Bonsai

2011

1h 35m

Drama

List

85%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

A writer recounts an old romance in the hope of attracting a new love interest.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Chilean director Cristián Jiménez's "Bonsái" is the essence of cosmopolitan provincialism. A superbly grounded, programmatically small, meta-literary tragicomedy of student-boho life.

Feb 25, 2019

Full Review

Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

It flows along placidly, heated only occasionally by a bit of sex or disco dancing.

Jun 18, 2013

Full Review

Walter V. Addiego

San Francisco Chronicle

A melancholy story of romance and regret with moments of drollery and sweetness along the way.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 13, 2012

Full Review

Jack Fleischer

Battleship Pretension

This is a moving story that deserves to be seen, discussed, and rewatched.

Mar 22, 2021

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

I got a kick out of it despite trying to resist it.

Rated: B

Apr 24, 2020

Full Review

Isabel Stevens

ViewLondon

A script full of quirky deadpan moments never allows the film to become too ponderous. The intriguing, oddball protagonists are the biggest draw.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 27, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

jake s

Your basic Wes Anderson/Noah Baumbach vibe only in set Chile.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

wow,that was sad...yet very entertaining.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

If Bret McKenzie and an angst-ridden Denise Huxtable had Chilean doppelgangers, they would be playing the lead roles of this film. Well-made adaptation (no easy feat) and engaging characters that welcome a closer look.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seYq7BRFoqY

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

On the upside, the use of literary symbolism within the story is among the finest I've seen, but I'm not sure whether it was the sense of false modesty, the lack of the literary background (on my behalf), or the seemingly lethargic evolution of the story line that made feel feel as if something was missing for Bonsái to be an outstanding film. Not bothered by the decadent, almost emotionless acting depicted (feels like a great tool to convey the ingenuity of the characters), though it is unfortunate when it's the most (if not the only) interesting aspect the film has.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie makes you think of the future and the past, and realize that we are played by fate.. Nothing is permanent.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Cristián Jiménez

Director

Diego Noguera

Julio

Nathalia Galgani

Emilia

Gabriela Arancibia

Bárbara

Hugo Medina

Gazmuri

Trinidad González

Blanca

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Unforgivable

76%

35%

Unforgivable

S... Year

33%

55%

S... Year

Mademoiselle Chambon

82%

68%

Mademoiselle Chambon

Amador

43%

60%

Amador

In Your Hands

60%

34%

In Your Hands

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: Dark Shadows Doesn’t Scare Up Enough Laughs

View more photos

Synopsis

A writer recounts an old romance in the hope of attracting a new love interest.

Director: Cristián Jiménez
Producer: Bruno Bettati, Julie Gayet, Nadia Turincev
Screenwriter: Cristián Jiménez, Alejandro Zambra
Production Co: Jirafa films, Rouge International
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Spanish
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.2K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now