Indochine (1992)

This story is set in 1930, at the time when French colonial rule in Indochina is ending. A widowed French woman who works in the rubber fields, raises a Vietnamese princess as if she was ... See full summary »

Director:

Régis Wargnier

Writers:

Erik Orsenna (original scenario & adaptation and dialogue), Louis Gardel (original scenario & adaptation and dialogue)

Stars:

Catherine Deneuve, Vincent Perez, Linh Dan Pham

Won 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Catherine Deneuve	...	Éliane
Vincent Perez	...	Jean-Baptiste
Linh Dan Pham	...	Camille
Jean Yanne	...	Guy
Dominique Blanc	...	Yvette
Henri Marteau	...	Émile
Carlo Brandt	...	Castellani
Gérard Lartigau	...	L'Admiral
Hubert Saint-Macary	...	Raymond (as Hubert Saint Macary)
Andrzej Seweryn	...	Hebrard
Mai Chau	...	Shen
Alain Fromager	...	Dominique
Chu Hung	...	Mari de Sao
Jean-Baptiste Huynh	...	Étienne, adulte
Thibault de Montalembert	...	Charles-Henri (as Thibault De Montalembert)

Storyline

This story is set in 1930, at the time when French colonial rule in Indochina is ending. A widowed French woman who works in the rubber fields, raises a Vietnamese princess as if she was her own daughter. She, and her daughter both fall in love with a young French navy officer, which will change both their lives significantly.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | french naval officer | french navy | year 1930 | vietnam | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence, sensuality and drug related scenes

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French Vietnamese

Release Date:

23 December 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Indochine

Filming Locations:

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Box Office

Gross USA:

$5,734,232

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paradis Films,La Générale d'Images,Paradis Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

148 min (cut) 153 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As of 2018, Catherine Deneuve's performance in this film earned her only Academy Award nomination.

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Goofs

During the scene where the plantation house is burning, as Eliane walks past a group of colonial soldiers, we see that they are carrying British No.4 rifles. Firstly, French colonial soldiers would have not been equipped with British rifles. Secondly, the No.4 rifle, a simplified version of the No.1, wasn't produced until 1939. Since the film takes place in the early 1930s, it would have been impossible for anybody to have had these weapons, as they didn't exist yet.

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Quotes

Yvette: The truth is nobody here likes you. Even the trees wouldn't grow if they had a choice!

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Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

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Soundtracks

La Baya
Lyrics by Marcel Heurtebise (as M. Heurtebise)
Music by Henri Christiné (as Christiné)
Performed by Dominique Blanc
Editions SALABERT

User Reviews

In some ways, the most informative of the 'Vietnam-era' movies..

I've seen at least 10-20 post-Vietnam movies, nearly all concentrating on the war or the aftermath of a war in a country that most Americans know absolutely nothing about (including me).

What a relief it was to learn something about the years of mistreatment Indo-Chine (or Vietnam) suffered at the hands of the French colonists who seem to have the 'reverse-Midas-touch' when it comes to their land possessions. Then again, I suppose this is the way of all colonists who invariably mistreat their 'possessions'..

The acting was terrific by all involved. Learning the pre-war background behind the extreme North/South polarizations and seeing all the strife that's touched Vietnam was the best lesson I've yet gleaned from any Vietnam movie.

I think a cure has finally been developed for Oliver Stone.

As high a rating as possible.