A Very Long Engagement (2004)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Joel K

  
  An engaging and emotional film, which sweeps you into the world of its characters, and has striking cinematography. In fact the visuals are the best thing about the film. It's a visual powerhouse of a film, mixing gritty visual conventions of the war genre with scenes of a more… More
  An engaging and emotional film, which sweeps you into the world of its characters, and has striking cinematography. In fact the visuals are the best thing about the film. It's a visual powerhouse of a film, mixing gritty visual conventions of the war genre with scenes of a more romantic visual style, both are done brilliantly. The Story and Characters are both interesting, and injected with a healthy amount of wit and humour. The writer has managed to perfectly blend various genres, devoting enough viewing time to each. The acting is a mixture of some performance which are almost cartoonishly ridiculous, and some which create deep 3D characters. This film is a brilliant blend of sad realism and enchanting fantasy. It creates its own world and characters, while at the same time reflecting ours. A bittersweet ending just adds to this theme. Is it worth watching? Yes it is. You're guaranteed an adventure of mixed emotions, and the challenge that the main character faces will keep you engaged and stop you from getting bored.

• familiar s

  
  Indeed a very long and tedious engagement. In fact, it didn't engage me, but on the contrary, it began to bore me after a while. Simply not my cup of tea. Recommended for public in general, though.

• Daniel P

  
  Audrey Tautou shines in a powerful, sepia-toned love story about a woman on a multi-year quest to find her fiancé in the ashes of the First World War. Though plodding by times, this is a film with a wonderful aesthetic, lots of greens and golds, much like Jeunet's other famous… More
  Audrey Tautou shines in a powerful, sepia-toned love story about a woman on a multi-year quest to find her fiancé in the ashes of the First World War. Though plodding by times, this is a film with a wonderful aesthetic, lots of greens and golds, much like Jeunet's other famous work, Amélie. Shot for shot, it's as beautiful as anything, and you see the story unfold from teller to teller effectively through the eyes of the heroine. A very solid movie.,, and if you think it's a chick flick, surprise! Marion Cotillard and Jodie Foster turn up, if the war scenes weren't enough for you... dudes... see this film.

• Jennifer D

  
  My first Gaspard Ulliel film! Yay! Same director and principle as Amelie as well as some other shared actors. French actors must be small in number. Anyway I was completely charmed with the romance presented. I got a little confused with all of the story lines, but then read this is… More
  My first Gaspard Ulliel film! Yay! Same director and principle as Amelie as well as some other shared actors. French actors must be small in number. Anyway I was completely charmed with the romance presented. I got a little confused with all of the story lines, but then read this is from a book? Which explains it all. And I think it had some lagging points. Still, beautifully shot and told. And it even tugged a bit on my cold heart strings. Lastly, JODIE FOSTER?! For reals?! Remember when I said about few French actors? I wasn't kidding. Not that I minded, but French?!

• xGary X

  
  A young woman refuses to believe that her fiancee was killed in action in WWI and sets about finding out what happened to him and his comrades in their final days. The one thing you can count on from Jeunet is that you will be treated to a beautiful looking film and once again he does… More
  A young woman refuses to believe that her fiancee was killed in action in WWI and sets about finding out what happened to him and his comrades in their final days. The one thing you can count on from Jeunet is that you will be treated to a beautiful looking film and once again he does not disappoint. A Very Long Engagement is a visual feast with a score to match and complete with his usual ensemble cast of nicely played, likable eccentrics, this is a very difficult film to dislike. Although it does have its flaws. They mainly lie in the way that the romantic elements to the story and those concerning combat don't quite gel; I couldn't help thinking that I was actually watching two films spliced together. The investigation is also a little haphazard and unstructured and it just seemed that facts kept randomly coming to light without much in the way of narrative flow. Having said all that, it does have moments of genius and certain scenes are captivating. Audrey Tautou puts in another fine performance but Marion Cotillard virtually steals the film out from under her as a vengeful prostitute and I wish I'd seen a lot more of her character. As a whole it doesn't quite fit together and as a result lacks the emotional resonance it could have had, but the good far, far outweighs the bad.

• Dean M

  
  World War I is the setting for this genre-busting story in which a French woman, Mathilde (played by beauty Audrey Tautou) refuses to believe that her soldier fiance was executed during combat after purposely injuring himself in an attempt to be sent far away from the front line. Her… More
  World War I is the setting for this genre-busting story in which a French woman, Mathilde (played by beauty Audrey Tautou) refuses to believe that her soldier fiance was executed during combat after purposely injuring himself in an attempt to be sent far away from the front line. Her subsequent investigation is mixed with flashbacks in an intense story that melts familiar elements of war, romance, and mystery films into something fresh, sensual, and stunning. Quaint towns, fields, beaches and houses lend a beautiful touch to the story of a love that will not die whilst Tautou delivers a spellbinding performance in a child-like heroine with a will of steel. I was surprised Jodie Foster appeared as a supporting role in this French film at the first time as well as she did the French thing well.

• Jens S

  
  It starts with the ugliness of war, in the trenches of the first world war. The creators of "Amelie" tell the story of Mathilde, whose fiancee got lost in the chaos of war and her relentless search for informations about his fate. That requires some concentration from the… More
  It starts with the ugliness of war, in the trenches of the first world war. The creators of "Amelie" tell the story of Mathilde, whose fiancee got lost in the chaos of war and her relentless search for informations about his fate. That requires some concentration from the side of the audience, which has to deal with a lot of names and faces, but is still very well done. The beautifully shot French film combines the realistic horrors of a war movie with a detective story and love drama and still manages to be very convincing in each of these aspects as we gradually learn about the real story of the five court-martialed soldiers kicked into no man's land between French and German trenches. The biggest surprise, besides how well this combination works, is Jodie Foster's small role as soldier widow. Just like in "Amelie" Audrey Tautou is a little odd but quite charming in her efforts to solve the mystery, not giving up hope for her love still being alive. Not much more should be spoiled about this film. which is easily one of the best that ever came from its country of origin.

• Leigh R

  
  It was alright.

• Aaron N

  
  Mathilde: [peeling an apple] If I don't break the peel, Manech is alive. Audrey Tautou stars in another beautifully made film by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The story mixes romance, mystery, and war, and looks absolutely wonderful throughout, due to Jeunet's eye for… More
  Mathilde: [peeling an apple] If I don't break the peel, Manech is alive. Audrey Tautou stars in another beautifully made film by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The story mixes romance, mystery, and war, and looks absolutely wonderful throughout, due to Jeunet's eye for lovingly detailing his sets and his approach to special effects. The story is set around WWI. Two lovers are separated. One is Tautou as Mathilde, a nice enough girl who has a crippled leg due to polio. The other is her fiance, Manech, who was shipped out to war in the trenches. Along with four others, Manech had himself shot in the hand in an effort to be shipped back home, but the plan has backfired, and the men have been sentenced to survive in no man's land. While many believe all of the men punished this way died, Mathilde finds evidence suggesting the possibility that some made it out alive. What follows is Mathilde's attempts to track down the entire story of what happened to the punished men. During her search, she encounters a number of characters, including a private investigator who wants to help her, and some of the lovers of the punished men. Tina Lombardi: I regret nothing. Except my hair. Along with viewing the film from Mathilde's perspective, there are numerous flashbacks from different points of view, providing us more and more information about what happened in total. As mentioned, the whole film, including the war scenes, are beautifully done. Jeunet has a particular style which works wonderfully for all of his movies. Its kind of like watching a fairy tale come to life. It shows the kind of love he has for making movies, working not to throw emotions at an audience, but draw them in through the way he handles his cinematography. I also felt drawn in by the mystery aspect of this story. I really wanted to find out what happened to these characters, and its very neat to see the various events occur, which work to resolve each one. Overall I very much enjoyed watching the film, as it looks great, and the story was engaging enough as well. And of course Tautou is always a delight to see. [The mail man skids in on his bike, on the gravel road] Sylvain: Every time you do that I have to pick pieces of gravel out of the grass. The Postman: Sir, whenever I see a gravel road, I feel I need to enter with style.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  UN LONG DIMANCHE DE FIANÇAILLES is a dream. One of the most (visually) beautiful films I've ever seen; exquisite cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel. This movie is very similar to "Amelie", and while the style works with AMELIE, it doesn't quite work with this one.… More
  UN LONG DIMANCHE DE FIANÇAILLES is a dream. One of the most (visually) beautiful films I've ever seen; exquisite cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel. This movie is very similar to "Amelie", and while the style works with AMELIE, it doesn't quite work with this one. Sometimes you doubt the scene you're watching is meant to be serious or not. That's the main flaw of this war/romance movie, directed by the brilliant Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Audrey Tautou is wonderful. Jodie Foster, Marion Cotillard, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Albert Dupontel, Jérôme Kircher, and Dominique Pinon are a very good supporting cast.

• Lanning :

  
  Walter, aloha e and Happy Tuesday. You know me, Walter. You know that things like captions will never throw me off -- <p> I will gladly read captions until doomsday -- <p> (or until the two cows I have came home -- if I lived in a democracy -- <p> oh, wait, I… More
  Walter, aloha e and Happy Tuesday. You know me, Walter. You know that things like captions will never throw me off -- <p> I will gladly read captions until doomsday -- <p> (or until the two cows I have came home -- if I lived in a democracy -- <p> oh, wait, I <b>do</b> live in a democracy -- despite the evil and stupid blundering of GWB and his gang -- <p> where are my two cows?) <p> for a good movie. <p> True, Walter, I admit it, I only gave this two tries -- not the usual three. But I gotta add it to our list. <p> Un-freakin'-bearable . . . Alas, Audrey, and <i>auwe</i> . . . <p> On the up side, no project with this much work put into it actually deserves a half star . . . right . . . ? <p> Walter, don't count this one for our 12/31 goal total. I certainly won't : (

• Michael S

  
  Jeunet proves one again that he'll keep making better looking films than just about anyone else in the business.

• Lorenzo v

  
  Love is a powerful emotion, and so is hope. You tend to cling onto the impossible sometimes, with hope, when all around you seems to be falling into despair. And that's what the premise of this french movie is. It's not really a romantic movie per se (so guys, you might… More
  Love is a powerful emotion, and so is hope. You tend to cling onto the impossible sometimes, with hope, when all around you seems to be falling into despair. And that's what the premise of this french movie is. It's not really a romantic movie per se (so guys, you might want to think twice about bringing your date for this). It's essentially a movie about hope, about not giving up looking for the one you love, against a backdrop of a horrific war (yes, blood, gore and limbs all included, right from the start). Set in France just after WWI, this movie at times resemble Courage Under Fire, where the protagonist, played by Audrey Tautou, hunts for the truth behind what happened to her fiancé, who was part of 5 condemned men sent to the "No Man's Land" in front of enemy trenches during WWI. Unravelling official secrets, cover ups, seeking survivors, listening to various interpretations of what happened during those fateful days, chancing upon others with more vengeful intentions, we journey from place to place with Audrey, never giving up hope, yet when faced with irrefutable damning evidence, we ask, should we stop, or should we still continue? We're seeking closure. Do we know when to stop? Do we know it's indeed closure? Do we need to see, or are we able to face up to, the truth? I appreciate French movies for certain reasons. The language, for one, I always admire - it's beautiful. And so is the cinematography, be it lush fields, or bombarded lands. Audrey Tautou doesn't carry the whole movie on her lithe shoulders, as the supporting cast of many brings many quirky, interesting characters to life. Oh yes, watch out for Jodie Foster too, thought the actress looked familiar, only managed to confirm it when the credits rolled.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Jean-Pierre Jeunet.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Audrey Tautou, Dominique Pinon, Gaspard Ulliel, Jodie Foster.</b> From the genius that bought us Amelie, although it somehow doesn't quite feel as accomplished as… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Jean-Pierre Jeunet.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Audrey Tautou, Dominique Pinon, Gaspard Ulliel, Jodie Foster.</b> From the genius that bought us Amelie, although it somehow doesn't quite feel as accomplished as Amelie, the film is a film of epic proportions. Once again the film pays a lot of attention to detail in the characters lives, which always add a dash a humour to his films. The film focuses on a women named Mathilde, just hitting her 20's and before the war she found young love, soon after, her love Manech is sent off to war and soon after, Mathilde receives word that her love might be dead. That is the basic concept, we are introduced to a group of characters throughout the film and it plays like a mystery, finding out new connections with each character and there connection with Menech. The film balances the horror of war and the beauty of love extremely well, the direction is absolutely amazing here from Jean-Pierre-Jeunet, a visionary who uses some amazing camera angles and range. The cinematography is breathtaking, as is the costumes and set design. Audrey Tautou is amazing once again in this film with a surprise guest appearance from Jodie Foster who stole every scene she was in. The one thing that was a bit of a letdown was the ending, although predictable, it didn't quite pack the emotion punch it needed to be a masterpiece, but it is still a surprising film of epic proportions.

• Ross C

  
  An engaging tale that simultaneously reveals the beauty of life whilst graphically portraying the ugliness of war. A trademark Jean-Pierre Jeunet movie that is reminiscent in some ways to The English Patient.

• Jennifer X

  
  slightly confusing storyline (so many characters, all with similar names, all french!) but i think it made its main point pretty clear. beautiful movie.

• Christopher M

  
  A very good, almost classical, tale of romance set after World War I - which follows a young woman who goes to great lengths to discover the fate of her fiance, who fought in the war and whose outcome is uncertain. There are a lot of similarities between this film and Amelie - but… More
  A very good, almost classical, tale of romance set after World War I - which follows a young woman who goes to great lengths to discover the fate of her fiance, who fought in the war and whose outcome is uncertain. There are a lot of similarities between this film and Amelie - but both are directed by the very talented Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and both star the lovely and charming (and also very talented) Audrey Tautou. Also, the visual and cinematographic style isn't very far removed from Amelie - and initially I thought this to be a detractor from the movie, but around halfway through the movie I didn't think that way anymore, and began to get totally absorbed in the film. There are some very unique things about this film. For one thing it tells a very epic and wonderful tale of romance, and also of war - but it still contains the trademark offbeat humor of Jeunet, it isn't a completely sombre, serious piece by any means, and that really works in its favor. Also the fact that it involves World War I - it isn't often these days that you see a movie involved the first World War, as the much more romanticized WW2 is a more common subject for filmmakers. Another cool thing about the film, though it's a quirky tale of romance, the war scenes were actually very well done and realistic, which shows the director's attention to detail. In the end, it's a very good film packed with style and, like Amelie, a lot of very unique and fun characters, and a very strong and beautiful romance - definitely worth your time.

• Nate Z

  
  [center][font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred][img]http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/5200/verylongengagement0hj.jpg[/img][/color][/size][/font][/center] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred][/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Deep in the heart of WWI trenches, we… More
  [center][font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred][img]http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/5200/verylongengagement0hj.jpg[/img][/color][/size][/font][/center] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred][/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Deep in the heart of WWI trenches, we begin this sprawling tale by narrowing in on five French soldiers. Each man has been accused of self-inflicting a wound to escape service, and each man is sentenced to spend the rest of their likely short lives in No Man?s Land, the stretch of bare land between the two trenches. One of these men is Manech (Gaspard Ulliel), a young country boy engaged to the charming Mathilde (Audrey Tautou). When she learns his fated punishment and fails to hear word from Manech, she steps out to launch her own investigation into the possible whereabouts of Manech or the possible details of her fiancé's demise. She enlists her family, solicits strangers, and puts ads in newspapers to unravel the truth. Along the way she hears various stories from all sorts of people and attempts to form them into a clear picture of what went on in that trench, good or bad.[/color][/size][/font] [size=2][font=Arial][color=darkred][i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] could be flippantly described as "[i]Rashomon[/i] in a trench," but from the get-go it grabs you by the lapels and will not let go. Once again, Jeunet tells his story in a criss-crossing narrative. Front and center we learn about each doomed man's life in snapshot, and while the device has a slight eulogy feel, it's a fantastic way to show the depth of characters in such brevity.[i] A Very Long Engagement[/i] is an immeasurably rich film where each detail is threaded into the film to create a magnificent artistic tapestry beyond compare. The tiniest details in the film like Mathilde?s tuba playing (the only instrument whose sound mimics a distress call), to the mail carrier choosing to slide his bike over gravel just further enhance the vibrant, animated world of Jeunet.[/color][/font][/size] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Jeunet is quite possibly the most visually gifted director working today (he [i]turned down[/i] [i]Harry Potter 5[/i]). He couldn?t film an ugly shot composition if he tried with all his French might. As expected, [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] is gorgeous to look at. The production design is massively intricate, the cinematography, while computer assisted, has a shimmering radiance to it. This is simply the best looking film of all 2004, [i]Hero[/i] be damned. You could pause any second in this film and use it as a glossy postcard. Jeunet has the technical credentials to fasten together complex and beautiful worlds. [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] is a technical marvel and gorgeous to experience.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Tautou, also as expected, is wonderful once more. She's the anchor of the film and the audience feels every heartbreak and glimmer of hope this talented actress explores. The supporting cast is full of familiar Jeunet players and each performance adds to the richness of the film. They feel like characters and not stock roles or cliches.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]There is some difficulty with following the storyline. There are so many subplots built upon other subplots that the film?s momentum takes a bit of a dive in the second act. [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] can also get very confusing when it comes to remembering so many names. There are maybe 30 characters to keep track of and as the subplots mount new characters are added to the pile, including a widow played by a surprisingly fluent Jodie Foster. It?s best to employ some kind of memory trick to keep the many colorful characters of Jeunet?s world straightened.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]The focus of [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] is on Mathilde's investigation into what really happened in that trench. She wants to know what happened to her beloved, and as her search picks up steam we get further glimpses of her relationship with Manech. One of my biggest problems I had with 2003?s[i] Cold Mountain[/i] was that Jude Law was travailing through hell and back to get back to his beloved Nicole Kidman even though their relationship pre-war lasted as long as a Super Bowl commercial. It's not that I disbelieve the overpowering nature of love, but I need more from my characters than shifty glances and a quick ejaculation of love (get your mind out of the gutter). Now, in[i] A Very Long Engagement,[/i] Jeunet opens by showing the measures Manech will endure to return to his beloved, however, as the film goes on we also see enough peeks into the depths of their relationship beforehand, which dates all the way back to when they were children.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred][size=2][i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] forges such a grand and sweeping love story that the audience gets just as immersed as Mathilde about the search for her man. There are so many lovely, intelligent moments between Mathilde and Manech, like their first sexual encounter. Every time Manech lights a new match Mathilde removes an article of clothing until, under the soft light of the newly lit match, she?s nude and blows the match out herself. The characters? overriding love also taps into small truisms like when Mathilde makes arbitrary games for herself to ensure her love?s safety. ("If I can count to ten before that car passes, then he is alive.") Mathilde's faith and devotion are driving her investigation and the audience is behind her 100% of the way, fully invested in this mystery. When we reach our conclusion, I don't mind telling you I was bawling like a baby[/size][size=2].[/size][/color][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]The film has a merry whimsical tone during its origami-like narrative, but when it hits the trenches the film gets down and dirty. Jeunet shows a fascinating view into the hardships of everyday trench life as well as the machinery of death. Storming the other side's trench, or "going over the top" as it was called, is seen in all its sordid features. There are hearty splashes of blood and gore that can be jarring.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]There's one terrifying scene in [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] involving the explosion of a makeshift hospital. The hospital is inside a hangar for zeppelins (hydrogen gas) and a missile has crashed into the roof with its nose sticking inside. One of the zeppelins becomes loose and slowly floats to the missile nose with unforgivable certainty. People are running around trying to shield themselves from the inevitable, but it does nothing. The moment is played so agonizingly slow that we become overwhelmed with terror. This was the life of WWI warfare.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Having said this, the stark war violence doesn't exactly gel exceedingly well with the whimsical romantic elements. For some, [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] will seem like two very tonally different movies butting heads and intruding upon the other (perhaps [i]Amelie Goes to War[/i]?). Sometimes it does take a while to adjust to one tone after spending time with the other. I feel that the emotional investment in the characters and the anticipation of unraveling the mystery serves as thematic glue over the disproportionate tones. Some will feel chaffed by the two stark tones, but I think the power of the love story will conquer most hearts into experiencing the bloodshed of war to earn the shedding of tears by the film?s romance.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Jeunet has reteamed with Tautou and created another masterpiece. [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] took hold of me from the start and mesmerized me with its beauty, grace, cruelty, excitement, and warmth. This is a great mystery and a great love story with great visuals and great characters. The opposing tones (whimsy vs. violence) won't work for everyone, and the film takes one too many divergent paths in the middle, but [i]A Very Long Engagement[/i] is a film of such startling originality and feeling that it should be treasured. I was floored by what Jeunet had to offer and deeply moved by the time I had to leave the theater. They don't make them like this much anymore. Now if you'll excuse me, I have something in my eye.[/color][/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: A[/color][/size][/font]

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic][color=darkolivegreen] "A Very Long Engagement" is a movie that starts out with five soldiers who are sentenced to die in No Man's Land in World War I France in 1917 for self-mutilation. One of their fiancees never gives up hope that her man might… More
  [font=Century Gothic][color=darkolivegreen] "A Very Long Engagement" is a movie that starts out with five soldiers who are sentenced to die in No Man's Land in World War I France in 1917 for self-mutilation. One of their fiancees never gives up hope that her man might have survived. "A Very Long Engagement" is nowhere in the league of classic anti-war movies such as "Paths of Glory"(1957) and "Life and Nothing But"(1989) but it is also quite a bit more competent than the similarly themed "Cold Mountain". It levels the horrors of war with Jean-Pierre Jeunet's patented brand of whimsy and a sense of humor. The most memorable thing about this film is its amazing visual imagery.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#556b2f] (Jean-Pierre Jeunet's previous film, Amelie, also starring Audrey Tautou, had been beated out for a Best Foreign Film Oscar by a movie called "No Man's Land".)[/color][/font]

• Mike N

  
  These are some of the last movements I will make before 2004 cuts itself off from the future. This must be the time of the year when you arch your pen just above the paper to make that final punctuation mark. It's a quick motion, relatively speaking of course. How fresh off our… More
  These are some of the last movements I will make before 2004 cuts itself off from the future. This must be the time of the year when you arch your pen just above the paper to make that final punctuation mark. It's a quick motion, relatively speaking of course. How fresh off our final written letter were we? Our last word? Are we satisfied with this last sentence? Chapter? Is the pen descending back to the page now? How close are we to going back down? How close? *holds index finger & thumb mere milliimeters apart* [i]That[/i] close, baby. I wish you all a safe & marvelous New Year's! :) God Bless. [img]http://www.silverwhistle.co.uk/songs/music/AuldLang.GIF[/img]

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