critics consensus

This tale of culture clash is by turns downbeat and hilarious. Read critic reviews

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Fear and Trembling Photos

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Movie Info

After spending part of her childhood in Japan, Amelie (Sylvie Testud) goes back after graduating from college to work as an interpreter at a corporation. The male executives treat her poorly, but she has a good relationship with Fubuki (Kaori Tsuji), her immediate supervisor. Unfortunately, Amelie sets herself up for a fall when she shows that despite being from Europe, she is adept at the Japanese language. Viewed as lacking in proper humility, her co-workers conspire to put her in her place.

Genre:

comedy
Original Language:

French (Canada)
Director:

Alain Corneau
Producer:

Alain Sarde
Writer:

Alain Corneau
Release Date (Streaming):

Feb 19, 2015
Runtime:

1h 47m

Cast & Crew

Sylvie Testud
Amélie

Kaori Tsuji
Fubuki

Taro Suwa
Monsieur Saito

Bison Katayama
Monsieur Omochi

Yasunari Kondo
Monsieur Tenshi

Sokyu Fujita
Monsieur Haneda

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Fear and Trembling

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (32) | Rotten (3)

The best office comedy since Office Space.

August 5, 2005 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
One of the screen's most cuttingly funny looks at office life.

June 24, 2005 | Rating: 3/4

Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
... 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.

June 24, 2005 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
The film is more ambiguous about its characters' desire than it needs to be.

May 20, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
The delicacy of the film comes from the fine performances, particularly Kaori Tsuji as Fubuki.

April 1, 2005

Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger
Astutely directed by Alain Corneau.

March 18, 2005 | Rating: 4/5

Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Quote not available.

January 20, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
A clean S&M flick which only devotees of mental cruelty are likely to find satisfying. Office Space, Japanese Style!

August 1, 2007 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

Kam Williams
Sly Fox
a bravura performance in a memorable film.

December 14, 2005 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Don Willmott
Filmcritic.com
A mindboggling view into the heart of Japan

July 30, 2005

Janos Gereben
culturevulture.net
A shrewd but spiky satire about corporate bureaucracy and Japanese social stratification.

June 3, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4

Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune
Cool, incisive, funny but also strangely melancholy...connoisseurs of cinematic elegance should find it a brilliant jewel.

May 21, 2005 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

View All Critic Reviews (35)

Audience Reviews for Fear and Trembling

Dec 28, 2007

A funny if unoriginal look at cultural divides. Sometimes the morals are hammered home too blatantly but overall a warm feeling of genuine likeability eminates from the film. Brilliant performances and some wonderfully scripted scenes make this a fine film, even if the containment within the office place hinders the film in terms of characterisation.

Luke B Super Reviewer