Tuvalu (2002)

73% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(2,254 ratings)

Tuvalu is the name of an island which Anton dreams of escaping to -- a dream which seems unlikely to come true, given that he works as the maintenance man at the dilapidated and largely deserted pool owned by his father. Located in the middle of nowhere, the pool has been going out of business for… More Tuvalu is the name of an island which Anton dreams of escaping to -- a dream which seems unlikely to come true, given that he works as the maintenance man at the dilapidated and largely deserted pool owned by his father. Located in the middle of nowhere, the pool has been going out of business for years, but Anton goes to elaborate measures to convince his blind father that the pool is still popular and frequented. When Anton's entrepreneur brother Gregor hatches a scheme to have the pool razed and sold off as real estate, Anton must enlist the help of the few regulars who support the pool. Banding together, the group attempts to save the pool from a health inspection that will put it out of business, while Anton tries to win the love of his longtime friend Eva.

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Veit Helmer
Written By: Veit Helmer, Michaela Beck
Genres: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 1, 2002 Limited
On DVD: Sep 24, 2002
Studio: Indican Releasing

Critic Reviews

Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune
A fascinating work that never quite coalesces, Tuvalu finally becomes oppressively repetitive.
Janice Page, Boston Globe
Tuvalu is astounding. It is also bizarre, challenging, and, at times, admirably overreaching.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
This one-of-a kind charmer casts an immediate and delightful spell.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A disappointment, a precious and grotesque exercise reminiscent of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Delicatessen, only less amusing.
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News
Still in the mood for something offbeat and phantasmagoric? Check out this charming German import by Veit Helmer.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
The kind of movie that might one day find itself in the hall of fame of surreal movie weirdness alongside cult favorites like Eraserhead, Delicatessen and the avant-garde frolics of Guy Maddin.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Tuvalu is like watching a Dali painting brought to life...and who wouldn't want to see that?
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Intriguing but ultimately irritating misfire.
Merle Bertrand, Film Threat
Ultimately a rewarding -- if weird -- experience. It's just too bad that it takes so long to get there.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
Fetishistic in its bemusement with gadgetry and painstaking in its slapstick-meets-high-emotion construction... Tuvalu is a decently engaging high farce, even if its influences are roundly on display.
William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The film is relentlessly arty and much too stylistically bizarre for mainstream taste ... But it has its own peculiar charm.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
...give this wonderful, funny, clever little flick a try.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Emil Christov's stunningly clear black and white cinematography presents images from another time, like a neo-Guy Maddin flick.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
They used to be called moving pictures, and the captivating Tuvalu reminds us why.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
Recommended for its singular vision -- a concept executed with bravura style, intelligent curiosity, and playful wit.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
Charming and a little tiresome.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Marion R

At first you really don't know what going on. But the uniqueness of the film is where it stands out.

Tuvalu (2002)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Marion R

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