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Blame It on Fidel

EMAILPRINTGaumont

Blame It on Fidel reviews
74
8.5 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 14 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 4 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Domitilla Calamai (novel "Tutta colpa di Fidel")
Arnaud Cathrine
Julie Gavras

Directed by: Julie Gavras

Release Date:
Theatrical: August 3, 2007
DVD: November 6, 2007

Running Time: 99 minutes, Color

Origin: Italy / France

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Nina Kervel-Bey, Julie Depardieu, Stefano Accorsi, Benjamin Feuillet, Martine Chevallier, Olivier Perrier, Marie Kremer, and Raphaël Personnaz

Blame it on Fidel is the story of a 9 year-old girl growing up during the early 70's who's quiet, middle-class life is thrown into chaos when her parents become political activists. (Gaumont)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

A wrenching, funny and wise little picture, with a diva-like junior star at its center.

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88

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Brilliantly, the movie becomes a double coming-of-age story. The parents' political awakening parallels their daughter's.

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88

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The film contains a surprising amount of understated humor. It is not a grim portrayal of a harsh upbringing, but an affectionate portrait of parents who will be able to change the world before they will be able to change their daughter.

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80

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Julie Gavras’s wonderful film, Blame It on Fidel, views its ideological conflicts through the eyes of a smart, willful child.

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80

Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano

Blame It on Fidel is the thoroughly engaging, clear-eyed and charming story of a little girl grappling with the domestic fallout of tumultuous political times.

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80

Variety Lisa Nesselson

Wonderfully engaging look at 1970-71 from a child's p.o.v.

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75

The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray

But while Kervel will probably have to have her own children before she fully understands the changes parents go through, she's bound to adjust to her folks' whims. Having no power of her own, what choice does she have?

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75

New York Post V.A. Musetto

Blame It on Fidel doesn't aim for the profundity of Costa-Gavras films like "State of Siege" and "Z" - but who's complaining?

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70

Village Voice Aaron Hillis

The real treasure here is newcomer Kervel, a child superstar in the making.

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70

Film Threat Jamie Tipps

Despite the seriousness of the subject, the movie is sweet and charming; it knows that audiences hate to be preached to and instead shows us--as it shows a Anna--why we should care about being humane.

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70

The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen

Documentary filmmaker Julie Gavras has made a successful transition into narratives with the remarkably assured, thoroughly delightful Blame It on Fidel.

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70

Washington Post Desson Thomson

The result is a movie of deceptive lightness and powerful sweep. And what makes it truly work is the presence of Kervel, a first-time actor whose Anna is disarmingly self-assured and sweet. Without her, nothing else matters.

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50

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The young heroine is rather humorless, but Gavras's intelligence and skillful touch are evident throughout.

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50

Chicago Tribune Tasha Robinson

Gavras’ ending makes it clear where her sympathies lie. In the process of building to that conclusion, she overplays her metaphor a bit, but still, political tracts rarely come this sweet and sympathetic.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

David T. gave it a7:
Delightful film that lets the audience discover through a child's eyes.

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