The Guardians

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Henry D @Henry_Domke Jun 9, 2026 Leisurely paced and deeply felt, this gave the sense of actually experiencing life in rural France a century ago. It is filled with painterly scenes, rich in subtle colors, textures, and natural light. The film beautifully shows the lives of the women left behind to run the farms and preserve family life while the men went off to fight the war. We cared about these people, whose lives felt complex, difficult, and entirely real. Iris Bry was wonderful as the red-haired Francine, especially impressive in her film debut. See more MICHAEL S @RT69212854 Feb 23, 2025 A real masterpiece from start to finish. Poignant commentary on the human condition. Superb acting. Brilliant use of nonverbals to convey human emotion. Extraordinary camera work. The beauty of the French countryside captured magnificently. Great attention to historical detail. A compelling narrative that had me absorbed every minute. I loved this film. It was a real privilege to watch this splendid work of art. See more Alain E @AlainE Jan 28, 2025 A real masterpiece that unfortunately is incomprehensible to the average American viewer. The setting is the First World War that is mostly happening off screen except for a sequence of a nightmare experienced by one of the soldiers when visiting his family. The movie concentrates on the civilians left behind. Women are responsible for the excellent photography and editing. Acting is first class. We slowly follow the progression from 1915 to 1920. Rural life for those complaining is slow, even today in US. We get a very good of experience of cultivating the land and raising animals one hundred years ago. The actresses learned how to lead calves to drink water, pretend to thresh wheat and operate primitive tractors. Around these activities life goes on, people are born and die. There is a glimpse of a love story , sacrificed by the family of the man which however shows that the young servant girl is incredibly resilient and in the end she serves a nice dish of revenge when she becomes a successful singer. His loss! Directing is very economical despite the dramatic events depicted. Often the actors are shown silent contemplating. I am really enthusiastic about this movie. Nathalie Baye who plays the mother who governs the family is of course well known. Extraordinarily successful is Iris Bry, the young actress who impersonates the main character. The third actress who plays Baye’s daughter is actually her real life daughter! There is no unnecessary nudity. Sex mostly happens off screen. See more John M @MusicBoyVA Jul 16, 2024 Too long and slow.Didn't understand all the characters motivations. See more keith w @Keith166 Nov 9, 2020 C'est un film tres beau I find the negative audience reviews here for this beautiful film hugely disappointing. Freeze almost any frame and you find a work of art. And the story is beautifully and tacitly developed. Much is done by facial expression and incidentals rather than overt obvious dialogue - and I find this adds to the film's beauty and impact. Nathalie Baye (Hortense) is perfect in her part as the matriarch of the family farm. And I don't find this to be a feminist film at all. The women have to manage the farm themselves simply because the men are away in a wart that will inevitably damage them. Hortense's love for her two boys shines convincingly when she meets them off the train when they are on leave. My favourite scene is Hortense and her daughter Solange leaning on a fence towards the end of the film - they even look like mother and daughter. See more Jun 7, 2020 Great!! Each scene is a painting. The colors and light enfold in a world of magical creations. See more Read all reviews

The Guardians

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