I've been hearing a lot of good things about this movie. It's been getting great critical acclaim since it played at Cannes. I'd really like to see it.
Poster:
http://www.impawards.com/2003/barbarian_invasions_ver3.html
I'm dying to see it, too. It's apparently some sort of sequel/companion piece to Arcand's '86 film, The Decline of the American Empire.
I missed the first press screening here, but they might be having another one *fingers crossed*.
The Barbarian Invasions is an excellent film and I highly recommend it. It's beautifully humane, finding a perfect harmony between comedy and tragedy. Arcand displays some truly intelligent and mature filmmaking with this film, which is extremely personal and for that I'm deeply grateful. One of the year's very best.. currently thrid on my top ten for the year. The only problem I had with this film was its epilogue, which was confusing as to what the point of it was... but the film ends on a nice note.. sort of. A brilliant, both intellectually and emotionally satisfying movie.... a classic.
Quote from: samsongThe Barbarian Invasions is an excellent film and I highly recommend it. It's beautifully humane, finding a perfect harmony between comedy and tragedy. Arcand displays some truly intelligent and mature filmmaking with this film, which is extremely personal and for that I'm deeply grateful. One of the year's very best.. currently thrid on my top ten for the year. The only problem I had with this film was its epilogue, which was confusing as to what the point of it was... but the film ends on a nice note.. sort of. A brilliant, both intellectually and emotionally satisfying movie.... a classic.
Have you seen
Decline of the American Empire, samsong? How does it compare?
Unfortunately I havent seen Decline of the American Empire... it came out before I was born and I can't find a copy anywhere. But The Barbarian Invasions supposedly stands alone and I personally loved it. It reminded me a lot of La Dolce Vita in the interactions among characters; the conversations, which are highly intellectual and very engaging, are all very much like the ones in most Italian cinema. There's also a Jean Renoir-like level of humanity that's achieved in the film. I don't know what I need to say to convince you of how great the film is but it seems like you're already anticipating it. Regardless of how good Decline of the American Empire is, I'm sure The Barbarian Invasions is just as good, if not better.
Quote from: samsongUnfortunately I havent seen Decline of the American Empire... it came out before I was born and I can't find a copy anywhere. But The Barbarian Invasions supposedly stands alone and I personally loved it. It reminded me a lot of La Dolce Vita in the interactions among characters; the conversations, which are highly intellectual and very engaging, are all very much like the ones in most Italian cinema. There's also a Jean Renoir-like level of humanity that's achieved in the film. I don't know what I need to say to convince you of how great the film is but it seems like you're already anticipating it. Regardless of how good Decline of the American Empire is, I'm sure The Barbarian Invasions is just as good, if not better.
Oh yes, I am anticipating it highly. I was just curious how the two might compare.
Thanks for the descriptions!
I caught this today... and loved it. It's absolutel a worthwhile sequel to Decline of the American Empire, and may even be better in some ways.
Much more when my DSL is back mid-week and I have more time on here.
Judging from Ebert & Roeper, it's suppose to have a rather sad storyline about death but yet it's very optomistic about both life and death.
Quote from: SydneyJudging from Ebert & Roeper, it's suppose to have a rather sad storyline about death but yet it's very optomistic about both life and death.
It is stoic and humane... I don't know about "optimistic." It's a very searching film, very open-ended and even equivocal.
Edit: I love that poster, too. That and
Elephant are the best posters... both Cannes-related, too. Interesting.
I wish I could say more to help you about the decline of the american empire but I saw it a while back and I don't have a big memory of it, but we have copies of it in every videostore here, you make me wanna go right away there and rent it! =3
aside of that, I also think the sequel is a marvelous movie with dept as much in the characters than in the story... and it also feels very weird to see humorists act so serious! 0_0
Mirimax Home Entertainment have also announced the region one release of The Barbarian Invasions which stars Stéphane Rousseau and Rémy Girard. The film won an Academy Award for for Best Foreign Language Film and will be available to own from the 13th July this year. Retail should be set at around $29.99. The film will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen along with a French Dolby Digital 5.1 track. English subtitles will also be included. We have no word on extra material I'm afraid. We don't have the official artwork yet either, but we'll bring you that as soon as we do. Stay tuned.
Quote from: CinephileMirimax Home Entertainment have also announced the region one release of The Barbarian Invasions which stars Stéphane Rousseau and Rémy Girard. The film won an Academy Award for for Best Foreign Language Film and will be available to own from the 13th July this year. Retail should be set at around $29.99. The film will be presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen along with a French Dolby Digital 5.1 track. English subtitles will also be included. We have no word on extra material I'm afraid. We don't have the official artwork yet either, but we'll bring you that as soon as we do. Stay tuned.
This is definitely on my "to-buy" list. It's wonderful.
Now I just wish Criterion would break down and release
Decline of the American Empire... I tell them to do so every month, it seems like!
Quote from: godardian
This is definitely on my "to-buy" list. It's wonderful.
Now I just wish Criterion would break down and release Decline of the American Empire... I tell them to do so every month, it seems like!
Two GREAT movies... if you enjoy them, another quebecer to look for is Leolo directed by Lauzon. I'd say it was done in 1990 or something. Tom Waits did some of the music in it too...
I want to see this movie , even blind buy it, but I've been told that it works better if you've seen Decline . Advices?
Quote from: cronopioI want to see this movie , even blind buy it, but I've been told that it works better if you've seen Decline . Advices?
It really does work better that way, and I'm a bit surprised that it's worldwide success hasn't led to a
Decline DVD release... However, I'd still recommend it to anyone. It's not essential to have seen
Decline, just preferable.
Quote from: godardianQuote from: cronopioI want to see this movie , even blind buy it, but I've been told that it works better if you've seen Decline . Advices?
It really does work better that way, and I'm a bit surprised that it's worldwide success hasn't led to a Decline DVD release... However, I'd still recommend it to anyone. It's not essential to have seen Decline, just preferable.
I haven't seen Decline of the American Empire but I still loved the Barbarian Invasions. It's clearly a continuation but you can appreciate it as a film without seeing the first one, in my opinion.
Here's a somewhat-depressing story; a companion piece to this somewhat-depressing film: I haven't seen it yet. I wanted to very much, but missed it when it came here. I was intrigued by the poster -- it looked like Happiness's poster, no? One girl, an acquaintance of mine who did go to see it, said it was totally not for us (being a college audience) -- she was bored by it, and so were the others who were with her. She said it wasn't for a "college audience" so there was no point in bringing it to the campus. I don't know, this kind of irked me. Don't know why I'm bringing this up except to get some more learned opinions on the film itself. What films is it like? I don't really have the traditional college taste, I guess, and I'm thankful for that, because I'm perfectly capable of sitting through a movie about older adults and life and death (Magnolia, 21 Grams -- and those are even somewhat mainstream compared to more esoteric films that would deal with this kind of thing). M'eh. I would consider blind-buying it if I had the cash come July 13th -- I just want to SEE it. Oh, and what do you think about the Happiness poster connection?
Quote from: OnomatopitaOh, and what do you think about the Happiness poster connection?
I know. Both are drawings and have a bunch of people who look worried. Also, the fact that the Happiness poster has a yellow/orange background and the Barbarian Invasions poster's is blue. Blue and yellow are opposites.
Hey, since I am from Quebec, I can assure you there is a DVD version of The Decline of the American Empire. We have several copies at the video store where I used to work.
Don't know if it's available in America or the rest of Canada for tat matter, but it is in Quebec. I am nowin Australia, should get back at the end of June, so if any of you want it on DVD if it hasn't been released yet, let me know and I'll hook you up.
I believe there is an English track, but who cares, there defenitely are English subtitles.
Hope the info helped.
Quote from: JulkeI believe there is an English track, but who cares, there defenitely are English subtitles.
Ugh, I wouldn't want an English track. I laughed my ass off with subtitles.
Quote from: OnomatopitaHere's a somewhat-depressing story; a companion piece to this somewhat-depressing film: I haven't seen it yet. I wanted to very much, but missed it when it came here. I was intrigued by the poster -- it looked like Happiness's poster, no? One girl, an acquaintance of mine who did go to see it, said it was totally not for us (being a college audience) -- she was bored by it, and so were the others who were with her. She said it wasn't for a "college audience" so there was no point in bringing it to the campus. I don't know, this kind of irked me. Don't know why I'm bringing this up except to get some more learned opinions on the film itself. What films is it like? I don't really have the traditional college taste, I guess, and I'm thankful for that, because I'm perfectly capable of sitting through a movie about older adults and life and death (Magnolia, 21 Grams -- and those are even somewhat mainstream compared to more esoteric films that would deal with this kind of thing). M'eh. I would consider blind-buying it if I had the cash come July 13th -- I just want to SEE it. Oh, and what do you think about the Happiness poster connection?
It's more along the lines of a Woody Allen drama, as far as feel and propulsion, than the films you mention. It's very stoic, very grown-up, very much about baby boomer regrets, how they thought they were going to change the world and failed. This may be what your friend meant, but if it is, that's rather narrow and a little ageist. Isn't college a time in your life and mental development when you should start (if you haven't already) being open to things that don't strictly match your demographic? It's a very good film, succeeds in every way something like
The Big Chill fails: It's not a self-congratulatory baby-boomer movie. It's about life and death, but it's not metaphysical in any way; it's very accepting of death and very incisive about life as it's lived in North America and what that has meant, does mean, and will mean.
That's what I meant by who cares. I hate translation like most of us here I believe. And anyway, my first language is French so I couldn't care less.
I just checked and you can get the DVD on amazon.ca.
Enjoy