Fresh
A work of art that immerses you in a time and place so completely that it could be a documentary.
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic
The Widow of Saint-Pierre
2000 · 1h 52m · R
Drama, History, Romance
Directed by
Patrice Leconte
Free account saves your watchlist and ratings.
The Widow of Saint-Pierre
Overview
In 1850, on the isolated French island of Saint-Pierre, a murder shocks the natives. Two fishermen are arrested. One of them, Louis Ollivier, dies in custody. The other, Neel Auguste, is sentenced to death by the guillotine. The island is so small that it has neither a guillotine nor an executioner. While those are sent for Auguste is placed under the supervision of an army Captain.
Director and cast
- Patrice Leconte Director
- Daniel Auteuil as Jean, le capitaine
- Emir Kusturica as Joseph Auguste Néel
- Juliette Binoche as Pauline, l'épouse du capitaine
- Michel Duchaussoy as le gouverneur
- Philippe Magnan as le président Venot
- Christian Charmetant as le commissaire de la Marine
- Philippe du Janerand as le chef douanier
- Reynald Bouchard as Louis Ollivier
- Ghyslain Tremblay as Monsieur Chevassus, le bourreau
- Marc Béland as le soldat Loïc
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
88%
Tomatometer
Fresh
Sad and beautiful.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Fresh
A compelling French Canadian drama.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
Fresh
The film seems to be saying, though, that the taking of a life -- whether by murderers or by the state -- is only possible when we refuse to recognize the humanity in others. And this is a message we all need to hear.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Fresh
Issues of life and death, love and friendship play out delicately and powerfully.
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
More films
The New World (2005)
Drama · History · Romance · PG-13
A drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.
- Runtime
- 2h 31m
- Director
- Terrence Malick
- Cast
- Colin Farrell, Q'orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer
IMDb
6.7
Rotten Tomatoes
63%
Metacritic
69
Maudie (2016)
Drama · History · Romance · PG-13
Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis falls in love with a fishmonger while working for him as a live-in housekeeper.
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Director
- Aisling Walsh
- Cast
- Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke, Gabrielle Rose
IMDb
7.6
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
Metacritic
65
No Chains, No Masters (2024)
Drama · History · N/A
1759, Mauritius Island, Indian Ocean. The island is controlled by French settlers and the deported slave population live in fear while toiling in the sugar cane plantations. Unlike her disillusioned father Massamba, 16-year-old Mati refuses to keep her head down and accept her fate.
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Cast
- Ibrahima Mbaye, Anna Thiandoum, Camille Cottin
IMDb
6.7
Les Misérables (2026)
Drama · History · Romance · N/A
After enduring 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean emerges a hardened man. He seeks redemption by reinventing himself as a respected dignitary under a new identity. He promises Fantine, a dying factory worker, to rescue and protect her daughter Cosette, who is being exploited and mistreated by the deceitful Th...
- Runtime
- 2h 58m
- Director
- Fred Cavayé
- Cast
- Vincent Lindon, Tahar Rahim, Camille Cottin
IMDb
6.9
Mayerling (1968)
Drama · History · Romance · PG-13
Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria clashes with his father, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, over implementing progressive policies for their country. Rudolf soon feels he is a man born at the wrong time in a country that doesn't realize the need for social reform. The Prince of Wales, later to become Britain's King Edward VII, provides ...
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Director
- Terence Young
- Cast
- Omar Sharif, Catherine Deneuve, James Mason
IMDb
6.1
The Four Robinsons (1939)
Comedy · N/A
Four friends pretend a cruise to escape their wives and go clubbing, but they are forced to go through face-saving shipwreck, becoming castaways.
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Director
- Eduardo García Maroto
- Cast
- Antonio Vico, Mary Santpere, Fernando Rey
IMDb
5.8
La mantilla de Beatriz (1946)
Drama · Romance · N/A
In XVII century Portugal two friends change identities so one of them can escape an unwanted marriage to Beatriz.
- Runtime
- 1h 27m
- Director
- Eduardo García Maroto
- Cast
- Virgílio Teixeira, Margarita Andrey, María Isbert
Comments
Talk about the film with other members