Head in the Clouds (2004)

15% of critics liked it
(88 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(8,160 ratings)

Australian filmmaker John Duigan directs the romantic war drama Head in the Clouds. Charlize Theron stars as ambitious photographer Gilda Bessé, who lives in France during the 1930s. She shares her stylish luxury apartment in Paris with Cambridge student Guy (Stuart Townsend) from Ireland and… More Australian filmmaker John Duigan directs the romantic war drama Head in the Clouds. Charlize Theron stars as ambitious photographer Gilda Bessé, who lives in France during the 1930s. She shares her stylish luxury apartment in Paris with Cambridge student Guy (Stuart Townsend) from Ireland and refugee Mia (Penélope Cruz) from Spain. When WWII starts, the three close friends are torn apart by different priorities. Thomas Kretschmann also stars as Major Thomas Bietrich. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 13 min.
Directed By: John Duigan
Written By: John Duigan
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Art House & International

In Theaters: Sep 17, 2004 Limited
On DVD: Jan 25, 2005
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
The story becomes a long slog because Duigan doesn't define his characters and because he's determined to touch too many of the familiar '30s European bases.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
The passion barely simmers, let alone rages, which may vex some viewers and will certainly confound the tabloids.
Leah McLaren, Globe and Mail
Great, gooey, hot-fudge sundae of a love story.
Teresa Wiltz, Washington Post
There's plenty of eye candy -- gorgeous scenery, gorgeous costumes, gorgeous people -- to keep the viewer from minding (too much) the Olympic leaps of faith required to invest in the film's plot.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A snooze, despite all the sex and other gunplay.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's wonderfully terrible.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
This soapy saga is for adults only.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Even as a potboiler, this melodrama is too silly and improbable to be enjoyed as trash
Tim Appelo, Seattle Weekly
Tyrone Power would have more chemistry courting Deanna Durbin in a deep coma. Theron destroys all her Monster acting cred. Cruz squeaks like a hamster huffing helium.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
If John Duigan set out to make the most preposterous, over-the-top and sweeping epic he could cobble together, then he succeeded with a vengeance.
Staci Layne Wilson, Fantastica Daily
A pleasant surprise.
Rob Blackwelder, SPLICEDWire
Miscast leads and ersatz emotions leave the film's soundstagey period ambiance as its most comparable asset. A handsome misfire.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
The film is emotionally distanced from its audience, too stoic and stuffy. You'd never guess a film with as much sex as this one could be so stodgy, but there you go.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
This would-be wartime epic romance is so intent on setting a dream-like atmosphere that it fails to develop either the situation or characters in a convincing fashion.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Amid scenes of silk-sheet sexuality are gritty historical re-enactments and half-baked histrionics, but it plays as drab melodrama and unintentional comedy.
Jules Brenner, Filmcritic.com
ends up underwhelmingly episodic and contrived

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Wahida K

In a city of glamour at a time of decadence they met. An aristocrat, a soldier of conscience, and an entertainer. Together they shared a deep passion.
Curtis L

Okay for a bit. After a while I fast forwarded to the end.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Head in the Clouds" starts out at Cambridge University in 1933. Guy(Stuart Townsend) is a scholarship student from Ireland. A very wet and beautiful Gilda(Charlize Theron) stumbles into his room one rainy night. After Guy helps her out of her dress,… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Head in the Clouds" starts out at Cambridge University in 1933. Guy(Stuart Townsend) is a scholarship student from Ireland. A very wet and beautiful Gilda(Charlize Theron) stumbles into his room one rainy night. After Guy helps her out of her dress, they spend a platonic night together. A beautiful friendship is born which evolves into an on-again/off-again relationship. Guy eventually moves in with Gilda in Paris to become her assistant while she pursues a career in photography. Completing the triangle is Mia(Penelope Cruz) who is a Spanish refugee/ex-stripper with a limp who was rescued by Gilda and now has dreams of becoming a nurse.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]The first half of "Head in the Clouds" is not bad but when the movie turns serious in the second half, it gets extremely ponderous and credibility goes out the window. I do suppose the writer/director wanted to make a statement but fails miserably. But it is certainly well-photographed.(A tip of the hat to the cinematographer.) And Charlize Theron, conveying the perfect combination of sexiness and vulnerability, is simply too good for low-level soap opera material like this. [/font]
Fascade F

I now know what the term "group therapy" means... this flick is strictly for grown folks....Historic but intriguing.
Ina S

This is so bad and boring. horrible film.