Rent A Very Long Engagement (2004)
3.7 of 5 from 688 ratings
2h 9min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
From the highly acclaimed Director and star of 'Amelie', comes the truly amazing story of one woman's journey to discover the truth behind her lover's disappearance, whilst battling against the secrecy and absurdity of War. In 1919, Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) was 19 years old. Two years earlier, her fiance Manech (Gaspard Ulliel) left for the front at the Somme. Like millions of others he was "killed on the field of battle". It's written in black and white on the official notice. But Mathilde refuses to believe it. If Manech had died, she would know. A former sergeant tells her in vain that Manech died in the no man's land of a trench named Bingo Crepescule, in the company of four other men condemned to die for self-inflicted wounds. Her path ahead is full of obstacles but Mathilde is not frightened. Anything is possible to someone who is willing to challenge fate... - Actors:
- Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Jodie Foster, Dominique Pinon, Chantal Neuwirth, André Dussollier, Ticky Holgado, Marion Cotillard, Dominique Bettenfeld, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Clovis Cornillac, Jean-Pierre Becker, Denis Lavant, Jérôme Kircher, Albert Dupontel
- Directors:
- Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Producers:
- Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Writers:
- Sébastien Japrisot, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Guillaume Laurant
- Others:
- Bruno Delbonnel, Aline Bonetto, Art Direction: Aline Bonetto
- Aka:
- Un Long Dimanche De Fiancailles
- Studio:
- Warner
- Genres:
- Drama, Romance
- Collections:
- 2006, Best Film Quests and Adventures, Cinema and the First World War, Getting to Know: Jodie Foster
- Countries:
- France
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Reviews (14) of A Very Long Engagement
Exceptional - A Very Long Engagement review by Swambi
This is a unique film. Whilst it retains the quirky commedy and romance of Amelie, it takes it to a far darker and more mature level, with brilliant direction and cinematography. It successfully combines a wide range film categories - romance, history, war, detective and mystery - it's imposible to pin it down to any single type. Audrey Tautou delivers an amazing performance as a determined girl who refuses to believe that her fiancee died in the war, and will stop at nothing to discover the truth. Shots alternate between harrowing and detailed depiction of life and death in the trenches, with stunningly beautiful scenes, centred on the atlantic coast. The story develops over an extended period, and involves multiple strands, so that getting a full understanding of exactly what's happening benefits from more than a single viewing (unless you are very fast on the uptake).
6 out of 7 members found this review helpful.
Amelie does WW1 or France goes Hollywood - A Very Long Engagement review by CP Customer
This was very disappointing for me. It took a very long time to say very little and seemed to be trying very hard to manipulate the emotions rather than being truly moving; a gimmicky and ultimately shallow treatment of serious subject matter, especially as I understand this is the first French film to tackle it.
3 out of 8 members found this review helpful.
Picturesque war-time fairy tale detective story. - A Very Long Engagement review by CP Customer
Jeunet uses a large number of short detailed scenes to tell a long and complicated stroy in a palatable way. This is not a film to watch when you are half-asleep, or tipsy, but for the alert viewer provides a very entertaining yarn, with many amusing diversions throughout.
Essentially it is a detective story, as Tautou (known now to the world as Amelie) tries various leads and calls upon fate to try and discover her lost love, who was one of five men condemned for illicit attempts to be discharged from the front line of the Somme.
The film is very picturesque throughout, and shows a maturity of Jeunet's distinctive style. Extremely ambitious in scope, and achieves a great deal of what it sets out to do. I would prefer to rate this 3.5, but will rate it a generous 4, as it deserves better than 3.
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.