Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘When the Sea Rises (Quand la Mer Mo...’?

When the Sea Rises (Quand la Mer Monte...) (2006)

tomatometer

88

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

49

liked it
Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 14,393

My Rating

Movie Info

A bittersweet and atypical love story between Irene, a comedienne in her 40s, traveling through the north of France with her one-woman show Sale Affaire (Dirty Business), and Dries, a youngish vagabond who becomes smitten with her and her show. Despite regular cell phone reminders that she has a husband and child waiting at home, Irene is nonetheless charmed by the attention of her ardent, cheerful and tender admirer.

Oct 17, 2006

New Yorker Films

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (2) | DVD (5)

When the Sea Rises remains a strangely sad love story of rare poetic power.

February 15, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An eccentric French comedy that is never quite as charming as it intends to be.

February 3, 2006 Comment
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A charming, accessible movie that spotlights Moreau's talent against a fanciful cinematic backdrop.

January 19, 2006 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | Comment
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's nice to see a love story that deals with mature people. We're not likely to get anything like it from Hollywood.

January 13, 2006 Comment
New York Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's a bountiful showcase for Moreau, whose lopsided, squinty beauty grows on you just as it grows on the drifter who eagerly volunteers from the audience each night.

January 13, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Daily News | Comment
New York Daily News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Graced with a magnetic lead performance by Yolande Moreau, this French-Belgian movie follows the road tour of a middle-aged solo comedienne through northern France.

January 12, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Magical and enchanting.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

[When the Sea Rises] treads lightly, but leaves little impression.

November 27, 2006 Full Review Source: AV Club | Comment
AV Club

An interesting and at times poignant blend of fact and fiction.

January 13, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It's a distinct and bittersweet story about how romance, however fleeting, can pop up in the most unexpected places.

January 13, 2006 Comment
Reel.com

A bittersweet, if somewhat slight, slice of thespian life and love.

January 13, 2006 Full Review Source: E! Online | Comment
E! Online

An unlikely romance, one that is impossible not to root for, despite the suggestion of menace that always remains close to the surface.

January 13, 2006 Full Review Source: About.com | Comment
About.com

A delightful romantic comedy about two lovable eccentrics who enjoy playing together.

January 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment
Spirituality and Practice

The film's intimacy is not unlike the similarly wistful romance on the road Lost in Translation or the fanciful My Summer of Love.

January 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com | Comment
Film-Forward.com

Wondrous quiet acting by all involved.

January 12, 2006 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | Comment
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

A nicely-developed tale of an unlike romance.

January 3, 2006 Full Review Source: Compuserve | Comment
Compuserve

A quirky ode to transient romance and a showbizer's life on the road.

December 17, 2005 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for When the Sea Rises (Quand la Mer Monte...)

This attempt at quirkiness works and doesn't work. The story is about a comediennes life on the road(based on the film's star Yolande Moreau's experiences as a traveling peformer in the 1980's)who becomes romantically involved with a member of her audience. The movie works when the lead is on stage doing her standup

March 31, 2011
simon m.
simon modica

LOVED it. Wonderful lead actress, a woman with talent that she has developed, a mature, accomplished woman. Their romance touches the heart. Not a movie for folks who need a lot of action or plot. For people who love to watch people, it's the best.

January 5, 2011

When the Sea Rises (Quand la Mer Monte...) Quotes

No quotes approved yet for When the Sea Rises (Quand la Mer Monte...). Logged in users can submit quotes.

Latest News for When the Sea Rises (Quand la Mer Monte...)

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 - 18,573 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,470 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,166 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,663 taken
created 15 months ago

Foreign Titles

  • Wenn die Flut kommt (DE)
  • Quand la mer monte... (FR)
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile