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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Widow of Saint-Pierre, The

EMAILPRINTLions Gate Films Inc.

Widow of Saint-Pierre, The reviews
72
8.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 9 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Claude Faraldo

Directed by: Patrice Leconte

Release Date:
Theatrical: February 23, 2001
DVD: September 18, 2001

Running Time: 112 minutes, Color

Origin: Canada / France

Summary

RATING: R for a scene of sexuality and brief violence

Starring Juliette Binoche, Daniel Auteuil, Emir Kusturica, Michel Duchaussoy, and Philippe Magnan

An emotionally-charged romantic epic about an extraordinary woman poised between two extraordinary men at a pivotal moment in time. Set in 1850 on the desolate and intensely beautiful island of Saint-Pierre, a remote French territory off the coast of Newfoundland, the film is a powerful and provocative examination of grand passions and their consequences. (Lions Gate Films)

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...

100

Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan

Remarkable movie.

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A beautiful and haunting film that tells this story, and then tells another subterranean story about the seasons of a marriage.

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100

Boston Globe Jay Carr

A grand, dark, grave, severe piece of first-rate cinema.

91

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Leconte's signature on the film alone makes it worth seeing.

91

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

The subtle selectivity of Leconte's eye, how he moves with great control from gesture to gesture, is matched by the disciplined intensity of the performances.

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90

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

It's a kind of 18th-century "Dead Man Walking" but with that earlier film's foreground arguments against capital punishment pushed to the background here.

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88

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Has the resonance, eloquence and formal rigor of a piece of great literature.

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80

Time Richard Corliss

Binoche is especially subtle and radiant in another splendid drama from Leconte.

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80

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Mr. Leconte seems at last to have anchored his cinematic gifts to a story worth caring about.

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80

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Faraldo's most engrossing and inventive script, alternately serious and comic, is beautifully realized by Binoche, Auteuil and Kusturica, all of whom reveal a nobility of spirit and stylish gallantry so cherished by the French.

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80

Chicago Reader Fred Camper

Bosnian-born director Emir Kusturica delivers a superb performance as the prisoner, a brutish cipher who gradually reveals his humanity, and the delicate lighting often produces silhouetted faces that evoke the ultimate incomprehensibility of human emotion.

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80

Film.com Elizabeth Weitzman

Definitely worth a chance: although everyone in this fog-shrouded setting makes grand sacrifices, all you'll lose are a few tears.

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80

Washington Post Rita Kempley

A compelling French Canadian drama.

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80

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

For the director, Mr. Leconte, and for the usually volcanic Mr. Auteuil, the quiet, cumulative power of this film is a striking departure from the dazzling energy of their previous collaboration in "Girl on the Bridge."

75

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Celebrates a larger-than-life heroism that is, sadly, all too rare.

75

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Leconte reconfirms his growing importance to French cinema with this precisely crafted, marvelously acted drama, which makes a powerful statement on capital punishment.

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75

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Has its sluggish stretches, but the superb level of acting is more than ample compensation.

75

San Francisco Chronicle Wesley Morris

The director has concocted a tragedy that actually feels tragic.

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75

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

It doesn't get much more romantic than this.

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70

TV Guide Steve Simels

A genuinely heartbreaking, romantic film based on a true story; frankly, if it doesn't make you cry, we don't want to know you.

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67

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

Ppaque and not hugely satisfying.

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63

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

Accomplished, middlebrow costume-drama entertainment. It's not so simple that it could be mistaken for the work of, say, Lasse Hallström, and yet it's not so sophisticated that audiences of "Chocolat" would be mystified.

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60

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

Leconte films in an austere yet invigorated style; the action never settles into stiff tableaux.

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50

Village Voice Edward Crouse

Far from terrible, Leconte's latest movie suggests the work of a slightly hip preacher.

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50

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

It's impossible to shake the feeling that these are merely actors -- albeit good ones.

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50

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

As stunning to look at as "Girl on the Bridge" or indeed any of his others, but it lacks the distilled intensity — and, surprisingly for Leconte, the wit.

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30

Salon.com Charles Taylor

It's not badly made, but it's a drag. Leconte's virtues can't overcome the plodding glumness that prevails.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes

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

Heshimu C. gave it a10:
This is clearly a 10. The story is epic, sweet, heartfelt, romantic, and full of tragedy. The story works on so many different levels, keeping us suspense, fun, and entertainment. This is one of the best and most rememorable love stories that I've seen... if you like a little pain in your love.

Pat C. gave it an 8:
A good movie about the ramifications of innocent social indiscretions, even if you're not French. Defines "worse" as in "for better or worse". Has the real feel of life in such a place and time.

Yoon Min C. gave it an 8:
Your typical French historical drama which is to say it's intelligent, well-crafted, beautifully acted, socially liberal, and artistically conservative. Welcome for its richly drawn characters and above average sophistication in regards to ethical issues, but nothing new here.

Dale R. gave it a 10:
Smart movie!

Mickey G. gave it a 10:
The meaning of love. The twists of fate.

Patricia G. gave it a 10:
Passion and compassion!! What a beautiful movie.

Read more user comments >

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