Movie Description
Denys Arcand delivers a beautiful film with THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS, the story of a man on his deathbed who is joined by his distant son and all his closest friends throughout the last--wonderful and loving--days of his life. A follow-up to 1986's THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, the same characters from that movie reappear this time around. Now Remy (Remy Girard), the horny history teacher, is hospitalized and in pain. But at the urging of his wife Louise (Dorothee Berryman), Remy's son Sebastian (Stephane Rousseau) comes to his aid. Sebastian is a banker who tosses cash around, paying hospital administrators, union workers, Remy's former students, and even a local heroin dealer, to help make his father's last days of life as comfortable as possible. Along with this financial commitment also comes love, and the relationship between this father and son is touching.
The sometimes raucous and comic mood of the film, generated by perverted stories and silly jokes, stands in striking contrast to this serious story of life, sickness, and dying. But it is that balance, which Arcand keeps so neatly in check, that makes THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS a truly great cinematic feat, as well as a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.
Denys Arcand delivers a beautiful film with THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS, the story of a man on his deathbed who is joined by his distant son and all his closest friends throughout the last--wonderful and loving--days of his life. In this follow-up to 1986's THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, the same characters reappear. Now Remy (Remy Girard), the horny history teacher, is hospitalized and in pain. But at the urging of his wife, Louise (Dorothee Berryman), Remy's son Sebastian (Stephane Rousseau) comes to his aid. Sebastian is a banker who tosses cash around, paying hospital administrators, union workers, Remy's former students, and even a local heroin dealer, to help make his father's last days as comfortable as possible. Along with this financial commitment also comes love, and the relationship between this father and son is touching.
The sometimes raucous and comic mood of the film, generated by perverted stories and silly jokes, stands in striking contrast to this serious story of life, sickness, and dying. But it is that balance, kept neatly in check by Arcand, that makes THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS a truly great cinematic feat, as well as a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.
| Credits | | Producer: | Daniel Louis, Denise Robert | | Cast: | Dominique Michel, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Marie-Josee Croze |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame 1.33, Theatrical Release: November 21, 2003 (NY/LA)
Editorial Reviews
"...Girard and Marie-Josee Croze bring piercing insight to their portrayals..."
Movieline - Stephen Farber (11/01/2003)
"...Remy Girard gives a hilariously scrappy performance....The Oscar for best foreign film belongs right here..."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (11/27/2003)
"...Generous-spirited and bracing....A rueful comic drama about attempting to make sense of one's life..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (11/21/2003)
"...Arcand generates a mood of wistful tranquility..."
Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman (11/28/2003)
"[T]his is a smart piece of work."
USA Today - Mike Clark (11/21/2003)
"[A] movie with brains, indignation, irony and idealism -- a film about people who think seriously, and express themselves with passion."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (12/19/2003)
"A moving, note-perfect Oscar-winner."
Uncut - Chris Roberts (09/01/2004)
Awards
2003Academy AwardsBest Foreign Language Film, 2003CannesBest ActressMarie-Josee Croze
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