Video Review

Olivier, Olivier (1994)

MPAA Rating: R
Reviewed by Lawrence O'Toole | Mar 25, 1994
EW's GRADE
A

Details Movie Rated: R; Genres: Drama, Foreign Language; With: Gregoire Colin, Francois Cluzet, Marina Golovine and Brigitte Rouan

Olivier, Olivier, Agnieszka Holland's extraordinary French film, is a multilayered blend of mystery and intense family drama, based on an actual event: A 9-year-old boy disappears one day and shows up six years later as a teenager (Gregoire Colin) — but is it really him? His sister (Marina Golovine) is doubtful, but his now-estranged parents (Brigitte Rouan and François Cluzet) are overjoyed. Holland captures the panicked confusion of a family in crisis and explores the tangled roots of love and affection, and then leads us into an almost unbearably sad and shocking conclusion. A

Originally posted Mar 25, 1994 Published in issue #215 Mar 25, 1994 Order article reprints