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Secret Defense

Play trailer Poster for Secret Defense Released Oct 1, 1999 2h 53m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
When a brilliant scientist (Sandrine Bonnaire) discovers that her father did not die accidentally but was murdered by a family friend, she swears vengeance. However, she soon finds herself deeply embroiled in a mystery of lust and intrigue. And when she discovers the truth about her father, it threatens to shake her very foundations in this fascinating thriller.
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Secret Defense

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker With suave and feline images by the cinematographer William Lubtchansky, Rivette offers a virtual documentary on modern bourgeois solitude ... Feb 3, 2014 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader The brooding intimations of Greek tragedy are part of what keeps this 170-minute thriller fascinating throughout. Nov 12, 2007 Full Review Time Out For all its mysteries, the movie thoroughly repudiates suspense. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Kathy Fennessy Video Librarian Magazine The entire cast rises to the occasion, particularly [Sandrine] Bonnaire, who was on a roll in the 1990s, though the fatalistic tone rarely lifts. Rated: 3/5 Jul 27, 2023 Full Review Film4 Staff Film4 Thanks to Bonnaire's characteristically intelligent performance, the circumlocutions hold some interest, proving again that since her discovery by Pialat she has become the most uncompromising of French actresses. Nov 12, 2007 Full Review Ken Fox TV Guide The film will either draw you in (as Rivette's best films can), or simply wear you out. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 12, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Johnny Z Great thriller, Jacques Rivette style. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/22 Full Review Arzaloued V Un scénario débiles étiré en longeur pour faire intello, des dialogues artificiels récités par desacteurs figés ou empruntés à la limite du grotestque, une technique caméra dénuée de toute créativité, répétitive et d'une monotonie ahurissante... mais comme c'est du monsieur Rivette, on se pame et on ne se lasse pas de flatter le caractère oh combien artistique de ce nouveau navet stratosphérique bien franchouillard. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/13/23 Full Review Audience Member An immensely strange film from Rivette. On the surface it's a thriller, but it's 3 hours long and really has about as much plot as you'd expect from a film of regular length. Genre conventions are largely thrown away here. The build up to what action there is is drawn out to incredible lengths without really attempting to build up suspense. The action is staged rather casually and indifferently. The plot centers on a murder and there's a twist, but it's all a bit sketchy and indifferently thought out. This will all make it sound like I didn't like the film, but I liked it a great deal. It all serves to highlight the stupidity and irrevocable nature of the violence. Besides that, it's extremely well-written in the sense that the actors are given a lot of thoughtful dialogue and actions inside the clumsily executed thriller maneuvers. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member Calling this movie "deliberately paced" is understatement, but a patient viewer will appreciate its meditative approach to storytelling. Long train rides never seemed so meaningful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Avec Largo Winch et Secret Défense, on se dit qu'en fin le cinéma français aborde le thriller à l'américaine, de façon totalement décomplexée. Et réussite. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Moyen plus. Les deux acteurs principaux sont tres bons. La musique est quelconque, et la réalisation est moyenne (des scenes d'interieur manquaient d'eclairage). Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Secret Defense

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Cast & Crew

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Jacques Rivette

Director

Sandrine Bonnaire

Sylvie

Laure Marsac

Véronique

Jerzy Radziwiłowicz

Walser

Grégoire Colin

Paul

Françoise Fabian

Geneviève
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Secret Defense

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a brilliant scientist (Sandrine Bonnaire) discovers that her father did not die accidentally but was murdered by a family friend, she swears vengeance. However, she soon finds herself deeply embroiled in a mystery of lust and intrigue. And when she discovers the truth about her father, it threatens to shake her very foundations in this fascinating thriller.
Director
Jacques Rivette
Producer
Martine Marignac, Maurice Tinchant
Screenwriter
Pascal Bonitzer, Emanuelle Cuau, Jacques Rivette
Distributor
Pierre Grise Distribution, Artificial Eye
Production Co
La Sept Cinema, Pierre Grisé Productions
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 1999, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 14, 2023
Runtime
2h 53m
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