@celeste_writes
A patient, formally daring work — the cinematography lingers on empty rooms longer than most audiences will tolerate, but those who stay are rewarded with the most haunting final act of the year.
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.
Quick Stats
7.0
TMDB Rating
770
Votes
1h 55m
Runtime
—
Budget
$5.0M
Box Office
—
Return
Key Crew
DirectorJean-Jacques Annaud
WriterGérard Brach
CinematographyRobert Fraisse
ComposerGabriel Yared
EditorNoëlle Boisson
Production DesignMat Troi Day
Produced by
Timothy Burrill ProductionsRenn ProductionsGrai Phang Film StudioFilms A2
Where to Watch
Streaming
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Critics & Reviews
3 featured@jhalberg
I walked in expecting another genre exercise and walked out feeling like I'd been eavesdropping on a confession. The lead performance is genuinely singular — a career-defining turn.
@priya_a
A few too many scenes feel borrowed from a better film, but the soundtrack and the production design carry the rest. Solid recommendation for fans of slow-burn European thrillers.
Cast
Jane March
The Young Girl
Tony Leung Ka-fai
The Chinaman
Frédérique Meininger
The Mother
Arnaud Giovaninetti
The Elder Brother
Melvil Poupaud
The Younger Brother
L
Lisa Faulkner
Helene Lagonelle
Jeanne Moreau
Narrator (voice)
X
Xiem Mang
The Chinaman's Father
Philippe Le Dem
The French Teacher
A
Ann Schaufuss
Anne-Marie Stretter
Tania Torrens
The Principal
Espérance Pham Thai Lan
Femme
Hélène Patarot
The Assistant Mistress
Y
Yvonne Wingerter
The Writer (beginning)
R
Raymonde Heudeline
The Writer (end)
