The Barbarian Invasions | Rotten Tomatoes

Thomas S A movie that leaves a deep impression. Hard to categorize : it's a comedy about death, life and what you do with your time on this earth. Way up there Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/29/25 Full Review dave s Remy (Remy Girard) finds himself alone in the world after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. With the assistance of his ex-wife, he is able to reconnect with his son in an effort to establish some sort of meaningful relationship in the days before he dies. While director Denys Arcand's film could be accused of having too many talking heads, it provides some fascinating ruminations on politics, faith, history, mortality and the meaning of life. As friends and family gather around him in his final days, the film is touching without being maudlin, an insightful examination of how we live our lives and what ultimately is of value in the face of death. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review William L A considerable improvement on its original iteration from the better part of two decades prior, The Barbarian Invasion feels more weighty and sincere than The Death of the American Empire as it contemplates death and life together, dealing in tragedy, love, friendship, and dismay in equal measure. There is a genuine sense of unpredictability in the story, with Rousseau's Sébastien unexpectedly hatching a scheme to source heroin by asking police officers, and then an unusual detour into the commercial value of art salvaged from churches as a discussion on the collapse of Catholicism in Quebec. There is a clear utility of the unique aspects of the film's setting, as well, with pointed criticisms of domestic healthcare featuring prominently alongside the views deep in a lakefront paradise. While the film does a good job building up a barbed but sincere sense of love among friends and family, there is still a weight pulling it down - the presentation of our returning cast of characters as the enlightened literati, lamenting the downfall of intelligence in society with their chummy, synchronized quotes and self-reflection. Seeing the full experience come to a conclusion is actually made all the better by the prior film's sense of superficiality, but it's still hard to relate to this group of highly promiscuous, wine-swirling former radicals. Perhaps it's simply a generation gap, and I'll appreciate the subtleties more with age. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/26/21 Full Review Audience Member Clearly, it is a moving and witty work but I think there is something missing, in order for it to be considered a masterpiece. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Very good movie. Emotional and smart at the same time. Memorable characters all around. Some of the dialogue was a bit too random/misplaced though. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Armed with a cynical sense of humor and post-9/11 perspective on life, "The Barbarian Invasions" will leave you feeling richer for the experience. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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