Critic Reviews
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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.
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David Fear, Time Out New York
Feels like a pointless, halfhearted attempt at a South Asian Scenes from a Marriage.
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Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
Mercifully, Vincent Cassel provides a strong lifeline...
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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.
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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.
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, Daily Express
The film may lack edge but it is always engaging.
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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.
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Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
The tale is told competently enough, but the central relationship between the parents, Clarice and Mathias, is unsatisfying...
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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.
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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.
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Robbie Collin, News of the World
Less a proper coming-of-age movie than a posh version of Home And Away.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Read all 14 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
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A fourteen-year-old discovers her father's infidelity and her own sexuality.
<i>Adrift</i> is a slow but striking film. We watch Filipa's every step with a feeling of impending doom, and Laura Neiva gives an inscrutable performance. Vincent Cassel, whose work… More
A fourteen-year-old discovers her father's infidelity and her own sexuality.
<i>Adrift</i> is a slow but striking film. We watch Filipa's every step with a feeling of impending doom, and Laura Neiva gives an inscrutable performance. Vincent Cassel, whose work is always compelling (even as he upstages big Hollywood stars in <i>Oceans 13</i>), turns in another phenomenal performance, a tour de force, nuanced character, in yet another language.
The weakness of the film is its story, which, in the final analysis, doesn't amount to anything new. Yes, Mathias's reaction to the final scene is different than the cliches we're used to (and oh so European), but that's about all that sets this coming-of-age story apart from all the others.
Overall, I enjoyed <i>Adrift</i>, as I sat tensely throughout the film, but after I thought about it, I realized I didn't see anything original, so <i>Adrift</I>becomes an old film done very well.
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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.
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To its credit, "Adrift" succeeds more by what it does not do than what it seeks to do, taking its time during an endless summer at a beach community in Brazil. Of special interest are the beautiful scenery and Vincent Cassel, cast against type and speaking Portugese.… More
To its credit, "Adrift" succeeds more by what it does not do than what it seeks to do, taking its time during an endless summer at a beach community in Brazil. Of special interest are the beautiful scenery and Vincent Cassel, cast against type and speaking Portugese. Unlike most of the other characters he has played, Mathias is quite domestic as a writer on vacation with his family. That's not to say that Mathias is without his share of danger signs, most of which emanate from his never having fully grown up. That sense of irresponsibility has led his wife Clarice(Debora Bloch) to drink as they argue about a possible adaptation of one of his works and eventually the logistics of a possible separation.
While their son gets into a fight, it is their oldest, 14-year old Filipa(Laura Neiva), who is most conscious of what is going on around them. This is especially important because she has reached an age where she is taking an interest in boys for the first time, namely Artur(Daniel Passi) who faces an impossible question during a round of truth and dare. Not having the experience to know what the signals mean, she does not have the answers. But even worse, she has no questions.
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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.
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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!
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