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The Decline Of The American Empire [1986]
![The Decline Of The American Empire [1986]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BRCH59JSL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £5.58 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
You've never seen a sex comedy quite like The Decline of the American Empire. That's because there's no sex in this comedy--just a lot of entertaining talk about it (and a few discreet flashbacks). The speakers are eight Montreal academics. For most of the film, the men--Rémy (Rémy Girard), Claude (Yves Jacques), Pierre (Pierre Curzi), and Alain (Daniel Brière)--fix dinner while talking about sex. The women--Dominique (Dominique Michel), Louise (Dorothée Berryman), Diane (Louise Portal), and Danielle (Geneviève Rioux)--work out while talking about sex. That evening, they all gather for dinner... and talk about sex. The Decline of the American Empire made the reputation of writer-director Denys Arcand, but his greatest success would arrive 17 years later with The Barbarian Invasions. In that 2003 Oscar-winner, Arcand revisits the lovably loquacious characters from the first film, all of whom are older, wiser--and just as obsessed with sex. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Before the Barbarians Invaded, there was this classic!
Review date: 2004-03-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
You may be aware of the current multi-award winning Canadian movie The Barbarian Invasions; well this movie is essentially the prequel to it, and has one of the tightest, wittiest scripts you're likely to see - think 'Clerks', 'Festen' or Woody Allen films like 'Deconstruting Harry' set among adulterous, pretentious friends, who are about to come face to face with their immature and irresponsible selfishness. The husbands and wives meet separately before a dinner together, and the conversations they have are as revealing and frank as they are funny. Slowly, the film's title becomes more and more relevant to the opinions and antics of these misbehaving, but ultimately sad middle-aged adults. Denys Arcand is also known for Jesus of Montreal, which I would highly recommend - but this is intelligent scriptwriting and comedy of the highest quality.
Similar Products
- The Barbarian Invasions [2004]
- Jesus Of Montreal [1989]
- The Lives Of Others [2007]
- Le Gout Des Autres [2000]
- Le Dîner De Cons
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Dominique Michel
Louise Portal
Pierre Curzi
Rémy Girard
Dorothée Berryman
Creators:
Dominique Michel (Primary Contributor)
Dorothée Berryman (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Artificial Eye
Manufacturer: Artificial Eye
EAN: 5021866084305
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2004-02-23
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 97 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1986-11
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Original Language)