Dominique Michel, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal

A revisiting, some 15 years later, of the principal characters of Denys Arcand's 1986 comedy drama film, "The Decline of the American Empire." Rémy, now divorced and in his early fifties, is hospitali...( read more  read more... )zed. His ex-wife, Louise, asks their son Sébastien to come home from London where he now lives. Sébastien hesitates; he and his father haven't had much to say to one another for years now. He relents, however, and flies to Montreal to help his mother and support his father. As soon as he arrives, Sébastien moves heaven and earth, brings his contacts into play and disrupts the system in every way possible to ease the ordeal that awaits Rémy. Around his father's bedside, Sébastien also reunites the merry band of folk who were all players in Rémy's complicated past: relatives, friends and former mistresses.

Flixster Users

89% liked it

14,987 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

123 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Denys Arcand

Release Date: November 21, 2003

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DVD Release Date: July 13, 2004

Stats: 741 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (741)


  • July 29, 2008
    A truly outstanding film that leaves you with a great deal to digest. It does have its lulls, but the excellent acting and the double-edged sword that is Arcand's script more than make up for it. To the very end, you don't know who to take seriously and who to dislike, and the en...( read more)d result is a moving experience sprinkled with some of the darker comedy you'll ever see on film. It's a great creator of cynics, and while you may think you get what you want with the ending, you may not want what you got. It's brilliant.
  • January 18, 2008
    One of my most personally strong and emotional cinematic experiences. A film with an enormous sense of joy and wonder as it celebrates our existence, while reminding us of our mortality. You get to experience the sentiment without drowning in it, and you get a sharp-edged ideolog...( read more)ical exploration of living (and dying) in modern times like extremely few films made in recent years provide.
  • August 9, 2007
    Full of gallic charm and wit with a stunning performance from Remy Girard
  • September 12, 2006
    Didn't find this funny at first but as the film progressed, I started to laugh. Particularly the character of remy and his view on life. the relationship between remy and his son, Sebastian was something else done very well.
  • August 20, 2006
    Bloody awesome filmage. A man dying sets things right and talks to family, friends and ex lovers. Revealing and a nice look at death and the niceness of life.
  • September 23, 2009
    It Is Good, Like It Or Not People!
  • June 15, 2009
    This movie is really great. It's a continuation of "The Decline of the American Empire". This one, is basically about the disillusionment with socialism and the growing disillusionment with capitalism.
    I really recommend it. The story is great.
  • May 29, 2009
    No way so not interested
  • May 22, 2009
    Oh my God, I'm speechless! A masterpiece. I almost cried in this one. Perfect story, perfect characters, perfect performances, everything was just perfect! I recommend this movie to everyone who would like to sit and watch a movie that will make you think about yourself, the kind...( read more) of life you are lving, and death. Amazing.
  • May 3, 2009
    Me encanto!, diferente , sincera, nada comun....

Critic Reviews


December 19, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Barbarian Invasions is manipulative without apology, and we want it to be. full review

November 29, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

Pungently funny and heartfelt. full review

November 29, 2003
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

French-Canadian director Denys Arcand revisits the aging intellectuals from The Decline of the American Empire -- and they might be interesting, if they'd ever shut up. full review

November 22, 2003
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

A film with a sense of joy and wonder as it celebrates our existence, while reminding us of some of the human traits... which keep us from enjoying life as much as we should. full review

November 21, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A lament for lost ideals, a fantasy of the good death, a rant against the evils of the modern besieged age -- Quebec director Denys Arcand's latest film can be seen as all these things at once. full review

November 4, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Moves you to laughter and tears without cheating to do it. full review

October 16, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

What makes The Barbarian Invasions much more than a facile exercise in generational conflict is that Denys Arcand, who wrote and directed it, has a sense of history that is as acute as it is playful. full review

View more The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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