Francine

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Francine

2012

1h 14m

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Francine is released from prison and settles down in a small town. She is unable to regain a foothold in society and turns to animals for comfort.

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

While it's audacious on the part of the filmmakers (and of Leo) to keep Francine at arm's length from us, it makes the film a frustrating experience.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 3, 2013

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Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

Francine portrays a woman on the socioeconomic margins and the sort of fiscal cliff that personalizes the phrase no politician can avoid these days.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 14, 2012

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky, documentary makers trying their hand at drama, inspire a certain voyeuristic fascination toward the character but rarely sympathy.

Nov 8, 2012

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Brent Simon

Shockya.com

Caught up in its own self-satisfied metaphor, its blank canvas and broadly sketched melancholic tones an empty vessel for those who would automatically turn the personal into the political.

Rated: C-

Oct 8, 2012

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Donald J. Levit

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Petered out the perhaps promise of a psychological study or horror flick, halfway through 'Francine' nothing is left.

Sep 20, 2012

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Will McCord

Paste Magazine

Leo provides a seasoned, lived-in naturalism that is as rarely displayed on screen as it is potent.

Rated: 7.2/10

Sep 14, 2012

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Audience Member

Melissa Leo is always fabulous, but this movie didn't have enough to the story to really understand her character.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

Melissa Leo gives a strong performance, saying a great deal with body language where her character does not have much dialogue. If you have ever felt like an outsider--particularly if you've ever felt like you like animals more than you do people--you will get this film. I saw it at the New Orleans Film Festival, where it wore a jury prize.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

melissa leo proving yet again what raw delivery she's capable of... just too bad we weren't allowed to connect with her character enough not to lose patience with her.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

A harsh look at the reality of an ex-convict, Francine (Melissa Leo), adjusting to life outside of prison in a small lakeside town. A rough watch, but a well told story nonetheless. This is a strong character piece and may seem slow to most movie goers, but as heartbreaking as the film is, it delivers and leaves you somewhat beside yourself to think about your own choices.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Brian M. Cassidy

Director

Melanie Shatzky

Director

Melissa Leo

Francine

Barbara Sebring-Forman

Hellen

Keith Leonard

Ned

Victoria Charkut

Linda

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Synopsis

Francine is released from prison and settles down in a small town. She is unable to regain a foothold in society and turns to animals for comfort.

Director: Brian M. Cassidy, Melanie Shatzky
Producer: Joshua Blum, Katie Stern
Screenwriter: Brian M. Cassidy, Melanie Shatzky
Distributor: Factory 25
Production Co: Washington Square Films, Pigeon Projects
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 14m

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