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Merchant Ivory

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1:46

Merchant Ivory

Released Aug 30, 2024

1h 52m

Documentary

Biography

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Popcornmeter

95%

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44 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

MERCHANT IVORY (2023) is the first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Footage from more than fifty interviews, clips, and archival material gives voice to the family of actors and technicians who helped define Merchant Ivory’s Academy Award-winning work of consummate quality and intelligence. With six Oscar winners among the notable artists participating, these close and often long-term collaborators intimately detail the transformational cinematic creativity and personal and professional drama of the wandering company that left an indelible impact on film culture.

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Critics Consensus

An insightful glimpse into James Ivory and Ismail Merchant's relationship as well as a warm celebration of their artistic collaborations, Merchant Ivory is an invaluable treat for fans of the filmmaking team.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

A really interesting documentary.

Jan 11, 2025

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

... A dense, rewarding and essentially chronological analysis that reminds us of the duo’s pre-eminence as film-makers.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 16, 2024

Full Review

Marina Ashioti

Little White Lies

Stephen Soucy’s affectionate yet scattershot documentary on this 40-year partnership explores the overlap between the two as lovers and as collaborators...

Rated: 3/5

Dec 11, 2024

Full Review

Stephen A. Russell

Orion's Shoulder (Substack)

Packed with archival gold and fresh interviews, American filmmaker Stephen Soucy’s loving tribute celebrates a chaotically successful filmic endeavour and the complicated love of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant

Dec 31, 2024

Full Review

Brian Viner

Daily Mail (UK)

It’s heady stuff but ultimately this is about the work — and what work it was.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 13, 2024

Full Review

Markie Robson-Scott

The Arts Desk

Theirs was a volatile, complex relationship, as director Stephen Soucy’s honest, fascinating documentary, full of talking heads from the Merchant Ivory family, as they liked to call it, makes clear.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 11, 2024

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Steve

Thorough documentary on how Merchant Ivory made films and insight into independent film making. Lots of commentary from those who participated in the films. James Ivory is main interviewee. Even handed including some of the less rosy aspects of their productions. And even a glimpse into the interpersonal relationship amongst the four that made the magic happen onscreen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

Darius

Im a huge fan of Merchant Ivory films from the Maurice through Remains of the Day period-and this documentary gave such a great overview of all their work from the 1960s to early 2000s and I had no idea of their output I also loved the insight into James Ivory, Ismail Merchant and Ruth Jhabvalas relationship.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

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Paul

Lovely portrait of not just Merchant and ivory themselves, but also of the group that worked together to create significant films

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/02/24

Full Review

Jeffery M

Absolutely wonderful, insightful look at remarkable careers and behind the scenes of some of the best films of all time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

David F

An excellent documentary about the films of Merchant Ivory and the personalities and characters behind the films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

Full Review

spb b

More like an E! talking head piece without any interesting anecdotes, insights or even a spark of creativity in the film itself.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/21/25

Full Review

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Merchant Ivory: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

MERCHANT IVORY (2023) is the first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Footage from more than fifty interviews, clips, and archival material gives voice to the family of actors and technicians who helped define Merchant Ivory’s Academy Award-winning work of consummate quality and intelligence. With six Oscar winners among the notable artists participating, these close and often long-term collaborators intimately detail the transformational cinematic creativity and personal and professional drama of the wandering company that left an indelible impact on film culture.

Director: Stephen Soucy
Producer: Stephen Soucy, Jon Hart
Screenwriter: Stephen Soucy, Jon Hart, Stephen Soucy, Jon Hart
Distributor: Cohen Media Group
Production Co: Modernist Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 52m

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