Denys Arcand

The Decline of the American Empire (Denys Arcand, 1986) aka Le declin de l'empire américaine; Dominique Michel, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal

Sexual revelations emerge when a group of academics and their partners spend a weekend at a country retreat.

I should say that I watched The Decline of the American Empire unfortunately after The Barbarian Invasions (2003), as it is something of a sequel to the earlier film. I find the later film deeply moving, so making the earlier seem more superficial and trivial.

Update. I watched this again. It's like a play unsuccessfully translated to the screen: there's nothing whatsoever natural or plausible about it - just a cast of characters talking endlessly about sex. Apparently Stratton David thinks it's on a par with sliced bread. I think it's more like porridge. And I don't like porridge.

The Barbarian Invasions (Denys Arcand, 2003) aka Les invasions barbares; Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rousseau, Marie-Josée Croze

During his final days, a dying man is reunited with old friends, former lovers, his ex-wife, and his estranged son.

We should all be grateful to Denys Arcand. We all needed this film. Especially me. David Stratton particularly likes it.

Features by Arcand

2018 The Fall of the American Empire
2014 An Eye for Beauty
2007 Days of Darkness
2003 The Barbarian Invasions
2000 Stardom
1996 Joyeux Calvaire
1993 Love & Human Remains
1989 Jesus of Montreal
1986 The Decline of the American Empire
1975 Gina
1973 Réjeanne Padovani
1972 La maudite galette
1962 Alone or with Others

Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 20 March, 2017 | Now: 29 April, 2020