The Lover (1992)
Kernel Score: 77% · 744 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 1992-01-22
Runtime: 115 minutes
Where to watch The Lover
- Stream: OVID
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Fandango at Home, Pluto TV, Tubi
- Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
A poor French teenage girl engages in an illicit affair with a wealthy Chinese heir in 1920s Saigon. For the first time in her young life she has control, and she wields it deftly over her besotted lover throughout a series of clandestine meetings and torrid encounters.
The Lover parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Lover is an R-rated drama centered on an explicit affair between a teenage girl and an older man.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Intense — R-rated drama built around an explicit sexual affair between a teenage girl and a much older man, including depicted love scenes.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Lover
If you liked The Lover, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Lolita (1997) — 78%
- My Policeman (2022) — 86%
- Dangerous Liaisons (1988) — 79%
- Maurice (1987) — 87%
- Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022) — 75%
- The Scent of Green Papaya (1993) — 76%
- Indochine (1992) — 76%
- Lolita (1962) — 81%
Director
Cast
- Jane March as The Young Girl
- Tony Leung Ka-fai as The Chinaman
- Frédérique Meininger as The Mother
- Arnaud Giovaninetti as The Elder Brother
- Melvil Poupaud as The Younger Brother
- Lisa Faulkner as Helene Lagonelle
- Jeanne Moreau as Narrator (voice)
- Xiem Mang as The Chinaman's Father
- Philippe Le Dem as The French Teacher
- Ann Schaufuss as Anne-Marie Stretter
The Lover FAQ
Is The Lover good?
The Lover has a 77% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 744 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Lover?
In the US you can stream The Lover on OVID, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Fandango at Home, Pluto TV and Tubi and rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Is The Lover OK for kids?
The Lover is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Lover is an R-rated drama centered on an explicit affair between a teenage girl and an older man.
What movies are like The Lover?
If you liked The Lover, try Lolita, My Policeman, Dangerous Liaisons and Maurice.