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The Return of Martin Guerre

Play trailer 1:40 Poster for The Return of Martin Guerre 1983 2h 2m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Years after his family thought he died, Martin Guerre (Gérard Depardieu) returns home from the Hundred Years' War. But is he really Martin Guerre? His wife, Bertrande de Rols (Nathalie Baye), has her doubts, as do some of her fellow villagers. Guerre's personality has completely changed; a man who was once angry and sullen is now likable and kind. As they become convinced they have an impostor on their hands, a local magistrate charges the man with Martin Guerre's murder.

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The Return of Martin Guerre

Critics Reviews

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Claudia Puig FilmWeek (LAist) Oct 1, 2019
It's so superbly acted and it's kind of about acting. Go to Full Review Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) Jul 6, 2019
4
The restoration is vivid, rendering the film even more striking than it was in 1982. The narrative still puts on on the edge of ones seat. Depardieu and Baye at their best. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 10, 2019
3.5/4
Although the answer to the is-he-or-isn't-he question is never really in doubt, this is nonetheless a fascinating film. Go to Full Review Carol Flake Vanity Fair Sep 20, 2019
[A] sad, exquisite film. Go to Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Jul 9, 2019
3.5/5
A sobering account not only Medieval provincial life but the extremely limited role of women's agency. Go to Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Jul 3, 2019
It's fitting that there are so many good performances here since, in the subtext, The Return of Martin Guerre is a film about acting. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Johnny Z Nov 18, 2021 Amazing cast led by Grard Depardieu and Nathalie Baye. Co-written by the legendary, Jean-Claude Carrire See more Stashy342 Nov 18, 2021 Vivid, gripping, colorful, well-costumed & lit, great soundtrack, too. Filmed partly on location where true story (which this film accurately depicts) unfolded. Depardieu was compelling. See more Scott R @ScottR 5 days ago NYT 1000 films. This one was entertaining and based on a true story, but was this so amazing that it should be on the list? Themes of love, trust, and primitive humanity in the 1500s. Sadly there were a few opening shots of barb wire… that didn’t exist then. Prolly not. Saw on DC library dvd. See more Khaled I @RT90517866 Jul 22, 2026 timeless, outstanding. every aspect. See more Alec B @Alec97 Sep 23, 2024 More of a character study than a courtrooms drama (although those scenes are compelling) which allows for deeper questions to be asked about how people choose their realities See more Apr 8, 2021 Certainly admirable how deliberately the sense of justice and morals of a long bygone era are woven throughout this narrative. The righteous, god-fearing mentality of these characters is inescapable, forcing one to consider how many "wrongs" were righted by such a dogmatic group in history. See more Read all reviews
The Return of Martin Guerre

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Cast & Crew

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Daniel Vigne

Director

Gérard Depardieu

Arnaud de Tihl

Nathalie Baye

Bertrande de Rols

Roger Planchon

Jean de Coras

André Chaumeau

The Cure

Maurice Barrier

Uncle Pierre Guerre

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The Return of Martin Guerre

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The Return of Martin Guerre

The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) The Return of Martin Guerre (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Years after his family thought he died, Martin Guerre (Gérard Depardieu) returns home from the Hundred Years' War. But is he really Martin Guerre? His wife, Bertrande de Rols (Nathalie Baye), has her doubts, as do some of her fellow villagers. Guerre's personality has completely changed; a man who was once angry and sullen is now likable and kind. As they become convinced they have an impostor on their hands, a local magistrate charges the man with Martin Guerre's murder.
Director
Daniel Vigne
Producer
Marcel Dassault, Daniel Vigne
Screenwriter
Daniel Vigne
Distributor
European International
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 10, 1983, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 5, 2019
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 22, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$16.2K
Runtime
2h 2m
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