Va Savoir (2001)

86% of critics liked it
(76 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,208 ratings)

A romantic comedy from acclaimed French director Jacques Rivette (La Belle Noiseuse), this film centers on three men and three women whose lives converge during the run of a play in Paris. The star of the play, Camille (Jeanne Balibar), is returning to Paris after leaving her stuffy boyfriend Pierre… More A romantic comedy from acclaimed French director Jacques Rivette (La Belle Noiseuse), this film centers on three men and three women whose lives converge during the run of a play in Paris. The star of the play, Camille (Jeanne Balibar), is returning to Paris after leaving her stuffy boyfriend Pierre (Jacques Bonaffe) and residing in Italy. Her Italian theater company has brought her to France, where the show is run by her lover, director, and co-star Ugo (Sergio Castellitto). Ugo is concerned with the show's poor attendance, but also busy searching for a long-lost play by an Italian playwright. While on his quest, he discovers the beautiful young Do (Helene De Fougerolles), a student who offers to help him. Do's mother has a library that may contain the lost play, and Ugo runs into her possessive half-sibling Arthur (Bruno Todeschini), a shady man pursuing an affair with Pierre's wife Sonia (Mariane Basler), who also has a questionable past. After a brooding dinner at Pierre and Sonia's home, tensions mount in everybody's relationships and their romantic journeys are similarly tested. A lighter work from the usually dramatic filmmaker Rivette, the film was made by the director at the amazing age of 73. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Jacques Rivette
Written By: Jacques Rivette, Pascal Bonitzer, Christine Laurent
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 29, 2001 Limited
On DVD: Feb 26, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It lacks the scariness, the mystery, and even much of the curiosity of Rivette's better work.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A generally wonderful experience, though it should come with a warning posted outside the theatre: Not for the impatient.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Slow but savvy look at what we do for love.
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
A dense, droll and frequently delightful account of that zone where art and life (and love) converge.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
It's a supremely smart film.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A demonstration of grace and wit.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It's an engaging diversion from a master director who, at the ripe age of 78, appears to be once again at the top of his game.
, Film4
Jacques Rivette's playful romance takes time to find its feet, yet its leisurely charm and generous compassion towards its characters proves a winning combination.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
The result is like a formation dance performed at the speed of a chess game.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In its artistic quality, subtle complexity, and thematic concerns Rivette's film recalls Renoir's Rules of the Game and particularly Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night, which also deals with a theatrical troupe and the notion of life versus art
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Funny, sentimental but ironic, and wondrously assured.
Rob Nelson, City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
If true love is a state in which each sees the other as he or she would most want to be seen (and maybe it isn't), then Va savoir (Who Knows) is the definition of true love.
Susan Tavernetti, Palo Alto Weekly
Leave it to the French to release a film that refuses to pander to the lowest common denominator.
, Empire Magazine
It's slight, contrived and conceited. But, oh, for more films as flawed as this one.
Brian Walker, ViewLondon
It's possible to walk away with either a warm glow or thinking, so what? To which I'd reply by quoting the translation of the title: who knows?
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
For my money, this is a pretentious, overlong (150 minutes), boring film about people for whom living seems to be a chore, and human connection impossible.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
There are a number of fantastic scenes in Va Savoir, but the realities of its characters and their portrayals -- some no doubt a function of a different culture, others undercooked in any language -- undermine its effectiveness.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
A curiosity that's easily forgettable.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Rivette and his players know that exploring the unanswerable is where the fun and riches lie. Anyone who treasures precisely tuned direction and meaningful dialogue will agree.
Andrew Howe, eFilmCritic.com
An intelligent, sophisticated hymn to modern-day relationships.