Customer Reviews

La Veuve De Saint-Pierre / The Widow of St. Pierre (Orignal French Version With English Subtiles)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

THE WIDOW has to do with the intersection of law, destiny, criminal guilt, and rehabilitation. In other words, it's serious business. The compelling acting of Binoche and company carries off this understated (yet melodramatic!) film. Many long takes and minimal dialogue.

Warning: Capital punishment advocates should probably avoid this film, as THE WIDOW may behead their belief.

First of all let me say when I hear "Patrice Leconte" I think about
"Ridicule", which to me was one of the best films I've ever seen, so I
am biased for the director. That being said, I hardly recognized his
work here. The characters were cold, their emotions either over the top
(Pauline/Madame La), subdued to extremes (Jean, the captain) or simply
idealized (Ariel Neel Auguste). What I liked most about this film is
the way that "traditional societies" are depicted.

Besides the beautiful lighting (the scenes at the stables, with the
snow and the sea) and correct music (when the captain listens to violin
music, there's a dissonant background melody, hinting at what will come
next subtly) I felt common sense was missing from the story from the
start, with such unusual circumstances of a captain taking for a victim
just because... he loved his wife so much? But how could he not realize
he was undermining his position in a traditional society?

I agree with the IMDb reviewer "rps-2" that it's a "morality tale" and
a melodrama (all things surrounding the famous guillotine are tart and
repetitive). I think that makes its "point" ("yet another plea against
death penalty") fade in the fog of the plot. The Governor's last scene
is another case in point.

Overall... I liked having watched it. But I'd never buy it!

PS: Try to watch it on a big wide screen, the landscapes are probably
lost on a 21' TV screen like the one I saw it.

I have nothing but praise for Amazon. The DVD which I received is for one of my favorite movies. Unfortunately I received a flawed product. Amazon responded immediately with offers for corrective action. I chose to receive a new DVD but learned that the company had ceased production of that film. Although I had to bear the cost of shipment for the original oder, my refund was initiated courteously, professionally and promptly. I continue to enjoy and trust Amazon.