The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares) (2003)

82% of critics liked it
(125 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(18,148 ratings)

Director Denys Arcand revisits the situations and relationships that informed his international breakthrough The Decline of the American Empire with this dialogue-driven character study. Set 17 years after Decline, The Barbarian Invasions, like its predecessor, examines the varying politics --… More Director Denys Arcand revisits the situations and relationships that informed his international breakthrough The Decline of the American Empire with this dialogue-driven character study. Set 17 years after Decline, The Barbarian Invasions, like its predecessor, examines the varying politics -- economic, personal, and sexual -- at play among an aging group of friends, lovers, and ex-spouses. This time around, leads Remy (Rémy Girard) and Louise (Dorothee Berryman) are divorced, with their son Sebastien (Stéphane Rousseau) living in capitalist splendor in London. But the slightly estranged family is brought together by Remy's losing battle with terminal cancer, and the hedonistic, ex-radical father and straight-laced son have to overcome their differences. Along the way, Remy waxes nostalgic with many of the same pals who made up the dinner party of the first film. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Denys Arcand
Written By: Denys Arcand
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Nov 21, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jul 13, 2004
Studio: Miramax

Critic Reviews

Ted Shen, Chicago Reader
Despite an uneven cast, Arcand finds a tonal balance between sentimental and cynical that keeps the conversations real and heart wrenching.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
A nicely balanced blend of sentiment and acrid wit.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Arcand avoids the temptation of turning the story into a tear-jerker.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
If you haven't seen the original, which, if memory serves, was billed as 'The Big Chill with a doctorate,' no worries. Arcand's follow-up stands alone as a universal story of generational reconciliation.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Admirable in its refusal to be politically correct.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A movie that, in the story of one man dying, shows us all how to live.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"The Barbarian Invasions" is an intriguing meditation on the inevitable fall of ideologies under the pressure of nature's laws.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
The film's emotional ending is deeply felt and powerful, examining the pain and the humor of life without pathos or melodrama. As such, the film resonates and lingers.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...an almost documentary truth to the performances, a un-movieish consistency of tone that makes it easy to forget that we're watching actors.
Jay Antani, Los Angeles Alternative
...jerkily paced, dramatically obvious, and seems penned by a self-serious 16-year-old
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit
Miramax's DVD is sparse, but the movie stands alone quite well
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
By the end of the film, Remy's passing is almost an afterthought; but the innate goodness of people lingers on.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The occasion is death, but the movie is a joyous celebration of life.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Daniel P

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… More
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 end 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.
Jennifer X

The guy who played the son looked a LOT like Zach Braff. All the themes - whether concerning the culture clash between the liberal and conservative, or the moral question of using drugs - gracefully intertwine to make this dazzling, dazzling gem of a film. I REALLY wish I… More
The guy who played the son looked a LOT like Zach Braff. All the themes - whether concerning the culture clash between the liberal and conservative, or the moral question of using drugs - gracefully intertwine to make this dazzling, dazzling gem of a film. I REALLY wish I could've seen "The Decline of the American Empire" prior to this so that I could've gotten to know the characters a little better, but this stands on its own extremely well.
Gordon A

Full of gallic charm and wit with a stunning performance from Remy Girard
Sarah G

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.
Luke B

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.
Laura C

An outstanding piece of French-Canadian cinema. Wonderfully written and performed. It was the smaller simple moments that touched me but I was absorbed in this film right from the start. One of those films that depicts death and dying yet is incredibly life-affirming (and not in that… More
An outstanding piece of French-Canadian cinema. Wonderfully written and performed. It was the smaller simple moments that touched me but I was absorbed in this film right from the start. One of those films that depicts death and dying yet is incredibly life-affirming (and not in that obvious "bucket list" kind of way.) Anxious to see "The Decline of the American Empire" also written and directed by Denys Arcand, it's predecessor, which takes place 17 years earlier, which I meant to see first. But y'know life's like that.
Joseph E

It Is Good, Like It Or Not People!
Bill C

Excluding the overt attack against socialized medicine, this movie takes a unique view on father son relationships. Remy the intellectual has traveled the full spectrum of intellectualism and fervent believer in socialism and his son Sabasian who typical of his son is a successful… More
Excluding the overt attack against socialized medicine, this movie takes a unique view on father son relationships. Remy the intellectual has traveled the full spectrum of intellectualism and fervent believer in socialism and his son Sabasian who typical of his son is a successful pragmatic capitalist. There is no real change in their relationship except that they both basically come to terms with being around each other and end they end the son tries to pay his debt to his father. Remy is terminally ill and trapped in his poorly functioning social medicine system in Canada. Only through bribery and several drives across the border to the US is Sabastian able to find adequate medical care for his father. He even bribes several of his father's disinterested college student to visit in the hospital. In summation, if you can tolerate (or maybe enjoy) the virulent attacks on the state of Canadian socialized medicine the story return a soul-wrenching but realistic portrayal of a Father-Son relationship.
George K

I can see why this movie won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language film in 2004. Anyone who has a lost a loved one to cancer or any other disease will be moved to tears while watching this film. I highly recommend this film...but get out the kleenex box.
Dimitris S

A witty,eccentric dialogue film,recalling the countless heroes of Rohmer's...aging as the protagonist jumped from a Clarie's Knee to the Canadian landscape.Brilliant method acting and improvisation at the same time,a touching screenplay and a great Croze,for it might not be… More
A witty,eccentric dialogue film,recalling the countless heroes of Rohmer's...aging as the protagonist jumped from a Clarie's Knee to the Canadian landscape.Brilliant method acting and improvisation at the same time,a touching screenplay and a great Croze,for it might not be the peak of Arcand but still fascinates with an intellectual quality of words and conceptions.
Krystle C

Denys Arcand's celebration of life in the face of death is at once funny, snide and moving, and perfectly presents French Canada's joie de vivre in a deeply heartfelt manner. It's even complete with the requisite shot of gorgeous Canadian fall colours!