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Mon Oncle d'Amerique

PG Released Dec 17, 1980 2h 3m Comedy Drama List
86% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 87% Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings
In this unconventional French film, renowned writer/philosopher Henri Laborit (portraying himself) presents three stories that illustrate the complexities of human behavior. René (Gérard Depardieu) is a man from humble farming roots who becomes manager at a textile factory and must contend with the pressures of the job. Meanwhile, Janine (Nicole Garcia), an actress turned stylist, is involved in an affair with Jean (Roger Pierre), a politician and aspiring writer who faces difficulties at home. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (14) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The characters are sympathetic, the narrative is well-constructed, and we care. But consider one sequence. In itself it is perfectly absorbing. Then see how Resnais deconstructs it. Rated: 4/4 Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times Mr. Resnais's most successful film in years. Rated: 5/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader The film is also memorable for its dead-on portrayal of French yuppiedom in its early ascendancy and for its beautifully ambiguous and open-ended finale. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Scott Sublett Washington Blade Even if Resnais had succeeded in making a coherent whole out of all the ill-conceived pieces, the tone alone would make it offensive. May 23, 2022 Full Review Andrew Sarris Vogue With Mon Oncle d'Amérique, however, Resnais is truly resurgent as he reacquaints us with the richness of his paradoxes, the profundity of his playfulness. Mar 19, 2020 Full Review Jesús Fernández Santos El Pais (Spain) What's missing is a more ironic Alain Resnais, who's here determined to follow a scientific script. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 14, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (72) audience reviews
FC S Underrated masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/20/23 Full Review isla s This is very much a French domestic drama film, with a heavy element of philosophy thrown in (for good measure?), with scientific and phisolophical observations spoken by a narrator (who has quite a sort of re-assuring tone of vocie. It does have somewhat of a soothing or re-assuring sense to it I suppose) with visuals of animal experiments being shown (thankfully nothing especially graphic, I hasten to add). It seemed rather dull at first but I stuck with it. It becomes more interesting after a while but have no doubts about it, this is a typical arty film. The titular uncle is only mentioned, it seemed to me, about an hour in - indeed I was starting to wonder why the film is called what it is, as I couldn't see any mention of Americans in the script until then. It's not an obvious film, thats for sure (if you know what I mean). Its somewhat intriguing but not really a gripping film as such...I would only recommend this to people who are big fans of French films, especially philosophical type ones. An ok watch with some interesting dialogue and observations about couples and human behaviour but I wouldn't say this film is especially great as such, though it did definitely appeal to me more towards the end of it, rather than at the start. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An unusual piece of cinema combining together the documentary part from a real life scientist and a smart and smooth feature film footage, both exploring the ideas of human nature and evolution of life. The film is really nice and easy to watch, at the same time leaving the space for thought provoking ideas. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Um filme atemporal, recheado de simbolismos e analogias diretas, os ratinhos, pobres ratinhos, uma boa trama, deliciosamente apresentando, entrecortando a história do trio, no mesmo lapso temporal, dentro do que o autor denominou 4 elementos que regulam a conduta: consumo, gratificação, punição e inibição… As emoções e sentimentos com imagens de filmes em preto e braço, detalhadamente produzido, fantasticamente reproduzido... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member This is quite a slog to make it through. There's a lot of work to do to get through this one and actively try to follow the changes in film style, genre, tone, as well as a running lecture of sorts on human psychological development in its varied complexities. The first half is esp. tough sledding as you try to get a grip on what the film is made up of and how it works (or fails to work) together. I dig the rat tests and analogies, though. I would still say a bit longer than needed, bit it was quite a creative feat to pull off. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review mauro l A masterpiece in the phenomenological analysis of the "malum mundi", anthropic but not only. When symbiotic relationships are overwhelmed by parasitic ones. (Mauro Lanari) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Mon Oncle d'Amerique

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this unconventional French film, renowned writer/philosopher Henri Laborit (portraying himself) presents three stories that illustrate the complexities of human behavior. René (Gérard Depardieu) is a man from humble farming roots who becomes manager at a textile factory and must contend with the pressures of the job. Meanwhile, Janine (Nicole Garcia), an actress turned stylist, is involved in an affair with Jean (Roger Pierre), a politician and aspiring writer who faces difficulties at home.
Director
Alain Resnais
Producer
Philippe Dussart
Screenwriter
Jean Gruault, Henri Laborit
Distributor
New World Pictures
Production Co
TF1 Films Productions, Andrea Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 17, 1980, Wide
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Mono