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The Widow of Saint-Pierre (2000)
"La veuve de Saint-Pierre" (original title)

 -  Drama | Romance  -  19 April 2000 (France)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 3,864 users   Metascore: 72/100
Reviews: 69 user | 61 critic | 27 from Metacritic.com

In a small French colony, a drunken man kills someone. While a guillotine is being shipped in, he changes, becoming a good and popular man.

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Title: The Widow of Saint-Pierre (2000)

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Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Pauline (Madame La)
...
Jean (The Captain)
...
Ariel Neel Auguste
Michel Duchaussoy ...
The Governor
Philippe Magnan ...
President Venot
Christian Charmetant ...
Supply and Secretariat Officer
Philippe du Janerand ...
Customs Officer
Maurice Chevit ...
The Governor's Father
Catherine Lascault ...
La Malvilain
Ghyslain Tremblay ...
Monsieur Chevassus
Reynald Bouchard ...
Louis Ollivier
...
Soldier Loïc
...
The Rear Admiral
Dominique Quesnel ...
The Proprietor
Anne-Marie Philipe ...
The Governor's Wife
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Storyline

In 1849, in the Archipelago of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, the drunken Ariel Neel Auguste and his partner Louis Ollivier kill for a futile motive (to see if he is fat or just big) the fishing boat captain Coupard. Nell, who stabbed the victim, is sentenced to die with his head severed in the guillotine while Louis is sentenced to hard labor. During the transportation to the prison under the custody of Captain Jean, there is an accident and Louis dies. While spending his days in the cell waiting for the guillotine and the executioner, Neel is invited by the captain's wife Mrs. Pauline to help her in her garden and becomes her protégé. Later he has a process of rehabilitation helping the locals in minor works and becomes very popular in the island. When he saves the building Café du Nord and her owner from sinking in the sea, his popularity increases and nobody but the governor and politicians of the council wants his death. Neel marries Eleontine Jeanne-Marie, but sooner he is informed ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

guillotine | island | murder | love | prison | See more »

Taglines:

A true story of revenge and redemption, fear and forgiveness, and the true meaning of love.

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality and brief violence | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

19 April 2000 (France)  »

Also Known As:

A Viúva de Saint-Pierre  »

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$31,702 (USA) (2 March 2001)

Gross:

$3,058,380 (USA) (27 July 2001)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The title refers in part to the French nickname "veuve" (widow) of the guillotine. Although the French dialogue often uses this word for the device, it is never translated as "widow" in the English subtitles. See more »

Goofs

When Neel is told he's strong enough to "ramer jusqu'au chez les Anglais", the English subtitles say "row over to Canada" rather than "row over to the English". This introduces an error: both the geography and the dialogue in other scenes make it clear that Newfoundland is meant, but Newfoundland wasn't part of Canada until 1949. See more »

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User Reviews

 
A beautifully austere film about character.
1 November 2001 | by (Orange County, CA USA) – See all my reviews

As the best of French cinema does so adroitly, "The Window of Saint-Pierre" tells most of it's story laconically with knowing looks and subtle behaviors while the story it tells is a relentlessly plodding drama of unspoken words and the emotions they evoke. "Widow..." is more about integrity, honor, love, and other intangibles than it is about its relatively simple storyline and the characters involved. A beautifully crafted somber film, "Widow..." is recommended for mature audiences because a measure of maturation is required to appreciate all this austere film has to offer.


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