The Widow of Saint-Pierre (The Widow of St. Pierre) (La veuve de Saint-Pierre) (2000)
86%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 5 nominations
The Widow of Saint-Pierre is a cinematic masterpiece that transports the viewer to a bygone era with such authenticity that it could easily be mistaken for a documentary. The film’s poignant exploration of life, death, love, and friendship is delicately and powerfully portrayed by a cast of actors who smolder with quiet strength. Leconte’s direction, while distant, allows Binoche’s face to tell the story with profound depth and nuance. The contrast between the cruel machinery of human justice and the piercing glory of Christian mercy is set up starkly and profoundly, leaving the viewer with a message that we all need to hear: the taking of a life is only possible when we refuse to recognize the humanity in others. In short, The Widow of Saint-Pierre is a sad and beautiful work of art that will leave you pondering the complexities of the human condition long after the credits roll.
The Widow of Saint-Pierre” is a movie that will transport you to another time and place, but don’t worry, you won’t need a time machine or a DeLorean to get there. The film is a beautiful work of art that tells a story of love, friendship, and the complexities of life and death. The actors are all amazing, and Binoche’s face alone tells a story that will leave you feeling all the feels. The movie may be a bit heavy, but it’s worth it for the message it delivers: that we need to recognize the humanity in others, even when it’s hard. So grab some popcorn, tissues, and maybe a friend to hold your hand, and get ready for a journey you won’t forget.
Production Company(ies)
Mappa Genco
Distributor
Trimark Home Video, Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Asheville, North Carolina, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sexual content and an intense scene of childbirth
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 52m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 2000 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 18, 2001
Genre(s)
Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Juliette Binoche, Daniel Auteuil, Emir Kusturica, Michel Duchaussoy, Philippe Magnan, Christian Charmetant, directed by Patrice Leconte, written by Claude Faraldo, romance, R rating, French language, box office gross $3.2M, reviewed by Kimberley Jones, Richard Nilsen, Michael O’Sullivan, Rita Kempley, Eric Harrison, Richard Corliss, Brian D Johnson, Jeffrey Overstreet, Pablo Villaça, Jeffrey M Anderson, Ryan Cracknell, Christopher Null, produced by Frédéric Brillion, Gilles Legrand
Worldwide gross: $3,171,273
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,344,510
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,155
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 582,825
US/Canada gross: $3,059,834
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,156,703
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,803
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,967
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $70,727
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,079
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,033,519
Production budget ranking: 1,976
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,633,550
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $677,440
ROI to date (est.): 15%
ROI ranking: 1,324
Daniel Auteuil – The Captain
Emir Kusturica – Neel Auguste
Michel Duchaussoy – The Governor
Philippe Magnan – Judge Venot
Christian Charmetant – Commissaire de la Marine
Director(s)
Patrice Leconte
Writer(s)
Claude Faraldo
Producer(s)
Frédéric Brillion, Gilles Legrand
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (76) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (7)
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A work of art that immerses you in a time and place so completely that it could be a documentary.
April 20, 2001
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Sad and beautiful.
April 13, 2001
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A compelling French Canadian drama.
April 13, 2001
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
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.
April 6, 2001
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Issues of life and death, love and friendship play out delicately and powerfully.
April 6, 2001
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Each of the actors smoulders with quiet strength.
October 15, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Few films have set up the contrast between the cruel machinery of human justice and the piercing glory of Christian mercy more starkly and profoundly.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: A-
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Protagonizando uma histria emocionalmente complexa, Binoche, Auteuil e Kusturica conferem peso dramtico aos seus personagens, apesar da direo distante de Leconte impedir que o espectador se envolva intensamente com a trama.
September 25, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
When it comes right down to it, Leconte understands that Binoche’s face tells all the story we need.
May 19, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
October 15, 2001 | Rating: 76/100
Ryan Cracknell
Apollo Guide
Solid
October 1, 2001 | Rating: 4/5
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com…
Plot
Set in 1850 on the island of Saint-Pierre, The Widow of Saint-Pierre follows an extraordinary woman caught between two men and a twist of fate that alters their lives in unexpected ways.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Juliette Binoche’s performance in The Widow of Saint-Pierre is described as “radiantly beautiful, compassionate, and fiery.”
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