'

Emile

Play trailer

Emile

R

Released Jan 9, 2004

1h 31m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Emile (Ian McKellen), a retired professor, returns to his Canadian hometown to receive an award after decades of living in England. The trip spurs memories of his troubled relationship with his brothers, Carl (Chris William Martin) and Freddy (Tygh Runyan). Stopping by the family farm, Emile visits with his niece, Nadia (Deborah Kara Unger), but their reunion isn't easy. As Emile tries to win Nadia's forgiveness for earlier mistakes, he forms a connection with her young daughter (Theo Crane).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Emile benefits from a typically outstanding Ian McKellen performance, but a frustratingly circuitous approach undercuts the effectiveness of a potentially affecting story.

Read Critics Reviews

Scott Foundas

Variety

A routine memory piece about long-buried family secrets that bubble back to the surface to wreak havoc.

Mar 4, 2005

Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

Confusing the profound with the pretentious, director Bessai packs the story with elliptical, ominous flashbacks that undercut all the advances he makes with the contemporary tale.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 4, 2005

Full Review

V.A. Musetto

New York Post

Tenderly touches our emotions.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 4, 2005

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Ken Fox

TV Guide

Sensitively played but ultimately undone by its unconventional approach.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 4, 2005

Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Poignant and well acted, though not very memorable.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 17, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

This is about memory and nostalgia. Competent but nothing noteworthy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The story had promise, but the editing made it incredibly hard to follow.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not reassuring, all of these reviews. I bought the dvd a while back and may have tried to watch it but I believe I sold it to a second hand store then more recently "bought it back" and I will finally try and watch it tonight. Until this point, I'd been catching up on season 1 of Dallas...I wonder if this movie will be worth the wait or if any of these reviewers can be trusted for their opinions and evaluations of the film and characters? This movie was worth the wait and the patience to see it through and no: Scott Foundas, Elizabeth Weitzman, V.A. Musetto, Stephen Holden and David Blaylock cannot be trusted for their opinions and in fact, I suggest that all of them need to find another line of work. Emile is an unusual, sad, sometimes uplifting look at an older man who is the lone survivor of three brothers who once worked a Saskatchewan farm. Emile left for England for studies (realistic?) and never returned to see either brother and in fact, failed to come back for his niece who was orphaned not just by her parents but also her grandparents. Emile finally returns to Canada for an honorary award and to see the last two members of family that he has but has never really known. He comes to stay with the two relatives who are already feeling awkward with one another due to marital trouble and growing pains and they slowly get to know each other and he plays a part in reconciling the daughter to her mother. 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Slow, comtemplative and reflective like the old man it portrays. Also touching, compelling, well-acted with characters I cared about. Beautifully filmed in British Columbia.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

another touching drama between past and present, mckellen is great.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A movie about the power of words.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Carl Bessai

Director

Ian McKellen

Emile

Deborah Kara Unger

Nadia (as Deborah Kara Unger)

Theo Crane

Maria

Chris Martin

Carl

Tygh Runyan

Freddy

The United States of Leland

34%

81%

The United States of Leland

Watchlist

Dallas 362

56%

61%

Dallas 362

Watchlist

Laurel Canyon

68%

52%

Laurel Canyon

Watchlist

Around the Bend

29%

60%

Around the Bend

Watchlist

The Ballad of Jack and Rose

47%

61%

The Ballad of Jack and Rose

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Emile (Ian McKellen), a retired professor, returns to his Canadian hometown to receive an award after decades of living in England. The trip spurs memories of his troubled relationship with his brothers, Carl (Chris William Martin) and Freddy (Tygh Runyan). Stopping by the family farm, Emile visits with his niece, Nadia (Deborah Kara Unger), but their reunion isn't easy. As Emile tries to win Nadia's forgiveness for earlier mistakes, he forms a connection with her young daughter (Theo Crane).

Director: Carl Bessai
Producer: Carl Bessai
Screenwriter: Carl Bessai
Distributor: BV International Pictures [no]
Production Co: Emile Productions Inc.
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2004, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Apr 26, 2005
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now