Mon Oncle d'Amérique (1980)

100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(1,748 ratings)

Alain Resnais's Mon Oncle D'Amerique is presented in the form of a "case history," replete with a pedantic narrator, played by real-life behavioral scientist Henri Laborit. Gerald Depardieu plays a plant manager whose behavior is inspired by the films of "macho" French film star Jean Gabin. Nicole… More Alain Resnais's Mon Oncle D'Amerique is presented in the form of a "case history," replete with a pedantic narrator, played by real-life behavioral scientist Henri Laborit. Gerald Depardieu plays a plant manager whose behavior is inspired by the films of "macho" French film star Jean Gabin. Nicole Garcia portrays an actress who has patterned her conduct after stage and film luminary Jean Marais. And Roger-Pierre is a TV executive whose main influence in life is lovely cinema actress Danielle Darrieux. Though it may sound like a Woody Allen comedy, Mon Oncle D'Amerique eschews satire for the most part, treating both its subject matter and its subjects with intense seriousness. The film scored a hit with moviegoers and critics alike, and was honored with six French Cesar Awards. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Alain Resnais
Written By: Jean Gruault
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 17, 1980 Wide
On DVD: Nov 28, 2000

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Mr. Resnais's most successful film in years.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The film is also memorable for its dead-on portrayal of French yuppiedom in its early ascendancy and for its beautifully ambiguous and open-ended finale.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Thinking man's film.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Mon Oncle D'merique is a philosophical puzzle that lingers in the mind long after the closing credit.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[An] odd, intellectually stimulating film that takes chances with narrative as it also works as a philosophical essay.
Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY
Not so much a science experiment as it is a droll satire about love, work and free will.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Mon Oncle D'Amerique" is an example of the Alain Resnais we all know and are flabbergasted by. The movie starts out as a faux nature documentary that turns its attention to that most educated of animals - human beings. Specifically, it is about… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Mon Oncle D'Amerique" is an example of the Alain Resnais we all know and are flabbergasted by. The movie starts out as a faux nature documentary that turns its attention to that most educated of animals - human beings. Specifically, it is about three people - Janine(Nicole Garcia), an actress with a radical background; Jean(Roger Pierre), a government minister and Rene(Gerard Depardieu), a manager of a textile mill. The movie delves into their personal histories, backgrounds and influences(including cinema with occasional glimpses of movies starring Jean Gabin and Jean Marais), showing what role they would play in how their lives would turn out.(And are they happy with the destination once they get there?) But chance also plays a very important part, especially in the first meeting between Jean and Janine. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Other directors would probably be more subtle in exploring these themes but Resnais does have a very unique approach which lends credence to my theory that we are all just lab rats on LSD.(If you have any better theories, let me know.)[/font]

Cast

            Gérard Depardieu as Rene Ragueneau

            Nicole Garcia as Janine Garnier

            Roger Pierre as Jean Le Gall

            Marie Dubois as Therese Ragueneau

            Prof. Henri Laborit as Himself

            Pierre Arditi as Zambeaux

            Laurence Badie as Mme. Veestrate

            Gilette Barbier
            
            Guillaume Boisseau as Jean as a child

            Nelly Borgeaud as Arlette Le Gall

            Gérard Darrieu as Leon Veestrate

            Jean Daste as M. Louis

            Dorothée as Narrator

            Serge Feuillard
            
            Laurence Février
            
            Philippe Laudenbach as Michael Aubert

            Héléna Manson as Mme. Crozet

            Alexandre Rignault as Jean's Grandfather

            Jacques Rispal
            
            Dominique Rozan
            
            Véronique Silver
            
            Sabine Thomas
            
            Brigitte Roüan
            
            Geneviève Mnich
            
            Catherine Frot
            
            Jean-Bernard Guillard
            
            Jean Lescto
            
See full cast

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Mon Oncle d'Amérique (1980)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

Cast

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