Death and the Maiden (1994)

84% of critics liked it
(49 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(7,073 ratings)

Ariel Dorfman's acclaimed play of the same name serves as the basis for Roman Polanski's drama, which depicts a politically and psychological complex battle of wills amongst three characters in an unnamed South American country. The trio in question is made up of Paulina Sigourney Weaver, her… More Ariel Dorfman's acclaimed play of the same name serves as the basis for Roman Polanski's drama, which depicts a politically and psychological complex battle of wills amongst three characters in an unnamed South American country. The trio in question is made up of Paulina Sigourney Weaver, her husband Gerardo Stuart Wilson, and Dr. Miranda Ben Kingsley, a seemingly friendly stranger who provided Gerardo with a ride home after a car breakdown. The trouble begins when Paulina claims to recognize Miranda's voice, and accuses him of being the unseen doctor who had subjected her to horrific torture during her days as a prisoner of the country's former government. Miranda, flabbergasted, denies any knowledge of such events, but Paulina is determined to have her revenge. The uncertain Gerardo finds himself caught in the middle, forced to decide if his wife is telling the truth or reacting irrationally due to her past trauma. The confrontation and shifts in power between the three inevitably raises issues of justice and revenge, especially in relationship to the punishment of war criminals. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Roman Polanski
Written By: Ariel Dorfman, Rafael Yglesias
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Jun 3, 2003
Studio: Fine Line Features

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Polanski certainly gets the maximum voltage and precision out of his story and actors, keeping us preternaturally alert to shifting power relationships and delayed revelations.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
Kingsley shrewdly tantalizes the viewer about his identity, and gets to deliver the text's most riveting monologue at the end. The lesser-known Wilson may be the first among equals, impressing strongly as the equivocating husband.
Caryn James, New York Times
Mr. Polanski treads lightly on the clumsier lines, and sustains tension by creating an elegant, unobtrusive dance with the camera.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Death and the Maiden forces the audience to confront questions about torture and punishment.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Polanski keeps the situation ambiguous to provoke questions of guilt and responsibility.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Any degree of tension cultivated by Polanski is frequently undermined by Rafael Yglesias and Ariel Dorfman's sputtering script.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's based on the gripping three-character play by Ariel Dorfman.
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
Even by their high standards, the performances of Weaver and Kingsley here are impressive, and Polanski ratchetts up the tension nicely. A chilling and thought-provoking piece.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The material is well served by director Roman Polanski, who knows well how to instill a subtle, claustrophobic sense of dread in an audience and has put together a rather elegant potboiler.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Polanski kicks the movie up to a level of emotional violence rare in English-speaking films.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Polanksi's direction is crisp and precise but he doesn't resolve basic problems of the stage-to-screen transfer: The tale is claustrophobic (mostly limited to one set) and schematic, with all three characters serving as ideological mouthpieces.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A relentless, superb thriller.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Polanski wisely never opens out the action from the remote clifftop house. In keeping things claustrophobic, close-up and ambivalent, he heightens the suspense (not to mention the sexual tension).

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Pierluigi P

During a dictatorship in an unnamed latin american country, Paulina (Sigourney Weaver) was a dissident activist who was tortured in horrible ways and kept alive in order to confess the names of her comrades. Many years later, her husband arrives with a new friend, and she seems to… More
During a dictatorship in an unnamed latin american country, Paulina (Sigourney Weaver) was a dissident activist who was tortured in horrible ways and kept alive in order to confess the names of her comrades. Many years later, her husband arrives with a new friend, and she seems to recognize the stranger's voice as the man who inflicted her all that suffering. Gripping stage bound psychological thriller that grows in intensity with each passing minute and conveys all the agony, anxiety, fear and thirst for revenge of a martyr who's now having her turn on the reins. Excellent triad of actor.
Stephen M

An excellent drama. Sigourney Weaver plays a disturbed, paranoid ex-political prisoner in an unnamed South American country, married to a lawyer (Stuart Wilson) heading an investigation into allegations of torture under the old regime. She believes she recognises a chance visitor to… More
An excellent drama. Sigourney Weaver plays a disturbed, paranoid ex-political prisoner in an unnamed South American country, married to a lawyer (Stuart Wilson) heading an investigation into allegations of torture under the old regime. She believes she recognises a chance visitor to their home (Ben Kingsley) as a man who raped and tortured her during her incarceration. A fascinating game with constantly shifting alliances ensues as she attempts to extract a confession of guilt from her captive 'guest'. All three lead performances are superb but Stuart Wilson excels, oozing flawed dignity as the idealistic but cowardly husband.
Lafe F

A raw and rough character-driven piece. Sigourney Weaver is wonderfully powerful as the woman turning the tables by taking hostage the man who raped and tortured her (Ben Kingsley). It doesn't get too nasty. The situation is very interesting.
Dimitris S

The truth is out there for anyone willing to persecute the guilty in charge.These crowds of people won't be accused of crimes and whatnot but of the utmost penalty,that of pleasure during the criminal process.Polanski reveals personalities under the skin and all three… More
The truth is out there for anyone willing to persecute the guilty in charge.These crowds of people won't be accused of crimes and whatnot but of the utmost penalty,that of pleasure during the criminal process.Polanski reveals personalities under the skin and all three performances reflect a thunderous approach to a well-proportioned stage play.This adaptation did work up to a point,flawed as it so happens due to the theatricality of the original material.