IMDb > The Lover (1992)
L'amant
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The Lover (1992) More at IMDbPro »L'amant (original title)

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The Lover -- In 1929 French Indochina, a French teenage girl embarks on a reckless and forbidden romance with a wealthy, older Chinese man, each knowing that knowledge of their affair will bring drastic consequences to each other.

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   8,144 votes »
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Gérard Brach
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Lover on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 October 1992 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Biography | Drama | Romance See more »
Tagline:
She gave her innocence, her passion, her body. The one thing she couldn't give was her love.
Plot:
In 1929 French Indochina, a French teenage girl embarks on a reckless and forbidden romance with a wealthy, older Chinese man, each knowing that knowledge of their affair will bring drastic consequences to each other. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
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 (From Dread Central. 10 January 2012, 12:10 AM, PST)
Black Gold Review
 (From HeyUGuys. 27 October 2011, 2:00 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Wonderfully evocative, refreshingly original, intriguing cinematography. See more (85 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Jane March ... The Young Girl
Tony Leung Ka Fai ... The Chinaman

Frédérique Meininger ... The Mother
Arnaud Giovaninetti ... The Elder Brother

Melvil Poupaud ... The Younger Brother
Lisa Faulkner ... Helene Lagonelle
Xiem Mang ... The Chinaman's Father
Philippe Le Dem ... The French Teacher
Ann Schaufuss ... Anne-Marie Stretter
Quach Van An ... The Driver
Tania Torrens ... The Principal
Raymonde Heudeline ... The Writer (end)
Yvonne Wingerter ... The Writer (beginning)
Do Minh Vien ... The Young Boy
Hélène Patarot ... The Assistant Mistress

Jeanne Moreau ... Narrator (French and English version) / Récitante (voice)

Frédéric Auburtin ... Liner Pianist
Alido H. Gaudencio ... Anne-Marie Stretters Driver
Vu Dinh Thi ... Ferry Captain
Truong Thu ... Bus Driver
Nguyen Thi Cam Thuy ... Bride
Lu Van Trang ... Bus Controller
Vu Kim Trong ... Young Girls Coolie
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Directed by
Jean-Jacques Annaud 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Jean-Jacques Annaud 
Gérard Brach 
Marguerite Duras  novel

Produced by
Claude Berri .... producer
Timothy Burrill .... co-producer
Jacques Tronel .... co-producer
 
Original Music by
Gabriel Yared 
 
Cinematography by
Robert Fraisse 
 
Film Editing by
Noëlle Boisson 
 
Casting by
Francine Cathelain 
Françoise Combadière 
Olivier Mergault 
Joanna Merlin 
Patricia Pao 
 
Production Design by
Hoang Thanh At 
 
Art Direction by
Olivier Radot 
 
Costume Design by
Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle 
 
Production Management
Jean-Yves Asselin .... unit production manager
Mederic Bourlat .... assistant unit manager
Olivier Hélie .... unit production manager
Alfred Lott .... production manager
Christine Raspillère .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frédéric Auburtin .... first assistant director
Isabelle Henri .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Jean-René Coulon .... property master
Mat Troi Day .... property buyer
Sophie Martel .... set dresser
Christian Portal .... property master
Maxime Rebière .... storyboard artist
 
Sound Department
Anke Bakker .... assistant sound editor
Laurent Quaglio .... sound
Laurent Quaglio .... supervising sound editor
Christian Wangler .... sound mixer
 
Special Effects by
Georges Demétrau .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Alan Church .... optical camera operator
Frederic Moreau .... optical effects
Andy Stevens .... optical camera assistant: Magic Camera Co
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Benoît Barbier .... still photographer
Tahar Boualam .... generator operator
David Campbell .... crane operator: Technocrane
Mario d'Orio .... grip
Gilles Floquet .... best boy grip
Alain Herpe .... assistant camera
Jean-Pierre Mas .... key grip
Marc Nove .... best boy electric (as Marc Nové)
Didier Nové .... gaffer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jean-Daniel Vuillermoz .... costumer assistant
 
Editorial Department
Diane Logan .... assistant editor
Yvan Lucas .... color timer
 
Other crew
Danielle Dumanoir .... production coordinator
Eleanor Fazan .... choreographer
Claude Fenioux .... financial controller
Segolene Fleury-Slimane .... production accountant
Nicole Heitzmann .... production accountant
Jennifer Patrick .... voice coach
Nam Son .... historical advisor
Guy Wagner .... maritime advisor
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"L'amant" - France (original title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R on appeal for graphic and explicit sexuality (re-rating on appeal)
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
115 min | USA:103 min (R-rated version) | USA:115 min (unrated version) | Germany:111 min (25 fps)
Country:
France | UK | Vietnam
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby | LC-Concept Digital Sound
Certification:
Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Netherlands:16 | Peru:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Hong Kong:III | Portugal:M/18 (Qualidade) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating on appeal)
Filming Locations:
Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamSee more »
Company:
Films A2See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Jean-Jacques Annaud's paycheck was £1.1 million.See more »
Quotes:
[first lines]
Narrator:Very early in my life, it was too late. At eighteen it was already too late. At eighteen I aged. This aging was brutal. This aging, I saw it spread over my features, one by one. Instead of being frightened by it, I saw this aging of my face with the same sort of interest I might have taken for example in the reading of a book...
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater: Aardvark Jubilee" (1995)See more »
Soundtrack:
Waltz in B minor Opus 69 No. 2See more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
33 out of 37 people found the following review useful.
Wonderfully evocative, refreshingly original, intriguing cinematography., 13 February 1999
Author: nz man from New Zealand

My wife and I were enraptured and thoroughly enjoyed this gem. Deeply evocative and so real that we nearly felt the rain and hot humidity, we were swept along on this unique journey. The external and newsgroup reviews did not ring true for us. Well OK, the characters were very sad and March delivered stilted lines at times, but there was so much magic to see and hear! She sizzled. He struggled. They both yearned for what could not be.

Those harbour and river scenes were no Hollywood set or computer graphics, but just had to be the real thing: Vietnam! The reviews said 'not erotic' and 'like Penthouse'...?!? Just look beneath the surface: even though both characters are trapped in cultural barriers and subsequently repress so many emotions (especially the girl), they escape into the blissfully unreal world of the rented room where emotions run deep albeit confused.

You will not find the usual American 'formula film' composed of glitz, action, intrigue, syrupy sweetness and a predictable ending. Instead here is a film that is complex yet simple, both beautiful and ugly, about separateness and unions, and the sufferings of those who love but cannot love. We were captivated, enchanted. If you are prudish or do not like 'foreign films', then avoid this film. However, if you have ever travelled in Asia, if you love creative cinematography, if you enjoy small subtleties, if you like an insight into the past and a time of strong desires... then see this film! It was refreshing, and we did not want it to end.

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (85 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Lover (1992)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Awkward tears in the end... sayaman
'I have a destroyed face.' ashisthegal
CRAZY: Why Use a Half-Asian to Portray a White Girl in Film about Race ExterminateTheBrutes
The 'love' between Chinaman and the girl. QUESTIONS! oocherry_bubble00
Is it just me ... scilicyde
Horrible! chiara-usa
See more »

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