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Left Luggage
Caste Hill Productions

Left Luggage reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 51 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.7 out of 10
based on 15 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 4 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Laura Fraser, Adam Monty, Isabella Rossellini, Jeroen Krabbé, and Topol

Chaja (Fraser), a young and free-spirted liberal Jewish girl in 1970's Amsterdam, becomes the nanny to a retarded Jewish boy in a strict Hassidic Family.


GENRE(S): Drama  
WRITTEN BY: Carl Friedman (novel)
Edwin de Vries
 
DIRECTED BY: Jeroen KrabbĂ©  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: July 10, 2001 
Video: July 10, 2001 
Theatrical: September 22, 2000 
RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: Belgium / Netherlands / USA 

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...

75
Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey
An exceptional film -- unpacks long-buried suitcases, both figuratively and literally.
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75
New York Daily News Jack Mathews
Krabbe attempts to stuff too many themes and subplots into the story.
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75
Baltimore Sun Staff (Not credited)
The film is a thoughtful, but by no means somber, look at an issue that might strike a particular chord with Jews.
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70
Village Voice Leslie Camhi
Krabbé alternates exaggeration with sentiment, but the main characters are relatively complex, and its surprise ending is genuinely affecting.
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63
Chicago Tribune Robert K. Elder
The only glaring fault of this otherwise fine film is that director Jeroen Krabbe's sense of drama is far too heavy-handed in spots.
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60
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Becomes disarmingly warm and even a little folksy at times, but Edwin de Vries' script proves devastatingly deceptive.
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60
LA Weekly Paul Malcolm
Manipulative filmmaking at its most gently persuasive.
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50
Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Not for everyone's taste, I'd think, but a notably thoughtful effort nonetheless.
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50
Variety David Stratton
A well intentioned but uneven and overly sentimental film.
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50
New York Post Jonathan Foreman
After a dreadfully clunky start, Left Luggage picks up and becomes quite moving.
50
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
One of those movies where the audience knows the message before the film begins and the characters are still learning it when the film ends.
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50
Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
The drama has compelling moments and touches of imagination, but it relies more on sentiment than sense in conveying its messages about faith, family, and tradition.
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41
Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson
Has only its actors to keep it afloat.
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40
TV Guide Ken Fox
Can a adorable, freckle-faced four-year-old save an entire movie? Sadly no.
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40
The New York Times Stephen Holden
So intent on pushing its virtuous agenda that its characters often sound like mouthpieces parroting predigested attitudes.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 9.7 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Arnold R. gave it a10:
Best film I've seen in several years. This film is a work of art to be appreciated by small sophisticated audience.

Edith C. gave it a 9:
I love the movie... no matter what the people say...

Wendy R. gave it a 10:
Excellent movie. It hits you right in your heart.

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