Adrift (À Deriva) (2009)

64% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(3,515 ratings)

A teenage girl steps over the line into adulthood during a summer abroad in this drama from writer and director Heitor Dhalia. Mathias (Vincent Cassel) is a successful French novelist who packs up his family, including wife Clarice (Debora Bloch) and fourteen-year-old daughter Filipa (Laura Neiva),… More A teenage girl steps over the line into adulthood during a summer abroad in this drama from writer and director Heitor Dhalia. Mathias (Vincent Cassel) is a successful French novelist who packs up his family, including wife Clarice (Debora Bloch) and fourteen-year-old daughter Filipa (Laura Neiva), for a few months of vacation at a beachfront house in Brazil. While their surroundings are idyllic, not everyone is happy, and Filipa is aware of the obvious tension between her bickering parents. The contentious relationship between Mathias and Clarice explodes when she learns that he's been unfaithful with the younger and sexier Angela (Camilla Belle). Filipa, who is all too aware of her growing attraction to the opposite sex, is at once disturbed and excited when she spies Mathias and Angela making love, and she decides to act on her desires for a handsome neighbor in his early twenties. A deriva (aka Adrift) was an official selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Heitor Dhalia
Written By: Heitor Dhalia
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: May 21, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Jun 14, 2011
Studio: O2 Filmes

Critic Reviews

Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
Mercifully, Vincent Cassel provides a strong lifeline...
Sophie Ivan, Film4
Elegantly scripted, elegantly acted and elegant looking, by avoiding obvious dramatic fireworks, Adrift turns out to be a slow-burning, coming of age sparkler.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
The shores of Buzios in Brazil beckon in a drama about infidelity and sexual awakening which mainly settles for being easy on the eye.
, Daily Express
The film may lack edge but it is always engaging.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
Does the film say anything new? No. And does the story transcend its gloomy premise with a taut narrative? Nope.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
The tale is told competently enough, but the central relationship between the parents, Clarice and Mathias, is unsatisfying...
Matt Bochenski, Little White Lies
Dhalia gives the film a glossy sheen (with the slightest undercurrent of Oedipal tension), but Adrift never really moves beyond the tale of one little rich girl's awakening.
Tom Huddleston, Time Out
The film's biggest problem is its repetitive, meandering script, a catalogue of coming-of-age clichés -- the first date, the first kiss, the first sip of booze -- that can't find anywhere new to go.
Anna Smith, Empire Magazine
Vincent Cassel is in typically commanding form, showing off his surprising mastery of Portuguese, in a thoughtful and beautifully shot movie about love, lust and growing up.
Robbie Collin, News of the World
Less a proper coming-of-age movie than a posh version of Home And Away.
David Aldridge, Radio Times
While it may not tell us anything new about the human condition, it is beautifully shot and impeccably acted, especially by screen newcomer Neiva.
Kate Stables, Total Film
The real standout here is newbie Laura Neiva who plays Filipa with a convincing mix of minxy manipulation and blundering vulnerability.
Nick Deigman, Fan The Fire
This is a mature and thoughtful drama that absorbs the viewer into the world of the family, and leaves you as emotionally bruised and drained as the characters themselves.
David Fear, Time Out New York
Feels like a pointless, halfhearted attempt at a South Asian Scenes from a Marriage.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Carlos M

After his masterpiece O Cheiro do Ralo, Brazilian director Heitor Dhalia went on to make his third feature film, a work that strays from his previous narrative style and ventures into something more sober - only this time he seems to have made a rehash of New Zealander film Rain.
Mark A

A quiet contemplative film that explores the tensions of a husband and wife splitting up over the course of a summer holiday and how that dynamic affects the children, who don't understand what is happening. Lots of lovely scenery, young, nubile bodies, and and some solid acting… More
A quiet contemplative film that explores the tensions of a husband and wife splitting up over the course of a summer holiday and how that dynamic affects the children, who don't understand what is happening. Lots of lovely scenery, young, nubile bodies, and and some solid acting mark this film. Laura Neiva, as Philipa, the oldest girl, is quite lovely and gave a strong performance. Vincent Cassel and Debora Bloch played her parents and Camille Belle was the love interest for the father. All is not as it seems however and when the true reason for the breakup comes out it does manage to surprise, at least a little. One has to wonder how many bathing suits a young girl like that might own, as it seems that Philipa never wears the same one twice.
Adam M

Hit and miss coming of age drama. A young girls seemingly perfect life goes to shit when she finds out her parents marrage is falling apart and the dad is having an affair. This has great performances from Vincent Cassel and newcomer Laura Neiva but its very talky at times giving it… More
Hit and miss coming of age drama. A young girls seemingly perfect life goes to shit when she finds out her parents marrage is falling apart and the dad is having an affair. This has great performances from Vincent Cassel and newcomer Laura Neiva but its very talky at times giving it a TV movie feel but theres some good, dramatic moments and Camilla Belle, as the girl Cassels character is having an affair with, who is the reason i rented it!

Cast

Camilla Belle
as Angela
Debora Bloch
as Clarice
Vincent Cassel
as Mathias

Laura Neiva
as Filipa
Cauã Reymond

Adrift (À Deriva) (2009)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Carlos M

Mark A

Adam M

Cast

Trailers & Clips