Blame It on Fidel (La Faute a Fidel) (2006)
93%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations
Blame it on Fidel! is a delightful and insightful film that manages to tackle serious political issues with a light and humorous touch. Julie Gavras’s directorial debut is a triumph, showcasing her intelligence and skillful touch throughout. The film’s young heroine may be humorless, but the supporting cast more than makes up for it with their witty and observant performances. Gavras neatly sidesteps the cliches of 70s radicalism, offering a fresh and amusing take on some serious issues. The result is a smart and sophisticated film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a coming-of-age tale with a political twist.
Blame it on Fidel! is a coming-of-age film that tells the story of a young girl whose life is turned upside down when her parents become radical activists. While some critics found the young heroine to be humorless, others praised the film’s intelligent and skillful approach to serious issues. Personally, I found the film to be a hilarious and heartwarming look at the clash between political ideals and family values. The strange, bearded house guests who shake up the little girl’s life infuse it with political imagination and wonder, while the film maintains a light touch that allows us to empathize with both the radical and conservative elements at the family dinner table. Overall, Blame it on Fidel! is a smart and amusing take on some serious issues that’s fortunate in its excellent young leading lady and its ability to laugh at its own political excesses.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2007
Genre(s)
History/Drama
Keyword(s)
Blame it on Fidel, Nina Kervel-Bey, Julie Depardieu, Stefano Accorsi, Benjamin Feuillet, Martine Chevallier, Olivier Perrier, Julie Gavras, Sylvie Pialat, written by Julie Gavras, History, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Hank Sartin, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ted Fry, Sukhdev Sandhu, Robert Hanks, Cath Clarke, Dave White, Dennis Schwartz, Prairie Miller, Rob Thomas, Stuart McGurk, Sam Jordison, directed by Julie Gavras, produced by Sylvie Pialat, MPAA rating, comedy of manners, class, politics, child actor, coming-of-age, family, leftist activists, French (Canada), 1h 39m
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Julie Depardieu – Marie de la Mesa
Stefano Accorsi – Fernando de la Mesa
Benjamin Feuillet – François de la Mesa
Martine Chevallier – Bonne Maman
Olivier Perrier – Bon Papa
Director(s)
Julie Gavras
Writer(s)
Julie Gavras
Producer(s)
Sylvie Pialat
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (3)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The young heroine is rather humorless, but Gavras’s intelligence and skillful touch are evident throughout.
December 4, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Blame it on Fidel! is a knowing lesson in film and history that often makes its serious point with a dose of wise humor.
October 19, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Ted Fry
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
A smashing, funny and politically sophisticated feature debut from Julie (daughter of Costa) Gavras.
October 19, 2007
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The comedy always feels enriching rather than demeaning.
October 19, 2007
Robert Hanks
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
French director Julie Gavras neatly side-steps the cliches of 70s radicalism with her terrific debut.
October 19, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Cath Clarke
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
April 4, 2011 | Rating: 4.5/5
Dave White
Movies.com
It offers a coming-of-age tale told unflaggingly from the point of view of a pouting, humorless and unsympathetic nine-year-old.
January 17, 2008 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Strange, bearded house guests shake up a peeved little girl’s life, infusing it with political imagination and wonder.
December 27, 2007
Prairie Miller
Critical Women
Gavras maintains a light touch throughout that allows us a rare chance to emphasize with both the radical and conservative elements at the family dinner table.
November 16, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A wry and observant film with plenty of understated humour.
October 19, 2007
Stuart McGurk
thelondonpaper
A smart, amusing take on some serious issues that’s fortunate in its excellent young leading lady and its ability to laugh at its own political excesses.
October 19, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Sam Jordison
Film4…
Plot
Hello, my name is Anna and I am nine years old. I wish you had known me before – I mean before my aunt Marga and my cousin Pilar came to my parents’house -, I was such a happy little girl. Before their coming life was a bed of roses. Of course my little brother could be a pain in the neck – little brothers always are, aren’t they? – but there was that wonderful big house, there was my Cuban-born nanny who cooked so well, there was the bath before dinner, not to mention this wonderful catechism class at the catholic school. But they did come, those Spanish intruders. And now never heard before names like “Franco”, “Allende”, “Women’s Lib”, “abortion”, the lot, have got into my life. Daddy and Mummy have suddenly become “communists”, although this a term that Bon Papa and Bonne Maman (my grandparents from Bordeaux, in fact) just hate. Because of the intruders not only did we move to a tiny apartment but the place is invaded day and night by “barbudos” (bearded men). No more bath before dinner and no more catechism class. How long will I be able to tolerate such a scandal?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Lead child actor Nina Kervel delivers a remarkable performance in Blame it on Fidel.
Julie-Gavras.jpg
