A Very Long Engagement (2004)
"Un long dimanche de fiançailles" (original title)

Tells the story of a young woman's relentless search for her fiancé, who has disappeared from the trenches of the Somme during World War One.

Director:

Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Writers:

Sébastien Japrisot (novel), Jean-Pierre Jeunet (story),

Stars:

Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominique Pinon

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Audrey Tautou	...	Mathilde
Gaspard Ulliel	...	Manech
Dominique Pinon	...	Sylvain
Chantal Neuwirth	...	Bénédicte
André Dussollier	...	Pierre-Marie Rouvières
Ticky Holgado	...	Germain Pire
Marion Cotillard	...	Tina Lombardi
Dominique Bettenfeld	...	Ange Bassignano
Jodie Foster	...	Elodie Gordes
Jean-Pierre Darroussin	...	Benjamin Gordes
Clovis Cornillac	...	Benoît Notre-Dame
Jean-Pierre Becker	...	Esperanza
Denis Lavant	...	Six-Soux
Jérôme Kircher	...	Bastoche
Albert Dupontel	...	Célestin Poux

Storyline

Five desperate French soldiers during The Battle of the Somme shoot themselves, either by accident or with purpose, in order to be invalided back home. Having been "caught" a court-martial convenes and determines punishment to be banishment to No Man's Land with the objective of having the Germans finish them off. In the process of telling this tale each man's life is briefly explored along with their next of kin as Methilde, fiancée to one of the men, tries to determine the circumstances of her lover's death. This task is not made any easier for her due to a bout with polio as a child. Along the way she discovers the heights and depths of the human soul.

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Plot Keywords:

soldier | no man's land | court martial | death | girl | 

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Taglines:

Never let go

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [dk] Warner Bros. [fr]

Country:

France USA

Language:

French German Corsican

Release Date:

27 October 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

A Very Long Engagement

Filming Locations:

Austerlitz Railway Station, Paris 13, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$47,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$94,884 (Hong Kong) (1 April 2005)

Gross:

$200,542 (Hong Kong) (8 April 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

2003 Productions, Warner Bros., Tapioca Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean-Pierre Jeunet:  [actor]  Dominique Pinon.

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Goofs

In a dream sequence, the main character is seen dangling from the top deck of the lighthouse which in encircled by a steel railing. In a scene moments later, the two main characters are seen running around the top deck of the lighthouse which now has a solid white wall around the deck. However, Mathilde must have never been at the lighthouse before, that's why in her dream it looks differently from the actual one. Moreover, even familiar things and places often look strange and different in our dreams.

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Quotes

Sylvain: [after the mailman rides his bike into the house] Make yourself at home! At Christmas, come down the chimney!

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Connections

References All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

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Soundtracks

"Peer Gynt: Suite Number 1, Opus 46"
Composed by Edvard Grieg

User Reviews

Pleasant, visually satisfying.

Dazzling, never before have I seen such a visually pleasing picture. Jeunet has mastered the film medium giving 'A Very Long Engagement' a unique and fairy tale like visual style. Though rushed, the fantasy romance that Jeunet paints through flashbacks is inspiring. The graphic World War I trenches, provide an excellent contrast to the simple but charming mystery that Mathilde embarks on through the film.

Although Jeunet relies heavily on Audrey Tautou's performance, it is ultimately his one of a kind visual style that emotionally ties the viewer. This said, the latter portion of 'Long Engagement' feels very rushed and isn't treated to the same elegance that so well defines the first half. There are moments in the film where the visuals far overshadow the emotional intensity intended for the scene. This is perhaps 'Long Engagements' only fault, as it becomes unbalanced. The stylized and even cartoonish artistic direction that Jeunet leans to, although brilliant seems I'll fit for this wartime drama. Even so, 'A Very Long Engagement' comes off genuine and it's mix of fantasy romance and war will let you leave the theater fulfilled.