RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • 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 / The Sorrow and the Pity
The Sorrow and the Pity

Rate this Movie Help Icon

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

The Sorrow and the Pity (1971)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
100 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:24

Fresh:24

Rotten:0

Average Rating:8.6/10

Runtime: 4 hrs 20 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Synopsis: THE SORROW AND THE PITY is one of the greatest documentaries ever made, delving into the Nazi occupation of France. Director Marcel Ophuls interviewed dozens of French, British, and German... THE SORROW AND THE PITY is one of the greatest documentaries ever made, delving into the Nazi occupation of France. Director Marcel Ophuls interviewed dozens of French, British, and German citizens, including soldiers, former Nazis, members of the resistance and collaborators. The result is an amazing portrait of ordinary people in extraordinary, and terrible, conditions. [More]

Director: Marcel Ophuls

Director: Marcel Ophuls

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

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

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Apr 17, 2001

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • A chronicle of a French city under the occupation. Director Marcel Ophuls combined interviews and archival film footage to explore the reality of the French occupation in one small industrial city, Clermont-Ferrand. He spoke with resistance fighters, collaborators, spies, farmers, government officials, writers, artists and veterans. The result is a shattering portrait of how ordinary people actually conducted themselves under extraordinary circumstances. By turns gripping, horrifying, and inspiring, Academy Award nominee "The Sorrow and the Pity" is a triumph of humanist filmmaking and a testament to the power of cinema. Before "Shoah," "Schindler's List," "The Long Way Home" and "The Last Days," there was "The Sorrow and the Pity."
  • Source: Image Entertainment, Inc.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for The Sorrow and the Pity

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

    It's valuable mainly as a brilliant assemblage of documents and testimonies.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
    10/06/07
    Jonathan Rosenbaum
    Jonathan Rosenbaum
    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A work which helped change the way France viewed its own past, The Sorrow And The Pity is an impressively assembled documentary which combines archival footage and detailed personal testimonies to profound effect.

    Full Review Source: Film4 | comment Comment
    10/06/07
    Film4

    Through its scale, intelligence, wit, imaginative organisation and polemical thrust, it changed the face of the documentary forever.

    Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
    10/06/07
    Philip French
    Philip French
    Observer [UK]

    The film is so boldly conceived, richly textured and beautifully paced that its marathon running time feels more like a sprint.

    Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
    10/06/07
    Xan Brooks
    Xan Brooks
    Guardian [UK]

    Documentary about the horrors of occupying a foreign country. Especially well worth watching now.

    Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
    01/17/07
    Louis Proyect
    Louis Proyect
    rec.arts.movies.reviews

    What is exceptional about the film is its comprehensive structure.

    comment Comment
    07/21/06
    Douglas Pratt
    Douglas Pratt
    DVDLaser

    The mosaic is comprehensive, the documentation overwhelming, particularly regarding the nature and extent of collaboration.

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Time Out

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    07/31/05
    Emanuel Levy
    Emanuel Levy
    EmanuelLevy.Com

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    03/12/05
    Daniel M. Kimmel
    Daniel M. Kimmel
    Worcester Telegram & Gazette

    A grand, astonishingly comprehensive document, recorded with unfailing persistence and intelligence.

    Full Review Source: Nation | comment Comment
    03/03/05
    Stuart Klawans
    Stuart Klawans
    Nation

    In its complexity, its humanity, its refusal to find easy solutions, this is one of the greatest documentaries ever made.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
    10/23/04
    Roger Ebert
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    [A] timeless study of human nature.

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
    05/22/04
    David Parkinson
    David Parkinson
    Empire Magazine

    Even today it's lost little of its challenging impact.

    Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
    05/18/04
    Jamie Russell
    Jamie Russell
    BBC

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    11/17/03
    Linda Cook
    Linda Cook
    Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

    Though lengthy and obviously downbeat, the 1970 film should be a staple for all serious filmgoers.

    Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
    07/30/03
    TV Guide's Movie Guide

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    06/19/03
    Nell Minow
    Nell Minow
    Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

    It soberly spotlights history -- impressively human, not pedantic, levels.

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    05/20/03
    A.H. Weiler
    A.H. Weiler
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    10/25/02
    Philip Martin
    Philip Martin
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    It remains the preeminent documentary about historical tragedy and one of the most exhilaratingly demanding experiences the movies have ever offered.

    Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
    08/11/02
    Peter Rainer
    Peter Rainer
    New York Magazine
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    No review available.

    comment Comment
    08/08/02
    John J. Puccio
    John J. Puccio
    DVDTown.com
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 >> >|
    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    40% 40% Surrogates
    83% 83% Whip It
    29% 29% Gamer
    97% 97% The Hurt Locker
    81% 81% Michael Jackson's This…

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    87% 87% A Serious Man
    37% 37% The Time Traveler's Wife
    78% 78% Bronson
    11% 11% The Stepfather

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    Runaways Pictures

    Runaways Pictures

    Run away with Kristen and Dakota!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Tom Cruise Accepts Another Mission: Impossible Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
    36
    • Chris Nolan on Board for Dark Knight Sequel -- and Superman Reboot? Source: Deadline Hollywood Daily
    258
    • Tim Robbins Joins Green Lantern Source: Hollywood Reporter
    58
    • Fox Moves Forward with 24 Movie Source: HitFix
    8
    • Bill Murray Talks Ghostbusters III Source: Sunday Mail [UK]
    56
    • Captain America News, News, and More News Source: Collider.com
    20
    • Taylor Lautner Is Stretch Armstrong Source: MTV
    78
    • Weekly Ketchup: Sci-Fi at the Oscars, Raimi eyes The Shadow
    288
    • Percy Jackson Star (Briefly) Rumored for Spider-Man Reboot Source: Hollywood Reporter
    35
    • Five Facts About Alice in Wonderland
    140
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Total Recall: Jeff Bridges' Best Movies
    114
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Finally Toppled by Dear John
    104
    • Weekly Ketchup: Sci-Fi at the Oscars, Raimi eyes The Shadow
    96
    • Five Favorite Films With Precious' Gabby Sidibe
    35
    • Friday Harvest: The Last Airbender, The A-Team, and more!
    27
    • Critics Consensus: From Paris With Love Is Not Bon
    22
    • Total Recall: Anthony Hopkins' Best Movies
    19
    • Five Favourite Films with Anika Noni Rose
    17
    • Awards Tour: Pixar and Disney Rule The Annies
    15
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: A Serious Man, Couples Retreat, and More
    10
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Oscar Nominee Gabby Sidibe Talks Precious
    20
    • One Man's Quest To Find The Worst Movie Ever
    7
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    77
    • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
    22
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    3
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    13
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    24
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    16
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • The Sorrow and the Pity at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Celebrity Yearbook Photos
    Celebrity Yearbook Photos External Link

    Check out PopEater's collection of childhood photos of celebs, from Tom Cruise to Kim Kardashian.

    Who Will Win the Oscars?
    Who Will Win the Oscars? External Link

    TIME's Richard Corliss pores over the Oscar noms for the major awards and offers his take on who will win.

    Oscar Fever = Terminal Illness?
    Oscar Fever = Terminal Illness? External Link

    For a different take, the AV Club delves into why awards season is terrible.

    Who's the Razziest?
    Who's the Razziest? External Link

    Moviefone has put together a list of the actors with the most Razzie noms ever.

    Mass Effect Movie?
    Mass Effect Movie? External Link

    Hollywood.com makes a case for a big screen adaptation of popular game Mass Effect.

    Promos
    Get the Flixster App Now!
    Get the Flixster App Now! External Link

    Download it from iTunes and get Tomatometer scores straight to your iPhone!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo
    About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
    IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
    By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2010, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! 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.