User reviews

Very fine actors we have here, to a story that you have to ... well get into. The premise is "easy" or at least seems that way. Especially considering how fast everything seems to move at first. But when you skip steps - well in the end the step you skipped may come back to haunt you.

Or in this case the main characters. Love can not be conjured up - it can be built over years sometimes, And it may be something that is going to happen here too. But it wouldn't be a good movie, if everything went smoothly and without any obstacles ... still the movie is almost 3 hours long and the pace slows down quite significantly.

So I do understand if some people have issues because of the length (no pun intended) ... yes (minute) size does matter. Keeping things fresh too - it does try that out and we have quite a few situations. Some that we may have to figure out ourselves. Can you dig it?

... would really have been interesting to watch this film as it should have been made in foreign language(s)... watching it now is like viewing a production having been perfectly dubbed, something is missing-lacking... actors making movies in second or third languages will do nothing but take away from a film's experience... sure there's a bit of adjustment having to read subtitles... yet the 'feel' of the movie makes it all-more-worthwhile

... interesting premise.. he's obliviously being unfaithful all the while upset, fully believing she's not being honest with him regarding her fidelity... any-all women of the day could never have close male friends, especially married-women... viewer ratings for this film would overall surely have gone up were it not for the fact of it being 169 minutes long.

This film was a pleasant surprise for me...I hadn't read the book (original source material is a book with the same title by Hungarian author Milan Fust) and I didn't know anything about the film when I watched it. Since, I have read numerous reviews and critiques of the book...and the film which was premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film festival.

The general story is about a Dutch sea captain Jakob Stor in the 1920's/1930's who, encouraged by his on-board chef, marries a young bohemian woman who he doesn't really know. The two have an odd relationship filled with seeming contempt and indifference by Lizzy the wife and patience, curiosity, and eventual jealousy by Jakob. The film is predominantly in English with some Dutch in parts...like the beginning. I was very appreciative of the Dutch language being used and Jakob being played by the Dutch actor Gijs Naber. Gijs Naber was not just the anchor holding this film together...but the best part. He was phenomenal and did a wonderful job selling a tortured and sympathetic character. One of my favorite scenes is the build up to him throwing vases etc around their flat. (He lasted longer than I would have before he snapped.) I also particularly enjoyed the sultry Tango scene, but a large part of my enjoyment of this film was the cinematography. I love some of the still moments that were just a view out of a port window...or the view of the horizon. Sea life is definitely romanticized in the film...even the camaraderie of the young crew seems idolized along with the more revered but isolated life of the captain. I understand this was a joint effort between Hungary, Germany and France and I loved it. I hope we have more joint efforts bringing literature to life. The sets and costumes were wonderful and really showcased both the time period and the fictional characters.

Not only did I love the film and highly recommend it, but I am eager to read the original book which I have had to order as my local bookstore did not have a copy. If the reviews are to be believed to book delves even more into philosophy than the film.

To define this film in the simplest of terms this is about a toxic relationship or the breakdown of a marriage between a Dutch sea captain and a young free spirited girl.

I believe this was Lea seydoux worst movie. It was unnecessarily long and meaningless. Even "Belle Epine" was much better than this. I believe it was actually not the right role for Lea. It could be anyone else.

A movie about how movies should be done, wonderful piece of cinematography and art. No, I havent read the novel and I dont need to. Every man who really loved a woman beyond and above everything would perfectly understand this movie. The rest, just go watch superheroes flicks and dont judge.

Lea Seydoux is always great and a remarkable performer in the best and worst movies, so she has nothing to do with this trash of a movie. It's not romance. It's debauchery. It's lustful, creepy, misogynistic and totally misrepresentational of planet earth. It takes a really long time to get through the 3 hours. Romances don't start out like that. Not in the real world. The guy is a creep.

One of the worst films I've seen in years. It was painfully clear that the lead roles were played by actors who did not have a strong command of the English language, making the dialogue sound unnatural and lacking in depth. The scene in Dutch was the only moment where the lead actor, Gijs Naber, seemed somewhat convincing. Overall, the acting was stiff, unnatural, and outdated. I suspect there were significant issues with the direction, as a good director would have brought more out of the actors, especially the actress, Léa Seydoux, whom I've seen deliver much better performances. If there was any chemistry between the actors, it was expertly removed by the director Ildikó Enyedi.

After some of the bad reviews my expectations were low and I was surprised how did this movie struck me hard.

Maybe because the captain expresses so deeply what I felt in relationships. Not that I ever would propose to the first woman that would enter a door but the experience sometimes you get more than you bargained for and how you can't control how destructive love can be. To watch how the captain was struggling to articulate what he was feeling was intriguing.

The sadness and frustration of him never even getting close in the mind of his wife. Was she playing with hm and paying him back as a punishment for his bold proposal or did she deeply love him as much as he loved her? Did she get more than she bargained for as well by thinking she could play him? Will men ever understand women?

It's not a Hollywood movie with clever lines of communication and it's drawn out yes. But for me the atmosphere with the continuous tension kept me on my seat for the full 3 hours. Bach's largo from his 5th clavier concerto on the background exemplified the sadness and the longing. The cinematography was so beautiful.

The acting was stellar and a joy to watch. Other reviewers seem to have criticized the acting but they meant to criticize the characters with their clear flaws. Did they mix this up.

Just as the captain, I struggle to describe this movie and I can't explain why I was so drawn to it. I'm grateful Enyedi's courage bringing this out in the way she did. At least some people find this a master piece!

A loyal captain wonders if he made the right decision.

It's a story about the impermanence of relationships, temptation and betrayal, being punished for taking things for granted, depression, living in the present. Both actors were well cast.

Great story, great acting, amazing cinematography and production design, for a wonderful and unique script that pulls on the heartstrings of everyone who has known love, strife and loss, and who is able to notice a great piece of art when they see it.

This is an amazing tale, one that might be criticised for being too far-fetched, but nevertheless is very close to the real lives of many people. Granted: this is not for everyone. Not everyone will appreciate the trials and tribulations of this captain, or the tribulations and restlessness of the young, wild, curious and intelligent wife... but I assure you all that this is what art is made of: past experience combined with grief and imagination, congealed in a (art) piece with the aid of top craftsmanship from all the participants in the production of this move.

An amazing cast, delivering an amazing performance, enhanced by top-notch work from all other parties involved. This is now one of my favorite movies of all time.

Special credit has to be handed to Lèa Seydoux, who is absolutely brilliant in her flawless performance.

She is not only a ravishing beauty: she has always proved to be an amazing actress, even in the most barren roles in the most mind-numbing action movies (e.g., 007) and in this one she shows the ability to delivery a performance that is finely-grained with all the nuance of this very complex character.

This film got is premiere at last Cannes with not very warm reviews from the critics and public alike, many of the critics calling euro-pudding. I suspect many of these critics didn´t read the original novel of Milan Fust that these film is based on and that Ildikó Enyedi was tryng to do for many years.

I thought the film was very well adapted containing many of the philisophical and symbolism of the novel, beautifully shot, excellent perfomances by all (Gijs Naber and Léa Seydoux (her part is probably more difficult to play since she´s mostly an enigma until the very end of the film) are perfectly cast and very well directed.

One advise I who give who wants to see this film, is to read the novel first.

This movie is not for everyone, but for those who can see poetry in images. Only Lea herself is already enough to see it, such a mysterious woman, on which most of people can't understand. The actor who plays the captain is good enough to lead the movie all by himself in 3 hours.

The photography, cities and the period completes the perfect environment.

The main charachter, Captain Störk is an unique figure. He is such a loveable charachter. Between him and Lizzy has a really strong chemistry!

The movie is like a time machine, all those sets and locations are beautiful!

My favorite part was the small talks between Störk and other charachters, like the doctor. It really gives a philosophical layer of the story!

Overall: the best film of 2021 for me.

Most romance movies are told from the female perspective, often warped to soothe the psyche and present a fantasy completely devoid of truth. This one is told from a man hopelessly in love. Perhaps he is a fool, perhaps he has his issues nevertheless the love is real, the story is believable, it is the fate of many.

It's a period piece moving very slowly, a very touching melancholic movie. Younger generation will not enjoy it, unless you can enjoy being alone by a river watching the birds, clouds or a sunset don't bother with this movie.

Great everything, acting, cinematography, direction, costumes, one of those rare movies you happen to come across and don't forget a week later.

Recommended to older men with experience.

Why do characters need to smoke so much? I get sick of it. These are the details that take away the pleasure of seeing something.

I liked it a lot, despite being so long. I thought the main actor was excellent, I didn't know him.