Fear and Trembling (2003)

91% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(2,653 ratings)

French director Alain Corneau delves into the painfully irrational world of office politics, which are further complicated by a severe case of culture clash in his 2003 comedy, Stupeur et Tremblements (Fear and Trembling). Based on the similarly titled memoirs of author Amélie Nothomb and her… More French director Alain Corneau delves into the painfully irrational world of office politics, which are further complicated by a severe case of culture clash in his 2003 comedy, Stupeur et Tremblements (Fear and Trembling). Based on the similarly titled memoirs of author Amélie Nothomb and her employment experiences with a Japanese mega-corporation, Fear and Trembling begins with Amélie (Sylvie Testud) landing in Tokyo shortly after receiving her college education. The young Belgian chose to return to Japan -- where she spent the first five years of her life before her family relocated back to Europe -- for her first job in an entry-level position with the Yumimoto Corporation. Amélie diligently accomplishes her daily tasks with invention and ambition, but her work ethic proves threatening to her immediate supervisors who single her out as a deviant within the corporation's firmly entrenched power hierarchy. As she is led through a series of humiliations and demotions designed to destroy her individuality, Amélie is forced to submit to an endless stream of unreasonable demands issued by nearly every supervisor with seniority over her. Determined to complete her one-year contract with the company in spite of the vicious power struggles, Amélie wages a kind of culture war from her irreversible position as lowest rung on the power ladder. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Alain Corneau
Written By: Amelie Northomb, Alain Corneau
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 19, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Sep 6, 2005
Studio: Cinema Guild

Critic Reviews

G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
The best office comedy since Office Space.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
One of the screen's most cuttingly funny looks at office life.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
... subtly sexual and erotic, despite the fact that every scene takes place in the office and there is not a single overt sexual act or word or gesture or reference.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
The film is more ambiguous about its characters' desire than it needs to be.
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
The delicacy of the film comes from the fine performances, particularly Kaori Tsuji as Fubuki.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Astutely directed by Alain Corneau.
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
A clean S&M flick which only devotees of mental cruelty are likely to find satisfying. Office Space, Japanese Style!
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
a bravura performance in a memorable film.
Janos Gereben, culturevulture.net
A mindboggling view into the heart of Japan
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
A shrewd but spiky satire about corporate bureaucracy and Japanese social stratification.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Cool, incisive, funny but also strangely melancholy...connoisseurs of cinematic elegance should find it a brilliant jewel.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Testud, who appears to be fluent in the Japanese language, throws herself into this role and is wickedly funny as she flounders in the perverse environment
Phoebe Flowers, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Moves swiftly and builds to a satisfying conclusion.
Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
Harrowing and hilarious.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

A funny if unoriginal look at cultural divides. Sometimes the morals are hammered home too blatantly but overall a warm feeling of genuine likeability eminates from the film. Brilliant performances and some wonderfully scripted scenes make this a fine film, even if the containment… More
A funny if unoriginal look at cultural divides. Sometimes the morals are hammered home too blatantly but overall a warm feeling of genuine likeability eminates from the film. Brilliant performances and some wonderfully scripted scenes make this a fine film, even if the containment within the office place hinders the film in terms of characterisation.

Cast

Sylvie Testud
as Amelie
Kaori Tsuji
as Fubuki Mori
Taro Suwa
as Mr. Saito

Bison Katayama
as Mr. Omochi
Yasunari Kondo
as Mr. Tenshi
Sokyu Fujita
as Mr. Haneda

See full cast

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Fear and Trembling (2003)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

Cast

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