A clean S&M flick which only devotees of mental cruelty are likely to find satisfying. Office Space, Japanese Style!
Comment
08/01/07
Fear and Trembling (2004)
91 %
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 31
Rotten:3
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Consensus: This tale of culture clash is by turns downbeat and hilarious.
Theatrical Release:Nov 19, 2004 Limited
Synopsis: When a Belgian woman (Sylvie Testud) takes a job as a translator in a Japanese firm, she's in for quite a climb up and down the ladder of social acceptance and corporate success. At last, she finds... [More]
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Reviews for Fear and Trembling
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05/09/06
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02/09/06
a bravura performance in a memorable film.
12/14/05
The best office comedy since Office Space.
08/05/05
Top CriticA mindboggling view into the heart of Japan
07/30/05
One of the screen's most cuttingly funny looks at office life.
06/24/05
Top Critic... subtly sexual and erotic, despite the fact that every scene takes place in the office and there is not a single overt sexual act or word or gesture or reference.
06/24/05
Top CriticA shrewd but spiky satire about corporate bureaucracy and Japanese social stratification.
06/03/05
Cool, incisive, funny but also strangely melancholy...connoisseurs of cinematic elegance should find it a brilliant jewel.
05/21/05
The film is more ambiguous about its characters' desire than it needs to be.
05/20/05
Top CriticTestud, who appears to be fluent in the Japanese language, throws herself into this role and is wickedly funny as she flounders in the perverse environment
05/15/05
The delicacy of the film comes from the fine performances, particularly Kaori Tsuji as Fubuki.
04/01/05
Top CriticMoves swiftly and builds to a satisfying conclusion.
03/24/05
Astutely directed by Alain Corneau.
03/18/05
Top CriticHarrowing and hilarious.
03/18/05
Offers a mostly fascinating look at Japanese culture as seen through narrowly focused Western eyes.
03/18/05
Top CriticTestud is nothing short of sublime.
03/17/05
The movie is slight but in a way that makes it the opposite of pushy; it's companionably easy to laugh with.
03/16/05
Strange and darkly funny culture-clash comedy.
02/25/05
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