Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasi...’?

The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares) (2003)

tomatometer

82

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 125
Fresh: 103 | Rotten: 22

A moving and heart-felt film from director Denys Arcand.

83

Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 6

A moving and heart-felt film from director Denys Arcand.

audience

87

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 17,989

My Rating

Movie Info

Director Denys Arcand revisits the situations and relationships that informed his international breakthrough The Decline of the American Empire with this dialogue-driven character study. Set 17 years after Decline, The Barbarian Invasions, like its predecessor, examines the varying politics -- economic, personal, and sexual -- at play among an aging group of friends, lovers, and ex-spouses. This time around, leads Remy (Rémy Girard) and Louise (Dorothee Berryman) are divorced, with their son

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

Denys Arcand

Jul 13, 2004

$3.3M

Miramax

Cast

All Critics (136) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (22) | DVD (18)

Despite an uneven cast, Arcand finds a tonal balance between sentimental and cynical that keeps the conversations real and heart wrenching.

March 23, 2010 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A nicely balanced blend of sentiment and acrid wit.

April 21, 2004 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Arcand avoids the temptation of turning the story into a tear-jerker.

January 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | Comment
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic IconTop Critic

If you haven't seen the original, which, if memory serves, was billed as 'The Big Chill with a doctorate,' no worries. Arcand's follow-up stands alone as a universal story of generational reconciliation.

December 26, 2003 Comment
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Admirable in its refusal to be politically correct.

December 19, 2003 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A movie that, in the story of one man dying, shows us all how to live.

December 19, 2003 Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

"The Barbarian Invasions" is an intriguing meditation on the inevitable fall of ideologies under the pressure of nature's laws.

May 4, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment
ColeSmithey.com

The film's emotional ending is deeply felt and powerful, examining the pain and the humor of life without pathos or melodrama. As such, the film resonates and lingers.

November 18, 2005 Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | Comment
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

...an almost documentary truth to the performances, a un-movieish consistency of tone that makes it easy to forget that we're watching actors.

January 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | Comment
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

...jerkily paced, dramatically obvious, and seems penned by a self-serious 16-year-old

September 30, 2004 Full Review | Comment

Miramax's DVD is sparse, but the movie stands alone quite well

July 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Habit | Comment
Movie Habit

By the end of the film, Remy's passing is almost an afterthought; but the innate goodness of people lingers on.

July 15, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

The occasion is death, but the movie is a joyous celebration of life.

July 15, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares)

A truly outstanding film that leaves you with a great deal to digest. It does have its lulls, but the excellent acting and the double-edged sword that is Arcand's script more than make up for it. To the very end, you don't know who to take seriously and who to dislike, and the end result is a moving experience

February 6, 2008
danperry17

Super Reviewer

The guy who played the son looked a LOT like Zach Braff. All the themes - whether concerning the culture clash between the liberal and conservative, or the moral question of using drugs - gracefully intertwine to make this dazzling, dazzling gem of a film. I REALLY wish I could've seen "The Decline of the American

June 4, 2007
jennifxu

Super Reviewer

The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares) Quotes

No quotes approved yet for The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares). Logged in users can submit quotes.

Latest News for The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions barbares)

What's Hot On RT

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Journey 2 Not Worth the Trip

Luis Guzman
Luis Guzman

What are his 10 best movies ever?

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,565 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,434 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,152 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,649 taken
created 15 months ago

Foreign Titles

  • Die Invasion der Barbaren (DE)
  • The Barbarian Invasions (UK)
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile