The Republic of Love (2003)

44% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(822 ratings)

In Deepa Mehta's poignant and heartbreaking romance, Emilia Fox plays Fay, a generally content, thirtysomething Torontoite suffering in a relationship of quiet desperation with her boyfriend; Bruce Greenwood is Tom Avery, a loser in the ways of romance with three broken-hearted marriages behind him,… More In Deepa Mehta's poignant and heartbreaking romance, Emilia Fox plays Fay, a generally content, thirtysomething Torontoite suffering in a relationship of quiet desperation with her boyfriend; Bruce Greenwood is Tom Avery, a loser in the ways of romance with three broken-hearted marriages behind him, who hosts a late-night call-in radio program. The two meet and grow deeply smitten with one another, but must ultimately learn to accept one another unconditionally. Life seems just about perfect, until an unforeseen calamity challenges everything Fay has come to rely on as stable and solid. Mehta adapted the novel of the same title by Canadian author Carol Shields. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Deepa Mehta
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 31, 2004 Wide
On DVD: Apr 4, 2006

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell, Toronto Star
A quaintly uncomplicated romance that struggles to keep up with the quality of its acting.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
The charisma of the cast goes a long way to bring warmth to this story of winter love.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Wintry symbolism has never felt so forced -- and in a film that ought to have been played as a romantic comedy, it's never been more out of place, either.
Louis B. Hobson, Jam! Movies
Mehta's screenplay never effectively addresses one of the major themes of the story.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
A modest endeavour but there is much to quietly savour here.
Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)
The tiresome zaniness and Seinfeldian conceits might be forgivable if the romantic plot weren't so full of empty truisms and nonsense lines that would stump a Zen monk.
Angela Baldassarre, Sympatico.ca
The lack of vitality and dramatic storyline renders this tale about faith in love underwhelming and artificial.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...remains entertaining because of the two stars, both of whom give incredibly charismatic performances.
Dan Jardine, Cinemania
Mehta's confidently crafted film is more intelligent and serious than your standard romantic comedy.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Hal M

Deepa Mehta has a good reputation for art house type movies set in India. This movie, based on a well-known novel by Carol Shields, was Mehta's big chance to show she can do a North American style romantic comedy (she wrote and directed it). The answer's in: she… More
Deepa Mehta has a good reputation for art house type movies set in India. This movie, based on a well-known novel by Carol Shields, was Mehta's big chance to show she can do a North American style romantic comedy (she wrote and directed it). The answer's in: she can't. Back to India, Deepa.
Leo L

An interesting movie! Good story plot. Great cast! Beautiful music. An amazing director! (One of my favorite directors) Here's a movie that gives an intriguing perspective into the dynamics of love, family, relationships, and friendships. Tom and Fay are two individuals who meet… More
An interesting movie! Good story plot. Great cast! Beautiful music. An amazing director! (One of my favorite directors) Here's a movie that gives an intriguing perspective into the dynamics of love, family, relationships, and friendships. Tom and Fay are two individuals who meet and fall in love at first sight. They are inseparable and believe that love is definitely worth pursuing. Definitely worthy!