Denys Arcand delivers a beautiful film with THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS, the story of a man on his deathbed who is joined by his distant son and all his closest friends throughout the last--wonderful and loving--days of his life. A follow-up to 1986's THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, the same characters from that movie reappear this time around. Now Remy (Remy Girard), the horny history teacher, is hospitalized and in pain. But at the urging of his wife Louise (Dorothee Berryman), Remy's son Sebastian (Stephane Rousseau) comes to his aid. Sebastian is a banker who tosses cash around, paying hospital administrators, union workers, Remy's former students, and even a local heroin dealer, to help make his father's last days of life as comfortable as possible. Along with this financial commitment also comes love, and the relationship between this father and son is touching.

The sometimes raucous and comic mood of the film, generated by perverted stories and silly jokes, stands in striking contrast to this serious story of life, sickness, and dying. But it is that balance, which Arcand keeps so neatly in check, that makes THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS a truly great cinematic feat, as well as a thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.

Rating: R (MPAA)

Rating Reason: language, sexual dialogue, and drug content

Runtime: 99 minutes

DVD Code: Region 1 US, CA

Genre: Foreign Films

Color: Color

Rating: DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 2.35:1
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surrround - English, French
Subtitles - English - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Featurette - INSIDE THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS

Remy Girard, Stephane Rousseau, Marie-Josee Croze, Dorothee Berryman, Johanne-Marie Tremblay, Pierre Curzi, Yves Jacques, Louise Portal, Dominique Michel

Denys Arcand

Denise Robert, Daniel Louis

"...Girard and Marie-Josee Croze bring piercing insight to their portrayals..."

Movieline's Hollywood Life (11/01/2003)

"...Remy Girard gives a hilariously scrappy performance....The Oscar for best foreign film belongs right here..."

Rolling Stone (11/27/2003)

"...Generous-spirited and bracing....A rueful comic drama about attempting to make sense of one's life..."

Los Angeles Times (11/21/2003)

"...Arcand generates a mood of wistful tranquility..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/28/2003)

"[T]his is a smart piece of work."
USA Today (11/21/2003)

"[A] movie with brains, indignation, irony and idealism -- a film about people who think seriously, and express themselves with passion."
Chicago Sun-Times (12/19/2003)

"A moving, note-perfect Oscar-winner."

Uncut (09/01/2004)