Moreau, jeanne moreau (voice)
Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
Studio SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 50 mins
Certificate Certificate 18
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 22 Aug 2005
Production year: 1992
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Lover

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    Jean-Jacques Annaud (The Name Of The Rose, Seven Years in Tibet) raised a few eyebrows back in 1992 with this steamy tale of a girl's sexual awakening in 1920s' Indo-China. Based on Marguerite Duras's novel, it did feature young star Jane March in various states of undress, but there was really nothing much to get steamed up about. March plays a 15-year-old schoolgirl who ends up losing more than her inhibitions with older man Tony Leung — cue lots of exploration in darkened rooms, a voice-over by Jeanne Moreau, and a few deep and meaningful moments which March is too out of her (acting) depth to be able to convey.

    • Radio Times
  • Late '20s Indo-China. A 15-year-old schoolgirl leans wistfully on the rail of a ferryboat crossing the Mekong.... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of The Lover

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  • 20 out of 21 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    A Sensual Movie With A Difference

    It's not often I get to see a movie like this. The story of The Lover potrays a most complex and provocative relationship between a young French girl (Jane March) and a Chinaman (Tony Leung). The two lovers' attraction towards each other are purely physical, but there are a lot of psychological burdens and suffering that they can't break free from, since the two of them are psychologically washed-up people who lives within the shackles of society that they live in. At times they treat each other cruelly while at times they treat each other with tender affection, yet we don't know whether they feel true love for each other or not. That's where the story gets very interesting and different.

    The sex scenes are indeed graphic, but by no means done in bad taste or just for the sake of sex. The film is much more than about lust, it is about two lovers who found refuge in each other's arms. Jane March and Tony Leung gave great performances, showing the subtleties of conflicting emotions that they had to endure. Beautifully paced storyline with great atmosphere and soundtrack will make this a worthwhile movie experience. Very highly recommended

      • David Gray from Clackmannanshire, Scotland
  • Most recent members' review of The Lover

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  • 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Good

    I understood the charachters more and more as the movie progressed. 2 different people come across and share phyical intimacy and the emotions are beautifully acted.......the cold innocence mixed with maturity of the french girl and the passionate, insecure and longing chinese man. It was a different story, may be not a pleasant viewing but was good.

      • AA from Surrey, England
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1,495 Member ratings
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320
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100
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87
  • 10
42

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    • In the Indo-China of the 1920's, a 15 year old French schoolgirl and a wealthy Chinese man more than twice her age are thrown together by a twist of fate. It is a moment of instant attraction and ...