Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I saw it, loved it, and want to buy it. But I can't do so yet.*, November 22, 2005
I had the pleasure of seeing this award-winning French Canadian film at the 2005 Toronto Film Fest. I would dearly like to see it again -- even at the exorbitant price of $45 -- but I have to refrain for the time being. The reason: the details don't specify whether or not this film has ENGLISH SUBTITLES, and I strongly suspect that it DOESN'T. (It's been my experience with Quebec DVD films in the past that if they don't specifically MENTION subtitles, there ARE no subtitles.) I've inquired about this to Amazon, but have not received the courtesy of a reply yet. So, much as I would like to recommend that you check out this amazing character-driven film right away, I can only suggest that you hold off for the time being, until the issue is cleared up. (Unless you SPEAK French, of course ... then go for it!)
* Update: Thanks to another Amazon user, I found out that the DVD was available from an alternate source for a lot less money and definitely DID have English subtitles. I strongly believe that it's the same version that Amazon is offering. Why they refuse to update the details is a mystery, but you can now consider it safe to purchase if you don't speak French.
|
|
|
24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Canadian Film Ever!, November 12, 2005
It's already Canada's official entry at the Oscars and has been distributed in 50 countries. It also boasts one of the most enthusiastic ratings response on the IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401085/ratings) and it's just been made available on DVD on Amazon. See: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401085/combined
It's a coming-of-age story set in Quebec in the 60's, 70's and 80's in a suburban family of five boys. It's been variously acclaimed as the "Best Canadian Film ever" and the "Best Quebec Film of the past 20 years", which is not surprising as the best Canadian films are almost invariably from Québec.
I personally think it deserves all the accolades. On top of good acting, a gripping story, gut-wrenching situations, a wonderful recreation of the era, and a very real Québec atmosphere, it offers visual explosions of pure cinematic genius. It it doesn't get the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar - let alone the nomination- there is something seriously wrong with America!
|
|
|
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow!, November 12, 2005
I rarely review items on Amazon, but I just saw this film and believe it deserves far more attention than it is getting in the U.S. If you like movies about people, family, and relationships and don't like Hollywood's oversimplified characters and facile plots, this film is for you.
The story in a nutshell: lower middle class parents raise 5 sons in suburban Montreal from 1960 to the present. There are 2 main themes: the father's relationships with his sons, and the struggle of one of the sons to reconcile his identity with his parents' expectations.
While I was watching this film, I kept waiting for one of the usual missteps: a character simplified to keep the story moving, an action or phrase that isn't genuine, an actor briefly stepping out of character. It didn't happen! This 2 hour movie was flawless in how it portrayed this family and the times they lived in. But don't get the idea this is some french version of Forest Gump. This movie encapsulates a time and place by focusing on the individuals and letting their unique lives tell the story of the generation.
I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the superb acting from this cast you've probable never heard of (I sure hadn't). If this film was in english the actor playing the father would be a slamdunk for the best supporting actor Oscar. The portrayals of the mother, the eldest son as an adult, and all the sons as children were superb. Finally, I would call the lead character's performance a Tour de Force if it weren't for the fact that this somehow implies it was overdone. It wasn't - it was just perfect!
A word of warning. These characters speak Quebecois. Don't expect your high school french or even your college french/english dictionary to let understand the dialogue without subtitles. This is a shame because the color imparted by language is part of the story, especially the French Canadian swear words based on the Catholic liturgy.
Go out of your way to see this film. It's a gem.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
DVD ~ Brad Rowe
DVD ~ Sook-Yin Lee
DVD ~ Sean Hoagland; Owen Alabado; Laura Jane Coles; Katheryn Hecht;
DVD ~ Patrick Bauchau
DVD ~ Tanner Cohen
