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The Unknown Girl

Play trailer 1:45 Poster for The Unknown Girl Released Sep 8, 2017 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 95 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Jenny, a talented doctor, refuses to open the door of her practice to a mysterious late-night caller. The next morning, she learns that the caller was a girl who has been found dead, and the police have no way of identifying her. Shocked and guilt-stricken by the news, Jenny resolves to discover the name of the girl so she will not be buried anonymously and to ensure she doesn't disappear as if she had never lived.
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The Unknown Girl

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Critics Consensus

The Unknown Girl isn't quite up to the standards of the Dardenne brothers' best work, but remains a well-acted effort that pays poignant -- albeit limited -- dividends.

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Critics Reviews

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Scott Marks San Diego Reader The last thing one expected was for the Belgian Dardenne brothers to dote on a murder mystery, particularly one involving a medico turned amateur sleuth that's fraught with coincidence like so much of what's already out there. Rated: 1/5 Sep 29, 2017 Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post The question that looms large here, lingering long after the closing credits, is whether, despite our human need for forgiveness, absolution is ever truly possible. Rated: 3/4 Sep 28, 2017 Full Review Steven D. Greydanus National Catholic Register Jenny's search is a quest for atonement, not only for herself, but also for others. A physician of the body, she becomes a kind of physician of the soul, her clinic office a secular confessional, sealed by her ethic of doctor-patient confidentiality. Rated: A Sep 22, 2017 Full Review Emiliano Basile EscribiendoCine Although not one of Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne's best films, The Unknown Girl manages to transcend the minimal story it tells. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 8/10 Feb 13, 2024 Full Review Aaron Boalick Vague Visages What it vibrantly presents, however, is her modest yet determined resilience in the face of a multitude of tiny threats. And that makes both Jenny and The Unknown Girl quietly heroic. Nov 30, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies The Dardennes simply depict true life and allow it to speak volumes. That’s the cinematic world they work in, and Adèle Haenel fits beautifully on their canvas. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 21, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gustavo M Puede una película, del cine independiente, no tener escenas de sexo explícito o desnudez y aún así ser una excelente obra de arte? Definitivamente sí. Y ésta película es una prueba de lo que afirmo. Ésto es verdaderamente cine. Películas como éstas son las que me encantan!!! Para mí 99% de las escenas de desnudez y el 1000% de escenas de sexo explícito en películas del cine independiente son innecesarias. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/24 Full Review isla s This is a mystery film, a crime mystery as seen through the eyes of a local French doctor. We learn about various people in said doctors community and as pieces of said unknown girls story start to come together, we get an insight into her life, her situations. Its a somewhat gritty story and I certainly felt I could understand the main character, the doctor Jenny Davin, in feeling concern for this girls identity to be found, for her family to be made aware of whats happened, given she was very close nearby shortly before her death. I liked the plot pace, not too overly fast and hard to keep track of and yet not painstakingly slow to the point of utter boredom. I found myself wondering what potential secrets other locals may be keeping from her and I thought it was interesting, given she wasn't a police officer, seeing how people reacted to her questions, her curiosity to try and see what she could discover about the identity of the initially seemingly anonymous person. It is a somewhat sobering and thought provoking watch at times but I thought it was quite well made and I'd say its a good film, a good example of world cinema (its in French). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Very subdued performances. I would have liked more dialogue, or at least more facial expression, as the story supported a bit more from the actors than was given. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Dit verhaal had een spannende detective-thriller kunnen worden of een comediedrama, maar nu is het 3x niks. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Carl W Absolutely brilliant one of the best French movies I have on Blu ray. It have a lot of twists that keeps you going. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/06/20 Full Review Alexandra H This is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It captures what it means to be loving. At first, I didn't notice anything special as I watched. But then, I entered a higher realm, the realm of this movie in which the doctor is loving and compassionate. This movie gives a new view of life. I wish I could give it 1000 stars. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/22/19 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Jenny, a talented doctor, refuses to open the door of her practice to a mysterious late-night caller. The next morning, she learns that the caller was a girl who has been found dead, and the police have no way of identifying her. Shocked and guilt-stricken by the news, Jenny resolves to discover the name of the girl so she will not be buried anonymously and to ensure she doesn't disappear as if she had never lived.
Director
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Producer
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Denis Freyd
Screenwriter
Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
RTBF, France 2 Cinéma, Les Films du Fleuve, Savage Film, Archipel 35, Voo & be TV
Genre
Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 8, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$88.6K
Runtime
1h 53m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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