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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
La Bûche
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 15 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 2 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
Christopher Thompson
Danièle Thompson
Directed by: Danièle Thompson
Release Date:
Theatrical: November 17, 2000
DVD: May 21, 2002
Running Time: 105 minutes, Color
Origin: France
Language(s): French (with English subtitles)
Summary
RATING: Not rated
Starring Sabine Azéma, Emmanuelle Béart, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Claude Rich
A fractured French family prepares to spend Christmas together in Paris.
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...
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
A fine French comedy-drama.
The New York Times Dana Stevens
It unfolds with the verve and clarity of a piece of music, carefully composed and passionately played.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
With its lovely images of wintertime Paris and its lyrical Michel Legrand music, La Bu^che does take the cake.
Read Full Review >Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan
A confection that is ultimately better because of its bitterness.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
The fine cast helps an old-fashioned screenplay seem reasonably fresh most of the time.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan
Suave, witty and wonderfully acted ensemble piece.
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
The plot turns on the complicated lives of the daughters, who are played by Sabine Azema, Emmanuelle Beart, and Charlotte Gainsbourg; they, Fabian, and Rich are the main reasons for seeing this picture.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Leighton Klein
The film's invented Paris -- endless restaurants, boutiques, and impossibly large apartments, with a little artificial ''grit'' thrown in -- is pretty, and the neatly wrapped plot provides the comforting illusion that one's own family dramas can be as easily and amusingly resolved.
New York Daily News Jack Mathews
Enjoy Christmas in Paris, if you don't have enough problems of your own, with this slice of family life from French director Daniele Thompson.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Not likely to win any hearts or minds this holiday season, La Bûche finally scores points by virtue of its inoffensiveness: Relax, pour a cuppa nog, and watch somebody else muck up the holidays for once.
Read Full Review >New York Post Jonathan Foreman
Engaging in a soap operatic, rather glib way.
San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann
Sweet and insubstantial -- just like the French Christmas cake for which it's named.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 4.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Chad S. gave it an8:
Such winning performances by everybody in the principal cast ably compensates for a screenplay that would be exposed as perfunctory with lesser actors. At long last, I got to see Emmanuelle Beart on a big screen, albeit in a minor movie. But what a charming minor movie this is. "La Buche" has a lot of vitality, mostly the comic sort but there are some poignant moments too. Too bad things get so episodic towards the end.
