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IMDbPro

The Advocate

Original title: The Hour of the Pig
  • 1993
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
The Advocate (1993)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
27 Photos
CrimeDramaMystery

In medieval France, young lawyer Richard Courtois leaves Paris for the simpler life in the country. However, he is soon drawn into amorous and political intrigues. At the same time, he is pu... Read allIn medieval France, young lawyer Richard Courtois leaves Paris for the simpler life in the country. However, he is soon drawn into amorous and political intrigues. At the same time, he is pushed to defend a pig, owned by the mysterious gypsy Samira. The pig has been arrested for ... Read allIn medieval France, young lawyer Richard Courtois leaves Paris for the simpler life in the country. However, he is soon drawn into amorous and political intrigues. At the same time, he is pushed to defend a pig, owned by the mysterious gypsy Samira. The pig has been arrested for the murder of a young boy.

  • Director
    • Leslie Megahey
  • Writer
    • Leslie Megahey
  • Stars
    • Colin Firth
    • Amina Annabi
    • Jim Carter
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Leslie Megahey
    • Writer
      • Leslie Megahey
    • Stars
      • Colin Firth
      • Amina Annabi
      • Jim Carter
    • 26User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Advocate
    Trailer 2:06
    Watch The Advocate

    Photos27

    Colin Firth in The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    Colin Firth in The Advocate (1993)
    Colin Firth and Ian Holm in The Advocate (1993)
    The Advocate (1993)
    Colin Firth and Lysette Anthony in The Advocate (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Colin Firth
    Colin Firth
    • Richard Courtois
    Amina Annabi
    • Samira
    Jim Carter
    Jim Carter
    • Mathieu
    Donald Pleasence
    Donald Pleasence
    • Pincheon
    Ian Holm
    Ian Holm
    • Albertus
    Nicol Williamson
    Nicol Williamson
    • Seigneur Jehan d'Auferre
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Magistrate Boniface
    Harriet Walter
    Harriet Walter
    • Jeannine Martin
    Lysette Anthony
    Lysette Anthony
    • Filette d'Auferre
    Sophie Dix
    Sophie Dix
    • Maria
    Vincent Grass
    Vincent Grass
    • Bailiff Labatier
    Elizabeth Spriggs
    Elizabeth Spriggs
    • Madame Langlois
    Raoul Delfosse
    • Blind Georges
    Justin Chadwick
    Justin Chadwick
    • Gerard d'Auferre
    Jean-Pierre Stewart
    • Sheriff
    Emil Wolk
    • Print Seller
    Dave Atkins
    • Valliere
    François Lalande
    • Builder
    • (as Francois Lalande)
    • Director
      • Leslie Megahey
    • Writer
      • Leslie Megahey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on genuine court proceedings against animals.
    • Goofs
      In the epilogue crawl, the character name Mathieu is spelled once correctly, and in a subsequent paragraph as Mathiew.
    • Quotes

      [Richard is nude and embarrassed]

      Maria: Don't worry, I have brothers.

    • Alternate versions
      The Hour of the Pig was released in the United States by Miramax as The Advocate. Harvey Weinstein was actively involved in the cuts of films distributed by Miramax, this film was no exception. For US release, the film was trimmed down, including a sex scene, that was edited in part to avoid a stronger than R rating. The name of the film was changed as part of an advertising campaign. The US film poster and opening crawl instruct the audience not to "reveal the client". The campaign did not improve sales for the film. The UK version was released on VHS. Only the shorter (R-rated) version of the film was released to VHS or DVD in North America. The full version has been released on DVD and screened on television in some European countries. Besides the titles, there are many differences between The Advocate (US) and The Hour Of The Pig (UK). These include: US version begins with music from the film and an opening crawl of text. UK version goes straight into the film. The US and UK versions end with different text before the end credits roll. Different voice takes for some scenes Different music or no music for some scenes Amina Annabi's voice is dubbed in the US version A speech made towards the end of the film by Donald Pleasence was shortened for the US version In the original version, Sophie Dix gives a short voice-over at the end of the film. In the US version, Jim Carter gives a short voice-over near the beginning of the film, and near the end.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Natural Born Killers/Blankman/Fresh/Wagons East/The Advocate (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Quant Voi en la Fin D'este
      Written by Perrin D'Agincourt

      Performed by the St. George's Canzona

      Counter-tenor, Derek Harrison

      Arranged by John Sothcott

      Courtesy of CRD Records

    User reviews26

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    The Hour Of The Pig - It's not a hamburger, take it with savoir vivre.
    This film masterly deals with a very specific moment in the history of Western Christianity. It's not just the Medieval Ages .. since, in a generally accepted timetable, it started circa 450 AD and lasted 'til the rise of the Absolute Monarchies ... it depicts a moment of transition. The already settled upsurging process in which feudal cities would develop as independent political entities under the rule of a central monarchy ... a moment in which France's bourgeoisie starts to position itself as a major political and economical partner/supporter of a highly centralized monarchy in opposition to the decentralized political organization championed by feudal lords. A struggle which would, eventually in future times, determine how law and order should be imposed to society and the consequential encroachment of a national state. So, this film's story happens in the waning of French feudalism as a source of political and economical power. You must never forget that what is shown in this film as the feudal lord's privileges were once, in a then very recent past, the rule ... the French Revolution is still centuries away ... and not a trace yet of the Thirteen Colonies ... but now, that's all history.

    Yeah ... yeah, it's a fiction alright ... a fiction loosely based on real legal reports of the Middle Age ... so yes, the things you'll see not just could have happened ... but eventually, and quite oftenly I should add, did actually happen very much in the same fashion exposed in this great film. By now you must be asking yourself ... why in the world is this guy beating around the bush for ?! ... and in my usual high style manner I would answer: Simply because without the previous historical pinpointing you would miss all the possible readings this film has to offer and the much needed gap filling. ... Furthermore, in case you're; yes you my dear reader, a High School student, don't even try to argue or use the info contained in this review in a school debate or essay ... firstly, it might be too specific for the common knowledge of most High School teachers ... and secondly, you obviously lack a yielding background knowledge to support it.

    Most reviewers, including high ranking pros, missed the point completely as to what concerns this film ... one of them pros took it has a comedy and simply compared it to Mounty Python And The Holy Grail ... oh c'mon, how unreal can you get ?!!! The Hour Of The Pig does have some 'laughable moments' ... so does Reservoir Dogs ... but most of such moments will be laughed at based on our 21st Century understanding of reality and common sense. In spite the 'laughable moments', it's not a comedy ... it's a thriller. Some other reviewers, pros included, preferred comparing it to The Name Of The Rose. Such comparison is pure fallacy in all senses. I've seen the film and I've read the book ... the great result of erudite and throughout historical research, most specifically as to what concerns past and then still ongoing theological debates and disputes. Jean-Jacques Annaud somehow managed to destroy Umberto Eco's story and turned it into an overrated and underscored whodunit. The Hour Of The Pig is more of a what-the-heck-is-happening-here kind of thriller story ... and as the film unfolds, you'll be shown a very detailed and carefully crafted epoch re-enactment of everyday life in those times.

    Basically the plot spirals around the ongoing dispute for the exercise of power (fiefdom versus highly centralized monarchies) staged in the trial of a domestic animal ... ultimately, a struggle for the upper hand in controlling the means, resources and legitimacy to impose fear upon society in general. 'It is the curse of our times ... gentlemen ... not the black death ... but fear ' says Pincheon as if previewing Thomas Hobbes by quite a few years. The Renaissance has been going on for more than a century already. The world was changing but not changed yet ... and such clash would still go on for centuries ahead. Leslie Megahey's competent approach as a director and scriptwriter has acquired for this film a stand alone feature. It's not a hamburger, take it with savoir vivre.
    helpful•6
    10
    • Fred-Hubner
    • Feb 13, 2005

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 1994 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Hour of the Pig
    • Filming locations
      • Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • BBC Films
      • CiBy 2000
      • British Screen Finance Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $602,329
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,892
      • Aug 28, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $602,329
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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