The Kindness of Strangers

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1:54

The Kindness of Strangers

Released Dec 6, 2019

1h 52m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Ordinary, disparate strangers living in New York City go about their business. Clara runs away from her violent husband with her two boys and meets four people who are also going through difficult times. Alice, a nurse on the verge of cracking, Mark, accused of a crime he did not commit, John Peter, his lawyer, and Jeff, an unambitious man, find they are all connected as their paths intertwine.

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Critics Consensus

A talented onscreen ensemble is done no favors by The Kindness of Strangers, which searches for meaning and comes up empty.

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Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

Zoe Kazan gives a luminous performance in a story about the transformative impact of kindness and forgiveness

Oct 14, 2021

Full Review

Tomris Laffly

RogerEbert.com

A syrupy brew thick with twee and an abundance of cringe-inducing moments pulling at heartstrings.

Rated: 1.5/4

Feb 14, 2020

Full Review

Monica Castillo

TheWrap

The movie functions like one of those star-studded Garry Marshall ensemble movies but made terribly sad until the last few minutes, when a tacked-on happy ending arrives in time for the credits.

Feb 14, 2020

Full Review

Loren King

AWFJ.org

The glum, disparate stories never gel into a satisfying whole. Scherfig is entitled to a misfire when she's a filmmaker of skill and sensitivity; I'm looking forward to what she does next.

Oct 14, 2021

Full Review

Sandie Angulo Chen

AWFJ.org

This isn't my favorite Lone Scherfig drama (that remains An Education), but she still knows how to draw out nuanced performances.

Oct 14, 2021

Full Review

Cate Marquis

AWFJ.org

Audiences who like neat, tidy narratives might not like this film but its big-hearted sympathy for people on the margins of society and hope-filled belief in the power of kindness will win others over...

Oct 14, 2021

Full Review

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joe d

Excellent acting, has exactly the right atmosphere for the New York story. Beautifully filmed & well crafted from an obviously v talented filmmaker. I can only assume the people who have given it bad reviews aren't much into storytelling and subtlety.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/25

Full Review

Andy L

The story is good i love it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/23

Full Review

Martin Geoffrey H

A lovely story of six people who do not know each other with their own problems and how somehow their lives connect. This all results in an intense story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/23

Full Review

Anita F

Thoroughly heart warming! Don't listen to the critics.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Lorna C

This film was like a book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster building empathy with characters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Debnsync

I'm seriously surprised how critical reviews were about this movie. The characters and actors are pretty believable and well done in the sense as was intended. It begins with trauma in a difficult life crisis without any support for the main characters, a mother and her two young sons, as told in the overall description here. How this family struggled and handled serious challenges is the story yet along the way others, all strangers, in NYC, that connected were also living somewhat on the brink of change, some more desperately in need of help than their newly formed acquaintances. The graphic violence is around the abusive husband and father and would be very disturbing to young children but less so as compared to 90% of current films. I can't say more except that I was captivated throughout scenes in cold winter weather, the community of Brooklyn, library, orchestra and a church, poverty and also richness of spirit seen in people helping one another in many ways. There was an every how the mother survives finding ways to care for, feed and get clothes for freezing temperatures.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/22

Full Review

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Lone Scherfig

Director

Jay Baruchel

John Peter

Zoe Kazan

Clara

Andrea Riseborough

Alice

Bill Nighy

Timofey

Caleb Landry Jones

Jeff

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The Kindness of Strangers: Trailer 1

1:54

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Synopsis

Ordinary, disparate strangers living in New York City go about their business. Clara runs away from her violent husband with her two boys and meets four people who are also going through difficult times. Alice, a nurse on the verge of cracking, Mark, accused of a crime he did not commit, John Peter, his lawyer, and Jeff, an unambitious man, find they are all connected as their paths intertwine.

Director: Lone Scherfig
Producer: Malene Blenkov, Sandra Cunningham
Screenwriter: Lone Scherfig
Distributor: E1 Entertainment
Production Co: Arte, Creative Alliance, HanWay Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2020
Runtime: 1h 52m

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