Heading South

2005

1h 47m

Drama

List

70%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

46%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

Three older women -- Ellen (Charlotte Rampling), a university professor from New England; Brenda (Karen Young), a housewife from Georgia; and Sue (Louise Portal), a blue-collar Canadian -- descend upon a Haitian resort in a lusty haze. Hoping to escape from dissatisfaction and loneliness, the women repeatedly hire handsome local men for casual sex. But, when Brenda begins to develop feelings for gigolo Legba (Ménothy Cesar), the sudden appearance of honest emotion throws the trio into turmoil.

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Critics Consensus

As touching as it is disturbing, Heading South is an unconventional exploration of desire and longing, with superb performances and direction.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

Heading South opens up a fascinating world of complexities, some of which are there on the screen although others open up only once the horizon line moves past the screen's edge.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 30, 2006

Full Review

Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Exploring female desire in a way films rarely do, Heading South is a film of sometimes subtle, sometimes blunt metaphors for the interaction of rich and pauperized countries.

Rated: B-

Sep 23, 2006

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

The film offers something unusual, a tragic spectacle of normal, recognizable and utterly sympathetic people condemning themselves.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 1, 2006

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

The denunciation material presented by this Cantet film makes me reflect when it elaborates a very contained and transparent panorama on misery, social inequality and sex tourism. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Jul 20, 2020

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Displays an almost Fassbinder-like sensitivity to emotional shifts in power

Aug 30, 2009

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A trio of middle-aged white women from different backgrounds relish the tropical pleasures of '70s era Haiti, which includes local teenage gigolos, in writer/director Laurent Cantet's problematic filmic adaptation of three short stories by Dany Laferriere

Rated: B-

Apr 23, 2009

Full Review

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Bruce E

Very disturbing and creepy, and not in a good way, at all, and on all fronts. I'm surprised this actually managed to be funded and released. Wow!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Provocative enough, but rather too tedious.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good movie... love Charlotte Rampling - don't know how this slipped my radar.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good movie on a topic that is not really explored very often. My gripe was the fact this movie was set in the 1970s and the props and clothing were obviously much newer. I know it's an independent movie, but damn some effort would have been nice.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite my principles of always finishing films, I only could take 25 minutes of this. Wrong. Just wrong. In so many ways. Deeply disturbing, in fact. And sad.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The film takes place in Haiti in the late 70's and is about three older single women visiting a beach resort to take advantage of the sun, sea, sand, and young Haitian men. I loved this film. It feels very French in its tasteful restraint. Actual sex is never shown, yet it is every bit as titilating as if it were. This movie asks questions you didn't want to think about and turns perceptions around. The sad revelations at the end of the film say a lot about human nature will keep the film in your mind.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Laurent Cantet

Director

Charlotte Rampling

Ellen

Karen Young

Brenda

Louise Portal

Sue

Ménothy Cesar

Legba

Lys Ambroise

Albert

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Set Me Free

83%

79%

Set Me Free

Backstage

71%

60%

Backstage

The Class

95%

82%

The Class

The Reception

68%

30%

The Reception

Bubble

72%

61%

Bubble

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Synopsis

Three older women -- Ellen (Charlotte Rampling), a university professor from New England; Brenda (Karen Young), a housewife from Georgia; and Sue (Louise Portal), a blue-collar Canadian -- descend upon a Haitian resort in a lusty haze. Hoping to escape from dissatisfaction and loneliness, the women repeatedly hire handsome local men for casual sex. But, when Brenda begins to develop feelings for gigolo Legba (Ménothy Cesar), the sudden appearance of honest emotion throws the trio into turmoil.

Director: Laurent Cantet
Producer: Caroline Benjo, Carole Scotta, Simon Arnal
Screenwriter: Laurent Cantet, Robin Campillo
Production Co: Haut et Court
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 2006
Release Date (DVD): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $896.9K
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD