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Ismael's Ghosts

Play trailer 1:55 Poster for Ismael's Ghosts R 2017 1h 54m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
51% Tomatometer 78 Reviews 28% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Twenty-one years ago, she ran away -- and 21 years later, Carlotta is back from the void. But Ismael has been busy rebuilding a life for himself with Sylvia and working on his next movie. As Ismael's trials and tribulations unfurl, so too do those of his film's protagonist -- the idle, funny and reckless diplomat Ivan Dédalus.
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Ismael's Ghosts

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Critics Consensus

Ismael's Ghosts unites an excellent cast -- and their valiant efforts are often enough to counter its somewhat confused and disjointed story.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 04/17/2020
Unfortunately all the metafictional layering only highlights the lack of engagement at the center of the story, the three stars acting up a storm but barely acknowledging each other. Go to Full Review Charlotte O'Sullivan London Evening Standard 06/09/2018
2/5
Marion Cotillard and Charlotte Gainsbourg momentarily bring verve to proceedings. Go to Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times 06/08/2018
2/5
Decked out in the classy colours of the high-end French art film, Ismael's Ghosts is probably easier to enjoy if you make no attempt to fit its disjointed units together. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 04/26/2025
It’s raw and funny and angry and loving, with rich and complex characters and relationships ... Go to Full Review Andrew Gaudion THN 08/30/2020
2/5
The film, like Ismael, cannot escape its own self-indulgent tendencies, leading to an experience that never coalesces into something that feels all that insightful, despite some fine acting and moments of wit and mystery. Go to Full Review Matt Cipolla Film Monthly 07/23/2020
2.5/5
Ismael's Ghosts is several movies each with their own merits, but that doesn't mean that they coexist amicably. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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M D @mdali6 May 9 This film was laughably bad. So much emotion with no grounded story. A gorgeous wife and daughter who was missing for 21 years and returns looking like she's been living in a spa for all of that time with almost no accountability. A film within a film that doesn't let you know until a third of the way through. The lead actor "director"who constantly drinks, almost never sleeps, shoots his producer friend in the arm and it's treated like a joke. Characters with no understanding of their motivations. This was a cartoon-stereotype of a French film. I laughed at the end because the whole mess was so empty and silly at the same time. See more 11/04/2020 In interesting examination of a mental unraveling by the leads; almost a throwback to previous era of films as realism is not the primary concern See more 07/05/2018 From the spy thriller to the love triangle, from the existential drama in the best traditions of French cinema to the farce comedy - this appears before us a new Desplechin. Think i have to watch one more time using boxxy software to understand what it was :D See more 03/25/2018 Unwatchable - avoid by all means! See more 03/23/2018 Tasteless compendium of corny melodramatic tricks See more 03/23/2018 I did my best to stay but left after an hour. There were several stories going on and it was very slow and disconnected. 2/10 at best. See more Read all reviews
Ismael's Ghosts

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Cast & Crew

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Arnaud Desplechin

Director

Mathieu Amalric

Ismaël Vuillard

Marion Cotillard

Carlotta Bloom

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Sylvia

Louis Garrel

Ivan Dedalus

Alba Rohrwacher

Arielle

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Ismael's Ghosts

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Ismael's Ghosts

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Movie Info

Synopsis Twenty-one years ago, she ran away -- and 21 years later, Carlotta is back from the void. But Ismael has been busy rebuilding a life for himself with Sylvia and working on his next movie. As Ismael's trials and tribulations unfurl, so too do those of his film's protagonist -- the idle, funny and reckless diplomat Ivan Dédalus.
Director
Arnaud Desplechin
Producer
Pascal Caucheteux
Screenwriter
Arnaud Desplechin, Léa Mysius, Julie Peyr
Production Co
Why Not Productions
Rating
R (Language|Brief Strong Violence|Sexuality|Some Graphic Nudity)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 3, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$102.3K
Runtime
1h 54m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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