A Very Long Engagement (2004)

In many ways, A Very Long Engagement is stylistically similar to director Jeunot's earlier widely-acclaimed Amelie - the lighting, the main character, the use of narration rather than dialogue. As in Amelie, Audrey Tautou's character Mathilde is socially restrained, reticient, whimsical and believes in the magic of mantras & superstition. But juxtaposed againt this is the sheer horror and misery of war, conveyed expertly by the gritty scenes in the trenches. The actual storyline is simple in precis but presented as a quite complicated web of intrigue in the unfolding. Overall, the film is more satisfying than Amelie, because it has more depth. I think a second viewing would make the serpentine plot easier to follow.

didn't realise this was foreign movie when ordered didn't really enjoy it

Really good movie,great story one of the better WW1 movies

goos stuff. if you like french movies and audrey tatou you will like this. even though its a war movie its not too depressing. the film has good balance between light and dark. great acting. and who knew jodie foster was in french movies???

There are few films that recreate the misery and futility of WW1 as well as this and all the more interesting being from a French point of view. The director manages to give it a lightness and humour that prevent the film becoming harrowing, despite the tragic story. I watched it a second time with a friend and never lost interest for the whole 2 hours. Brilliant cast.

How can I find Blurays please

Great film-slow and very un-hollywood

Audrey Tautou is always spellbinding. She does not disappoint in this movie and I like the surprise ending. The war scenes are gory but not as bad as Saving Private Ryan. Do yourself a favour and get it out and if you are squeamish just close your eyes during the gory bits.

Fascinating story. I enjoyed this movie.

Brilliant-magnificent.Has everything. Loved ita. A must see.

Would have been fantastic if the subtitles had matched up with the French properly. Sentences only half formed in the subtitles left me wondering what was going on a couple of times. The film itself is beautiful, though. One of those films that will stick with me for a long time.

A very long movie - or, at least, it seemed that way.. I realised about halfway through that I just didn't care enough, so I skipped through to the end to see how it worked out. Don't know why - but it just didn't strike a chord with me.. Very French and stylised - I can't imagine it working in English..

Excellent. A war story without America or Wisnton Churchill saving the world, with the suspense of a "widow" trying to right a wrong. The final scene was good for being the final scene, (and not going on to another fifteen minutes of "they lived happily ever after"). The trench scenes were great, muddy and wet and horrible, (as trenches were), and the self interest of WWI officers is something most Aussie film watchers will connect with: it seems France has those myths too. I enjoy Audrey Tautou's films and the appearance of Jodie Foster was a pleasant surprise. Well worth watching, a hidden gem.

Simply outstanding cinematography script and direction! No need for a long winded review. If you like class and french genre then this is a must see...A love story with twists and turns and historical drama all intertwined! Highly recommend......Hard to understand the negative reviews....I guess it is not Twister or The Titanic!!!! Great for lovers of quality cinema...

Excellent. The WW1 scenes are the best I've seen and is enough to recommend this movie. Do yourself a favor and see this.

great movie - you've got concentrate on the characters.

A complex plot surrounding a pointless war on the western front. The film gets better as the plot thickens.

......and an even longer movie! Also surprised to see Jodie Foster speaking French. Overlong.

At first I wasn't going to continue watching this movie. IT'S IN FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES!! Very disappointing. I am so glad I persevered with the reading as well as the watching. What a wonderful story. Would be excellent in an English version. Don't be put off by subtitles. This movie is well worth the effort. Jodie Foster even makes and appearance, speaking French. Loved this movie. Was exciting, dramatic, romantic, thrilling. Would have given it 5 Stars for the English.

Very long winded but poignant and touching film about a woman's endless determination to seek the truth about a love who was MIA after the war.

Wonderful movie! interesting characters. Sad, tragic, and romantic. Not to be missed!

Absolutely beautiful-Audrey Tatou at her best. Highly recommended.

This story has a vunerablity that makes you feel the naivety of the main character is going to make a story without substance but far from it. Who would have guessed th ending after all that horror in the trenches of WW1. The colouring is very much a charcter of the story. Like a war it is slow but like a victory, bitter sweet when it happens at the end.

Takes some concentration - but Audrey Tatou (sp) is great as usual. Watch it to the end.

magnifique!!! j'adore ce film!! this is an AMAZING movie. very moving. Audrey Tateau played her character amazingly. beautiful story about love and hope.

Profound storytelling, visually lyric and an extraordinary story arc, there are vignettes and moments in this that are sublime. I dont mind long films and I dont mind reading a good film (which this is) but reading a long film does get tiring. The battle scenes are even more harrowing than Saving Private Ryan, so not for the squeamish, but at the same time there are characters and events that would make the most world weary laugh. Thoroughly excellent.

This movie was good but the subtitles made it really hard to concentrate.....

This movie is in French, I really should have read the description better, therefore I cant rate it because I didnt watch it for long :)

Although I am a great romance lover, this film just did't get through to me. Everything seemed artificial.

A classic war story told from the other side. The way the story is told is captivating, and the detective/investigative nature of the film keeps you guessing & never bored.

A poignant movie, showing with a lot of feeling the raw brutality and futility of war, the deformed view the military have of living reality. Great photography and acting.

Because of the very good site rating I watched for over 10 minutes...but no longer. So brutal ! Too ghastly !!!

I was suprised just how good this was

Strange, weird, interesting. Something to think about and muse over. Found it hard keeping track of who was who but definetly worth watching. A woman seeks her missing fiance who it turns out was punished for suspected self-mutilation due to being shell shocked in WWI. What really happened to him?

Jeunet's usual quirky style and Audrey Tatou is fantastic. A bit let down by not really getting to know her fiance, but the mystery was interesting. Make sure you pay attention at the beginning when the 5 men are introduced, it makes keeping up with the plot a lot easier.

it's a bit quirky but ultimately worth the watch - acting is good.

Beautiful, epic film of love and loss at the Somme as only the French can do it. Audrey Tatou is amazing and despite the dark topic, it has a wry charm to it.

Wry, occasionally tragic and moving, sometimes missing the mark. Tautou is mostly unrecognisable (though there is one Ameilie throwaway moment). Oddly clean for a WWI flick.

A very important, enchanting, brave movie. Not the sort of movie one would expect the neo-cons in USA to be moved by- and that unfortunately is what is so sad.

Surprise to see Jodie Foster in it and speaking fluent French. Good acting by all.