Les invasions barbares (2003)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Denys Arcand

Writer:

Denys Arcand (writer)

Release Date:

24 September 2003 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

A provocative new comedy about sex, friendship, and all other things that invade our lives.

Plot:

During his final days, a dying man is reunited with old friends, former lovers, his ex-wife, and his estranged son.

Plot Keywords:

Ex Wife | Friend | Dying | Cancer | Death

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 37 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Rémy Girard	...	Rémy
Stéphane Rousseau	...	Sébastien
Dorothée Berryman	...	Louise
Louise Portal	...	Diane
Dominique Michel	...	Dominique
Yves Jacques	...	Claude
Pierre Curzi	...	Pierre
Marie-Josée Croze	...	Nathalie
Marina Hands	...	Gaëlle
Toni Cecchinato	...	Alessandro
Mitsou	...	Ghislaine (as Mitsou Gélinas)
Sophie Lorain	...	First Lover
Johanne-Marie Tremblay	...	Sister Constance Lazure (as Johanne Marie Tremblay)
Denis Bouchard	...	Duhamel
Micheline Lanctôt	...	Nurse Carole

Also Known As:

The Barbarian Invasions (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Invasion of the Barbarians (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexual dialogue and drug content.

Runtime:

99 min | Canada:112 min (DVD version)

Country:

Canada | France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | France:U | Malaysia:18PL | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:T | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Spain:13 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Pyramide Productions

Trivia:

It is the first Canadian film ever to win The Best French Film of the Year award at the Cesars (France's national film awards).

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of the cars outside the window changes when Sébastien first meets Nathalie in the restaurant.

Quotes:

Rémy: I wish that one day you will have a son like you.

Movie Connections:

References Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Soundtrack:

America, The Beautiful

Facts

I read a lot of comments about the performance of the son in the movie, it's even more impressive when you know that the guy who played the son (Stephane Rousseau) is a stand up comic, whose only previous experience as an actor was in very bad, low budget comedy (Les dangereux).

I also read a lot of comments, from people from other countries, wondering if the Canadian health care is that bad? Well I'm from Quebec and if I had seen this movie last year I would have thought that it was a bit exaggerated but I saw it last night, after I had to go to the emergency last June for heart problems and when I saw the scenes in the hospital's corridor, I just relived what I experienced back then. I spent 4 days parked in a corridor, trying to sleep with lights on 24 hours a day, people working, circulating and nurses or doctors examining me in front of everybody. Believe me it's that bad!!

By the way it's a great movie, subtitles doesn't do it justice.