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London River is a showcase of dynamite acting that more than overcomes its politically blunt story.
All Critics (33) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (3) | DVD (1)
The film is a matter of Brenda Blethyn's performance vs. Sotigui Kouyate's presence. Feb 16, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
The film is a matter of Brenda Blethyn's performance vs. Sotigui Kouyate's presence.
Roger Ebert
It would be nice to say that Bouchareb, who also wrote and directed "Days of Glory" and "Outside the Law," succeeds. He does not entirely. But he doesn't fail, either. Jan 12, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
It would be nice to say that Bouchareb, who also wrote and directed "Days of Glory" and "Outside the Law," succeeds. He does not entirely. But he doesn't fail, either.
Bill Goodykoontz
Blethyn and Kouyaté inhabit and expand the film's earnestly instructive intentions, leaving us with a deeply-felt experience rather than a naively-sketched lesson. Dec 8, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Blethyn and Kouyaté inhabit and expand the film's earnestly instructive intentions, leaving us with a deeply-felt experience rather than a naively-sketched lesson.
Elizabeth Weitzman
"London River'' features on-target acting by its two leads, but they receive scant support from the wobbly plot. Dec 8, 2011 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
"London River'' features on-target acting by its two leads, but they receive scant support from the wobbly plot.
V.A. Musetto
Demonstrates how great acting can infuse a banal, politically correct drama with dollops of emotional truth. Dec 6, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Demonstrates how great acting can infuse a banal, politically correct drama with dollops of emotional truth.
Stephen Holden
There's such a graceful sense of restraint in how this real-life tragedy is treated, one that filters any potential for ripped-from-yesterday's-headlines sensationalism through a respectful requiem of loss and grief. Dec 6, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
There's such a graceful sense of restraint in how this real-life tragedy is treated, one that filters any potential for ripped-from-yesterday's-headlines sensationalism through a respectful requiem of loss and grief.
David Fear
It's astonishingly moving, in its quiet, harrowing, weary way, although you may rightly ask: if it's so painful, why would I want to sit though it? Because, my dears, that is life. Aug 30, 2018 | Full Review…
It's astonishingly moving, in its quiet, harrowing, weary way, although you may rightly ask: if it's so painful, why would I want to sit though it? Because, my dears, that is life.
Deborah Ross
[Brenda] Blethyn as the beleaguered Elizabeth, who is both transforming and transformative. Sep 18, 2017 | Full Review…
[Brenda] Blethyn as the beleaguered Elizabeth, who is both transforming and transformative.
Neely Swanson
Though the arc of the story is fairly predictable, Brenda Blethyn and Sotigui Kouyate bring humanity to their roles. Mar 7, 2012 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…
Though the arc of the story is fairly predictable, Brenda Blethyn and Sotigui Kouyate bring humanity to their roles.
Mark R. Leeper
There isn't a whole lot of nuance in writer-director Rachid Bouchareb's unapologetically political story. But Blethyn's performance ultimately draws viewers in. Jan 23, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
There isn't a whole lot of nuance in writer-director Rachid Bouchareb's unapologetically political story. But Blethyn's performance ultimately draws viewers in.
Mike Scott
Powerful. Director Rachid Bouchareb draws excellent, haunting performances from Blethyn and Kouyate. Ultimately moving and cautionary, "London River" shouldn't be missed. Dec 16, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
Powerful. Director Rachid Bouchareb draws excellent, haunting performances from Blethyn and Kouyate. Ultimately moving and cautionary, "London River" shouldn't be missed.
Fr. Chris Carpenter
Not surprisingly, the choice of the actress who played lead female character in Mike Leigh's "Secrets and Lies" betrays an affinity for Leigh in more than just the casting--and there's nothing wrong with that. Dec 9, 2011 | Full Review…
Not surprisingly, the choice of the actress who played lead female character in Mike Leigh's "Secrets and Lies" betrays an affinity for Leigh in more than just the casting--and there's nothing wrong with that.
Louis Proyect
On July 7, 2005, Elisabeth(Brenda Blethyn) is watching the news when reports start to come in of the terrorist bombings in London and tries calling her daughter there. After a couple of days and no response, she leaves her home in Guernsey and travels to London. When her daughter is not in at her apartment, her landlord(Roschdy Zem) kindly lets Elisabeth in to wait for her. Meanwhile, Ousmane(Sotigui Kouyate) has arrived from France to look for his son who he has not seen since he was six and asks a local imam(Sami Bouajila) for help. "London River" is a poignant, evocative and devastating movie that shows that sometimes simple is the best way to go, headlined as it is by a couple of superb performances. The movie also works well in bringing a huge tragedy down to a deeply personal level. And making it more interesting is the subject of Elisabeth's ignorance of not only her daughter's life in London but also of multicultural London in general, far away from her isolated farm, just as Ousmane also has little idea of what his son is like now grown up. But like any parent, Elisabeth and Ousmane worry about their children, even now that they are adults.
Super Reviewer
Very touching film. Well made. I have always thought that Brenda Blethyn was an exceptional actress...I still think so. She carried most of the movie herself, and she did it very well.
A beautiful story of two souls whose loved ones are overtaken by grander tragic events and how they find a connection that goes beyond language, prejudice, culture and life background.
London River the story about a mother whose daughter went missing after the London attacks in 2005. The movie followed her efforts to find out what happened to her and her struggle to accept reality. She met an old man who same as her were looking for his son. The story started very talkative in the beginning but then it turned into a heart breaking story as you felt sorry for these parents what they went through.She was a British, living on the island Guernsey, widow, and he was black, came from Africa, a Muslim and worked in France. Everything separated them,religion, language, race and appearance. But they team up together because of fate of their children, and they went together through the painful stages of fear, hope, and desperation.
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