Astrakan

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Astrakan

Released Sep 1, 2023

1h 45m

Drama

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100%

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9 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

When Samuel, a young orphan, is sent to live with foster parents Marie and Clement, he is gradually forced to face the demons he's holding on to internally, as well as those that exist within his new family. Swept up in the motions of coming of age for the very first time -- falling in love with the girl next door, exploring hobbies and indulging in childhood passions -- he also begins to learn of the secrets his foster family are keeping, leading him to question everything around him. As these questions emerge, Samuel is pushed in and out of crippling anguish, bridging a harsh gap between dense realism and feverish fantasy which leads to a stunning and transcendent final act.

Sumner Forbes

Film Threat

Astrakan is a riveting, almost revelatory experience that is vastly different from anything seen prior. It may be hard to digest for some, but it adds additional layers to the motion picture and colors the events in a completely new light.

Rated: 9/10

Sep 27, 2023

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Joey Keogh

Vague Visages

Astrakan effectively builds the tension up...ultimately, though, it feels like Depesseville was unsure how to tie it all together satisfyingly.

Sep 20, 2023

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

This is an excellent first feature, poignant without being manipulative...

Sep 14, 2023

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Pat Padua

Spectrum Culture

Visualized with an economical realism yet ending with a 10-minute sequence that almost seems like a religious vision, leading a troubled boy from the torment of demons to a profound baptism.

Rated: 72/100

Sep 7, 2023

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

... an interesting contribution to the genre from a director with a strong sense of style and a willingness to take risks.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 1, 2023

Full Review

Martin Kudlac

ScreenAnarchy

In his feature-length debut, French filmmaker David Depesseville explores the strangeness and confusion of growing up. ... A concentrated representation of the agony and confusion ... a fusion of rustic and magical realism.

Aug 25, 2023

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Jagger F

I had never in my life seen a film that had such a genuine understanding of life and the essence there of. To explain it better, imagine a film that lies between all of the perfection of The Perks Of Being a Wallflower and The 400 Blows. The wonderful product of that is Astrakan. This film is an experience unlike any other I’d ever had. I got so genuinely transported to the life of this child. I felt with him, I saw with him, I was him for 104 minutes. I felt all of the abuse and neglect he went through that brought him to unbelievable lows. I was so awestruck by the quality of this film that I feel the need to just spread the word. The fact that this has <1000 reviews on Letterboxd is really sad because this is a once in a lifetime film that is now a favorite movie for me. Everyone go watch this film. It is a masterwork of editing, cinematography, acting, writing, metaphor use in cinema, and general quality of film that I’ve seen lacking in other major films. A life changing film that has entirely changed my view of film as a medium. 100/100

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/24

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David Depesseville

Director

Jehnny Beth

Actor

Paul Blain

Actor

Bastien Bouillon

Actor

Théo Costa-Marini

Actor

Mirko Giannini

Actor

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Astrakan: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When Samuel, a young orphan, is sent to live with foster parents Marie and Clement, he is gradually forced to face the demons he's holding on to internally, as well as those that exist within his new family. Swept up in the motions of coming of age for the very first time -- falling in love with the girl next door, exploring hobbies and indulging in childhood passions -- he also begins to learn of the secrets his foster family are keeping, leading him to question everything around him. As these questions emerge, Samuel is pushed in and out of crippling anguish, bridging a harsh gap between dense realism and feverish fantasy which leads to a stunning and transcendent final act.

Director: David Depesseville
Producer: Carole Chassaing, Anaïs Feuillette
Screenwriter: David Depesseville, David Depesseville
Distributor: Altered Innocence
Production Co: Tamara Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2023
Runtime: 1h 45m

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