The Story of Marie and Julien (2003)

50% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(590 ratings)

Jacques Rivette's Histoire de Marie et Julien (The Story of Marie and Julien) stars Emmanuelle Béart and Jerzy Radziwilowicz as a pair of ex-lovers who get back together after their lives change. Julien (Radziwilowicz) is a clock repairman whose girlfriend has left him. Marie (Béart) is a mysterious… More Jacques Rivette's Histoire de Marie et Julien (The Story of Marie and Julien) stars Emmanuelle Béart and Jerzy Radziwilowicz as a pair of ex-lovers who get back together after their lives change. Julien (Radziwilowicz) is a clock repairman whose girlfriend has left him. Marie (Béart) is a mysterious woman who does not bleed after being cut. Her boyfriend has died. Marie and Julien had once engaged in an affair when they were each involved with other people, and now that they have no emotional entanglements, they slowly begin a new relationship. This film started decades before as a project in Rivette's "Scenes From a Parallel Life" series and abandons the majority of the formal rules imposed by the filmmaker on the other films in the cycle. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Jacques Rivette
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jul 12, 2005

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
Rivette, working from a story he developed with Pascal Bonitzer and Christine Laurent, ushers us slyly toward an ending that surprises and provokes, yet offers the possibility of love reborn.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
For a picture about the fantastic and supernatural, it's a surprisingly flat and unmagical affair.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
All the story's power is allowed to leak away by the deliberative heaviness with which Rivette pads through his 150-minute narrative, with its exasperating lack of dramatic emphasis.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An intellectually dazzling but slow-moving, dreary and somewhat pretentious chamberwork.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Far from bad, but academic and -- for once with this director -- overlong.
Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine
After a healthy start, pretentiousness lets down a promising premise, and the film just runs out of ticker.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
One of Rivette's most straightforward and intriguing works, and one of his most successful narratives.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
Insistent minimalism--not everyone's expectations since "The Sixth Sense" but sighting of the Beart body creates an effect of its own.
Tom Dawson, BBC
Although slow-moving and slightly muted in its emotional pay-off, the film is distinguished by a carefully layered performance from the impressive Béart, who subtly conveys Marie's other-worldly detachment and her human vulnerability.
Sam Jordison, Film4
It's just dull.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
["The Story of Marie and Julien"] is lovely to look at, gorgeously photographed by William Lubchansky.... But, the film never stirred my core.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Rivette's glacial film creates a unique world of dulled Parisian blues and grays, exemplified by the fabulous production design and art direction.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

alan j

this movie is so long and drawn out, and the payoff is minimal after such an arduous wait. Both lead characters act as though the entire story is a dream sequence, and Jerzy acts mainly stone faced throughout, as though he is in a permanent daze. At the least, Ms Beart is terrific… More
this movie is so long and drawn out, and the payoff is minimal after such an arduous wait. Both lead characters act as though the entire story is a dream sequence, and Jerzy acts mainly stone faced throughout, as though he is in a permanent daze. At the least, Ms Beart is terrific to gaze at, and puts forth a believable performance. you have heard of the movie "Casper the friendly ghost" ? This movie would aptly be titled "Marie, the horny ghost". The best part of this dvd is the extra where the director is interviewed. His intellectual discussion about the difference between phantoms and ghosts provided me some needed unintentional humor after watching this movie
Dimitris S

Expressive qualities won't be needed in the afterlife,ouch...as to not reveal much,Rivette underlines the importance of being loyal and rampaging your beliefs.Julien is a despicable person and Marie is the angel in disguise,and these malicious creatures crave each other like… More
Expressive qualities won't be needed in the afterlife,ouch...as to not reveal much,Rivette underlines the importance of being loyal and rampaging your beliefs.Julien is a despicable person and Marie is the angel in disguise,and these malicious creatures crave each other like animals.Rivette's poetic way to show it all prevents him from offering a true masterpiece but I forgive him because his subplot devices and fascinating tempos distinguish him.