Rent A Very Long Engagement
(2004)
Un Long Dimanche De Fiancailles
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From the highly acclaimed Director and star of Amelie, comes the truly amazing story of one woman's journey to discover the truth behind her lover's disappearance, whilst battling against the secrecy and absurdity of War. In 1919, Mathilde was 19 years old. Two years earlier, her fiance Manech left for the front at the Somme. Like millions of others he was "killed on the field of battle." It's written in black and white on the official notice. But Mathilde refuses to believe it. If Manech had died, she would know. A former sergeant tells her in vain that Manech died in the no man's land of a trench named Bingo Crepescule, in the company of four other men condemned to die for self-inflicted wounds. Her path ahead is full of obstacles but Mathilde is not frightened. Anything is possible to someone who is willing to challenge fate...
Members Reviews Voted Most Helpful
A Very Long Engagement review by Swambi
Exceptional
(3) of (4) members found this review helpful.
This is a unique film. Whilst it retains the quirky commedy and romance of Amelie, it takes it to a far darker and more mature level, with brilliant direction and cinematography. It successfully combines a wide range film categories - romance, history, war, detective and mystery - it's imposible to pin it down to any single type. Audrey Tautou delivers an amazing performance as a determined girl who refuses to believe that her fiancee died in the war, and will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Shots alternate between harrowing and detailed depiction of life and death in the trenches, with stunningly beautiful scenes, centred on the atlantic coast. The story develops over an extended period, and involves multiple strands, so that getting a full understanding of exactly what's happening benefits from more than a single viewing (unless you are very fast on the uptake).
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A Very Long Engagement review by ZS
Picturesque war-time fairy tale detective story.
(2) of (2) members found this review helpful.
Jeunet uses a large number of short detailed scenes to tell a long and complicated stroy in a palatable way. This is not a film to watch when you are half-asleep, or tipsy, but for the alert viewer provides a very entertaining yarn, with many amusing diversions throughout.
Essentially it is a detective story, as Tautou (known now to the world as Amelie) tries various leads and calls upon fate to try and discover her lost love, who was one of five men condemned for illicit attempts to be discharged from the front line of the Somme.
The film is very picturesque throughout, and shows a maturity of Jeunet's distinctive style. Extremely ambitious in scope, and achieves a great deal of what it sets out to do. I would prefer to rate this 3.5, but will rate it a generous 4, as it deserves better than 3.
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A Very Long Engagement review by JD
French finesse
(2) of (2) members found this review helpful.
I don't know what it is about good French films but this had the same feeling as Jean De Florette and Amelie. Audrey Tautou was the reason I requested this film and she is superb. As an added and entirely unexpected surprise for me was an appearance from Jodie Foster. For me the two best actresses in modern cinema.
Set against this was trench warfare which was poignantly pointless and dehumanising and seen from a very personal perspective. The plot was a bit convoluted with several lines of investigation and the male actors were not quite as fantastically gifted as their female colleagues but I would generally recommend this film.
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Recent Reviews of A Very Long Engagement by our members
A Very Long Engagement review by Nick
Not to forget WWI and smile
(1) of (1) members found this review helpful.
This showed the harrowing and perhaps honest face of the 1914-18 war. It manged to balance the serious and horrifying images of the trenches with a light magical touch and a page turning plot. All achieved with exceptional cinamatography and production values... watch it!
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A Very Long Engagement review by Andrew Ballantine
Beautifully moving story
(1) of (1) members found this review helpful.
Audrey Tautou and Marion Cotillard are excellent in this film with a surprise appearance by Jodie Foster.
Never mind that it is subtitled this a superbly crafted and moving film.
Any description of the story would spoil your enjoyment of watching the film, but suffice to say that it based around the horrors of the first World war and lost loved ones.
The title gives a hint to the final outcome.
As ever the French make excellent films and always manage to find a slightly different angle to view any situation.
If you do not usually watch subtitled films, put your prejudice aside for once and watch this film.
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A Very Long Engagement review by VH
A really lovely film
(0) of (1) members found this review helpful.
A lovely way to spend an evening. A captivating film which both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed.
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All Other Members Reviews
A Very Long Engagement review by Irene Ridgeon
Amelie does WW1 or France goes Hollywood
(1) of (5) members found this review helpful.
This was very disappointing for me. It took a very long time to say very little and seemed to be trying very hard to manipulate the emotions rather than being truly moving; a gimmicky and ultimately shallow treatment of serious subject matter, especially as I understand this is the first French film to tackle it.
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A Very Long Engagement review by Carol
Charming
(0) of (2) members found this review helpful.
A lovely film, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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Rated: 3.7 stars out of 5 from 408 ratings
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BFI Classification:
Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over
| Release Date: | 13/06/2005 |
| Production Year: | 2004 |
| Run Time: | 129 minutes |
| Aspect Ratio: | Widescreen 2.40:1 |
| Format: | Pal |
| Colour: | Colour |
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Soundtrack Promo
