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Sentimental Destinies

Play trailer Sentimental Destinies Released Apr 5, 2002 3h 0m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A divorced Protestant minister (Charles Berling) and his lover (Emmanuelle Béart) keep their love strong as the world changes around them.
Sentimental Destinies

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Critics Consensus

The long, epic Les Destinees is too slow and tedious to justify its running time.

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Critics Reviews

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David Rooney Variety A massive undertaking and an accomplished piece of filmmaking in a solid tradition of intelligent, meticulous literary adaptations. Mar 3, 2008 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Assayas is masterful in using offscreen sounds to conjure up a novelistic sense of milieu and in handling various ceremonies, and the film's lush texture explains why he called it his anti-Dogma film. Mar 3, 2008 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Ambitious, efficient, sensitive, but a little disappointing. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review A.S. Hamrah The Baffler ...the film moves sharply and elegantly. Berling's close resemblance to Christopher Guest added an odd element... Sep 16, 2020 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 Despite an off-putting premise, this is a sumptuous drama boasting substance as well as spectacle. Mar 3, 2008 Full Review Rich Cline Film Threat We're kept intrigued by the characters and where they're heading, and the gorgeous cinematography and production design help us submerge ourselves in their world. Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A little long but some good acting. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Les blessures assassines de Jean-Pierre Denis, Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review walter m [font=Century Gothic][color=blue]"School of Flesh" starts out with a wealthy fashion executive, Dominique(Isabelle Huppert) who wanders into a nightclub with a friend one night and meets a bisexual hustler(Vincent Martinez). She returns a couple of nights later and returns home with him. Now, I can understand why that would happen but why honestly continue the affair with somebody as shallow as he is, if it is only physical? Also, is this something that Dominique does on a weekly basis or is it part of a midlife crisis? I think, director Benoit Jacquot's conclusion might be something more negative, considering the movie's ending. This might be a statement on how a successful businesswoman cannot commit to a relationship. "School of Flesh" is a curiously flat movie about an affair that goes on too long.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#0000ff][/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=red]"Les Destinees" is an epic drama that starts in 1900 with a funeral(for the 19th century?) and continues until 1930. It focuses on a protestant minister, Jean Barnery(Charles Berling) who is in exile from his prosperous family of porcelain makers and his relationship with a young woman, Pauline(Emmanuelle Beart). At the start of the movie, Barnery is in the process of separating from his wife, due to an unspecified scandal. The movie tries to be a sprawling epic but we never learn much about any characters except for Jean and Pauline. All the other characters just seem extraneous and come and go as they please. But on the other hand, we did learn a great deal of how to make pottery and bourbon.[/color][/font] Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member [center][font=Times New Roman][size=4][img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3mCOm4wxK3M/SQ8VSoyYQxI/AAAAAAAABB4/BCd1_FFlYq0/s400/senti2.jpg[/img][/size][/font][/center] [font=Times New Roman][size=4][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=4]Summary (from IMDB): Jean Barnery is a young Protestant cleric in Barbazac in 1900 when he divorces his severe wife after falling in love with Pauline, the independent-minded niece of an upper-crust parishioner. Jean's also an heir to a high-end porcelain factory in Limoges. He gives his fortune to his wife to assuage his guilt over the divorce. He pursues Pauline; they marry and live idyllically in Switzerland. Then, duty calls: his family asks him to come to Limoges to run the business. He accepts, ignoring Pauline's wishes. His new responsibilities, as well as his fighting in the Great War, change him and his relationship with Pauline.[/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=4][/size][/font] [center][img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3mCOm4wxK3M/SQ8VVKOjnOI/AAAAAAAABCA/Rjmnspx54cg/s400/senti.jpg[/img][/center] [font=Times New Roman][size=4][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=4]This is the second period piece from the year 2000 by a well-respected director I've seen in the last couple of weeks - and it's purely coincidental. Anyway, after seeing this less than stellar effort from a director I know I love, I'm definitely willing to give Terence Davies another chance after not really caring for The House of Mirth.[/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=4][/size][/font] [font=Times New Roman][size=4]Sentimental Destinies suffers from being too long. At the same time, though, it felt like everything was moving at far too rapid a pace. I would have preferred a slower first 2/3s and a much briefer conclusion. Spoiler: [color=black](The main character is given an overly long (especially after two and a half hours) 'death bed' scene.)[/color] Where this film triumphs is in the first 2/3's cinematography. Assayas rarely lets the camera sit still as it moves with the characters, perhaps mirroring their extremely busy lives. Much of the framing and lighting is impressive too. Unfortunately, as hour number three rolls around, even the cinematography quality starts to fade. Definitely my least favorite Assayas.[/size][/font] Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Meticulous.period detail marks this chronicle of the lives in Temptations of a husband and wife entrenched in the French porcelain industry from the 1890s through World War II. The subject seems a little strange for someone to be passionate enough to make such an expensive and expansive movie about, but I was drawn into it's novel like story developments and enveloped within the time and place. You probably won't learn more about making upscale decorative plates and cups unless your visit the Delft factory yourself. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member !!! Too many characters! all of the scenes are dialogues between two people! All through the 3 hour movie, they talk !!! :)) I couldn't follow!!! One star for the beautiful clothes :D I didn't evenn enjoy the dance ! Don't watch this if u care for your eyes ! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sentimental Destinies

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Movie Info

Synopsis A divorced Protestant minister (Charles Berling) and his lover (Emmanuelle Béart) keep their love strong as the world changes around them.
Director
Olivier Assayas
Producer
Bruno Pèsery
Screenwriter
Olivier Assayas, Jacques Chardonne, Jacques Fieschi
Distributor
Wellspring Media
Production Co
Télévision Suisse-Romande (TSR), Procirep, Arena Films, Arcade, Centre National de la Cinematographie, Cofimage 11, Le Studio Canal +, TF1 Films Productions, Office Fédéral de la Culture, CAB Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 5, 2002, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Oct 22, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA)
$230.3K
Runtime
3h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, DTS, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)