Almost Peaceful

Released Sep 5, 2002

1h 34m

Drama

List

73%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

68%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

After surviving the Holocaust, Albert (Simon Abkarian) and his wife, Lea (Zabou Breitman), must begin their lives anew. The Jewish couple reopens their modest tailoring business in the midst of the rapidly changing city of Paris, a broken but hopeful city suddenly free of hostile German forces. Albert and Lea share love, grief and a newfound prosperity as they struggle to rebuild their lives with their young children and a close-knit group of employees.

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

Generosity and love of life are the film's hallmarks. Like the work of an expert tailor, it's done with unobtrusive skill, essential warmth and seamless grace.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 17, 2004

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Unlike any other film I have seen about the Holocaust.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 17, 2004

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

There's something rather lovely about the mood and intentions of Michel Deville's French movie.

Oct 29, 2004

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 18, 2005

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

a movie that stuffy film critics rate highly out of a sense of guilt and fear, but which never connect with real audiences, desperately waiting for something to happen

Rated: 3/5

Mar 28, 2005

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Audience Member

Loved this movie! Illuminating and inspiring.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting movie that centralizes around a tailor, his wife, and their work companions after the end of World War II. Great cast- Simon Abkarian, Clotilde Courau, Julie Gayet, Lubna Azabal, Stanislas Merhar, and Malik Zidi. Worthy!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Though this isn't the most compelling story I'ver ever watched, the narrative and acting have a subtlety that makes it almost mesmerizing. Though the focus is on life returning to normal after a war, the inner personal struggle for happiness becomes a driving force.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Pretty relaxed movie all the way through. Maybe the "Almost Peaceful" has something to do with it, haha.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A charming, simple, well-acted film set in Paris, just after WWII. The film is about a group of Parisians, mostly Jewish, who are rediscovering balance and life after the war.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good, but a little bit... quoi? In the end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

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Michel Deville

Director

Simon Abkarian

M. Albert

Zabou Breitman

Léa

Denis Podalydès

Charles

Vincent Elbaz

Léon

Lubna Azabal

Jacqueline

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Synopsis

After surviving the Holocaust, Albert (Simon Abkarian) and his wife, Lea (Zabou Breitman), must begin their lives anew. The Jewish couple reopens their modest tailoring business in the midst of the rapidly changing city of Paris, a broken but hopeful city suddenly free of hostile German forces. Albert and Lea share love, grief and a newfound prosperity as they struggle to rebuild their lives with their young children and a close-knit group of employees.

Director: Michel Deville
Screenwriter: Michel Deville, Rosalinde Deville
Distributor: Les Films du Losange
Production Co: Canal+
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (Canada)
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 5, 2002, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Mar 29, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA): $105.9K
Runtime: 1h 34m