Life Is a Long Quiet River

1988 ""

Life Is a Long Quiet River

6.8 | 1h30m | en | Comedy

Two babies are switched at birth. When the mistake is discovered 12 years later, it leads to complications in the lives of both families. One family is affluent, with dutiful and (apparently) contented children. The other family is poor, with rambunctious (even delinquent) children, often hungry, but with lots of laughter in the house.

WATCH FREEFOR 30 DAYS

All Prime Video
Cancel anytime

Watch Now

6.8 | 1h30m | en | Comedy | More Info

Released: November. 11,1988 | Released Producted By: CNC , France 3 Cinéma Country: Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Cast

Benoît Magimel , Valérie Lalande , Catherine Hiegel

Director

Geoffroy Larcher

Producted By

CNC , France 3 Cinéma

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.

Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Cast

Benoît Magimel

as Momo Groseille

Pacifiction Revoir Paris Incredible But True C'était la guerre d'Algérie Peaceful Dune Dreams Lovers An Easy Girl Little White Lies 2

Valérie Lalande

as Bernadette Le Quesnoy

American Descent Life Is a Long Quiet River

Catherine Hiegel

as Josette

Violette He's My Girl Secrets of State A French Gigolo Michou d'Auber Life Is a Long Quiet River

Reviews

Seb Etienne Chatiliez is a director possessing a deft hand for comedy both cruel and subtle: think "Tatie Danielle" for the former and "Le bonheur est dans le pre" for a bit of the latter. La vie est un long fleuve tranquille is a hilarious examination of class-based comedy in the late 80s in France, with the time honoured "baby-switching" plot point to kick things off. Great performances allow a very funny film to sparkle on the screen. Highly recommended.

meitschi I was quite surprised that many commenters didn't appreciate this film at all. I think you have to understand class differences in French society and the film's kind of satire in order to be able to enjoy the film. I personally loved it though I would have expected a real 'catastrophe' at the end. But I nevertheless liked the story and the characters, especially this very ridiculous, 'perfect' bourgeois family. I loved the scene where the father looks at the crying, completely desperate mother and the only thing that comes to his mind is to tell her: "Comme vous êtes belle ce soir!" (How beautiful you are this evening!)Probably Americans are not so familiar with this kind of black, but also at times subtle humor and this is why the reactions were so bad.

krn-2 The subject of two children being switched at birth could have easily been the canvas for a melodramatic movie. Instead of that, this work presents a playfull comedy where the clichés of society classes are scrutinized. The laughs are in the details, some dialogs are just memorable. And if the ending might seem a little unsettled, it has the intelligence of leaving questions and conclusions to the spectator about wealth and happiness.

Loophole-3 This movie lacks plot and quality. Maybe I lost something my seeing it in English subtitles. The sex scene was disgusting. It made little sense to me. Sure the movie was about the class differences in France between the upper middle class and the lower class, but it was presented so poorly. I have seen good French films, and this is not one of them. The main thing this movie lacks above all else is entertainment value. It's just not there. The music at the opening is stupid. The part about the doctor and the nurse it totally dropped after a point, and then it just shifts gears and leaves you hanging. You wonder what happens. This a bad movie, don't see it.