Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 11/26/04 Home Video 05/24/04 MPAA Rating Rated R for violence and sexuality Running Time 2 hours 14 minutes Genre Drama/Romance Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet Cast Audrey Tautou, Jodie Foster, Jean-Claude Dreyfus, Julie Depardieu, Tcheky Karyo, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominique Pinon, Chantal Neuwirth, Ticky Holgado, André Dussollier, Jean-Paul Rouve, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Jean-Pierre Becker Studio Warner Independent Pictures |
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT
Sebastien Japrisot's novel explodes onto the big
screen in a stunningly graphic story of war and love.
Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Audrey Tautou
once again collaborate to bring us an absorbing
story with a compelling message of hope. In this
latest offering, the beauty of the French countryside
is in sharp contrast to the battle trenches of the
Somme, as are the concepts of love and war, but
man seems driven to both.
Set near the end of World War I, the story is of the
young Manech (Gaspard Ulliel) who has been swept
away from his lovely fiancee Mathilde (Audrey
Tautou) in rural France and placed in a muddy trench
on the front lines at the Somme. It seems that in
such desperate times and conditions, desperate
measures are taken and some soldiers have turned
to self-mutilation to avoid the horrors of battle.
Manech is one of five French soldiers accused of
this crime, and is sent to the no-man's land on the
battlefield to face an almost certain death. Mathilde
refuses to believe that Manech is dead and devotes
her life and resources to discovering his fate.
screen in a stunningly graphic story of war and love.
Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Audrey Tautou
once again collaborate to bring us an absorbing
story with a compelling message of hope. In this
latest offering, the beauty of the French countryside
is in sharp contrast to the battle trenches of the
Somme, as are the concepts of love and war, but
man seems driven to both.
Set near the end of World War I, the story is of the
young Manech (Gaspard Ulliel) who has been swept
away from his lovely fiancee Mathilde (Audrey
Tautou) in rural France and placed in a muddy trench
on the front lines at the Somme. It seems that in
such desperate times and conditions, desperate
measures are taken and some soldiers have turned
to self-mutilation to avoid the horrors of battle.
Manech is one of five French soldiers accused of
this crime, and is sent to the no-man's land on the
battlefield to face an almost certain death. Mathilde
refuses to believe that Manech is dead and devotes
her life and resources to discovering his fate.
Brenda's Comment
If striking contrasts of love and war, beauty and
gore, are a cinematographer's cup of tea, then
Engagement is definitely an entire steeping pot.
The beautiful hues of rural France and the dark
trench shots of battle mark the day and night of
humanity. And they are filmed to perfection. I
wouldn't miss this one. It's loaded with emotion
and talent.
If striking contrasts of love and war, beauty and
gore, are a cinematographer's cup of tea, then
Engagement is definitely an entire steeping pot.
The beautiful hues of rural France and the dark
trench shots of battle mark the day and night of
humanity. And they are filmed to perfection. I
wouldn't miss this one. It's loaded with emotion
and talent.
Mary's Comment
Director Jeunet plays with our emotions as he
whisks us back and forth from the most horrific
scenes of war to the lovely French countryside.
The "during the war" trench scenes of the
Somme are in sharp contrast to the postwar
fields where Mathilde tries to reconstruct what
may have happened to her lover Manache. A fine
film with much to offer its audience, Engagement
will make its mark as a classic work on war and
hope.
Director Jeunet plays with our emotions as he
whisks us back and forth from the most horrific
scenes of war to the lovely French countryside.
The "during the war" trench scenes of the
Somme are in sharp contrast to the postwar
fields where Mathilde tries to reconstruct what
may have happened to her lover Manache. A fine
film with much to offer its audience, Engagement
will make its mark as a classic work on war and
hope.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY Brenda S. Ladd & Mary K. Morgan |
DVD Details
DVD Features
Region (unknown)
Keep Case
Widescreen
2 Disc Set