RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Happenstance
Happenstance

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Happenstance (2001)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
65 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:38

Fresh:25

Rotten:13

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Though the plot of Happenstance is basically a gimmick, the film is a fun, light-hearted trifle.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for a scene of nudity

Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Nov 2, 2001 Limited

Synopsis: French director Laurent Firode presents this filmic oddity, which explores the idea--and the effects--of chaos theory over the course of one day in Paris. The concept, as treated in the film, is... French director Laurent Firode presents this filmic oddity, which explores the idea--and the effects--of chaos theory over the course of one day in Paris. The concept, as treated in the film, is best explained by an aging drifter who walks through a Parisian park saying that sometimes the most random, stupid act can alter the course of the world. He goes on to say that something as minor as the batting of a butterfly's wings over the Atlantic can cause a hurricane over the Pacific. (This is an explanation of the French title, which translates to "The Batting of the Wings of a Butterfly.") In short, all things are intrinsically connected. And in this film, the tiniest action performed by one character triggers a series of events that eventually impact another character. There is a broad cross-section of over 20 extremely quirky characters in the film, all of whom are deeply superstitious and believe strongly in fate, which enhances the comedy, surprise, and strangeness of each new scenario. Granny gives Luc some fresh-baked macaroons, and tells him not to tell his mother. He tells his mother, who steals the tin, tastes a cookie, and throws it out the window. A pigeon eats it, then flies across the city and poops directly onto a photograph taken by some Russian tourists, who go into a photo shop, asking the salesgirl to fix it. When the girl in the shop tries to clean off the photo, she realizes that the man in the picture is her long-lost love, who she has not seen in ten years. HAPPENSTANCE drifts, careens, floats, and sometimes zooms around the city of Paris, sneaking in and out of the daily lives of its subjects, uncovering with each passing moment a new and entirely bizarre example of destiny. [More]

Starring: Faudel, Audrey Tautou, Eric Savin, Eric Feldman

Starring: Faudel, Audrey Tautou, Eric Savin, Eric Feldman, Irene Ismailoff, Lysiane Meis, Nathalie Besancon, Frederic Bouraly, Franck Bussi, Marina Tomé, Antoine Coesens, Said Serrari, Lily Boulogne, Gilbert Robin, Manu Layotte, Husky Kihal, Nor-eddin Abboud, Louison Roblin, Felicite Wouassi, Manuela Gourary, Mathieu Ducrez, Syvie Herbert, Oleg Imbert, Ludmilla Imbert, Francoise Bertin, Francois Chattot, Charlotte Maury Sentier

Director: Laurent Firode

Director: Laurent Firode
Screenwriter: Laurent Firode
Producer: Anne-Dominique Toussaint, Pasqual Judelwicz
Studio: Lot 47 Films

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Apr 23, 2002

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20
1 2 >> >|
 
 
J. Dynamite11/1/09
70%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by J. Dynamite
gloria j.10/6/09
80%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by gloria j.
jspg719/22/09
80%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by jspg71
alphabeths9/2/09
90%
Template Image
Fresh
If you believe in destiny and that things happen for a reason, then this film is for you. A... More
Quote by alphabeths
olivia marion8/8/09
60%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by olivia marion
pollato836/9/09
70%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by pollato83
Vitec2/2/09
60%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by Vitec
Paula R.12/22/08
70%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by Paula R.
psterrett10/8/08
80%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by psterrett
epichaiku9/24/08
40%
Template Image
Rotten
More
Quote by epichaiku
kingofthecorn3/22/08
80%
Template Image
Fresh
(***): A comedy mixed with romance that can be summed up in one word: Whimsy. I like Tautou and... More
Quote by kingofthecorn
palais12/28/07
0%
More
Quote by palais
jtnelms12/15/07
60%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by jtnelms
faithx511/15/07
80%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by faithx5
Buffy 97-0310/21/07
60%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by Buffy 97-03
Tony Aguila9/30/07
80%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by Tony Aguila
teewillikers9/3/07
50%
Template Image
Rotten
More
Quote by teewillikers
CVClaux7/1/07
70%
Template Image
Fresh
More
Quote by CVClaux
chazspiers6/22/07
0%
More
Quote by chazspiers
Phuque5/29/07
40%
Template Image
Rotten
More
Quote by Phuque
 
 
1 - 20
1 2 >> >|
See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
66% 66% Public Enemies
83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
75% 75% Julie & Julia
32% 32% Terminator Salvation

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

James Cameron

James Cameron

We look at the Avatar director's career

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Check out the brand new trailer now!

SAG Awards

SAG Awards

Find out who got nominated!

Nominee Gallery

Nominee Gallery

See who got nominated for Golden Globes!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
96
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
30
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
61
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
26
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
144
  • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
121
  • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
84
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
44
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
37
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
34
  • Friday Harvest: Iron Man 2, Tron Legacy, and more!
20
  • Awards Tour 2009: The Hurt Locker Dominates Boston Society of Film Critics
18
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
24
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Happenstance at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Happenstance at AskMen
 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.