Many parts of the literary Samuel Beckett giant's life: Parisian bon vivant, World War II Resistance fighter, Nobel Prize-winning playwright, philandering husband and recluse.Many parts of the literary Samuel Beckett giant's life: Parisian bon vivant, World War II Resistance fighter, Nobel Prize-winning playwright, philandering husband and recluse.Many parts of the literary Samuel Beckett giant's life: Parisian bon vivant, World War II Resistance fighter, Nobel Prize-winning playwright, philandering husband and recluse.
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- 1 win & 3 nominations
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Did you know
- TriviaSeveral critics pointed out that the opening scene (a highly uncomfortable Samuel Beckett receiving the Nobel Prize, then rapidly leaving the stage without speaking) is poetic license. In reality, Beckett did not attend the ceremony but asked his friend and publisher Jérôme Lindon to accept the award on his behalf. In the movie, Beckett mutters that the awarding of the prize is a "catastrophe" to his wife Suzanne, who reacts: in fact, it was Suzanne herself who made the comment.
- Quotes
Samuel Beckett (old): Do you remember, years ago, a student asked you about life? And you said "Dance first. Think later".
Featured review
This is not a good film. The themes it covers are explored in depth and well in the Cronin biography. Read that book instead.
This is not a good film because it squanders its talent, though they are all able, but the shrewish depiction of Suzanne is unfair and is a simplistic device for Beckett to seek affection elsewhere.
It is not good because the locations are obviously neither shot in Paris nor in France.. The latter may seem a quibble but the scenes of the war time in Roussillon are critical to rendering Beckett's life with Suzanne and to his development as a writer.
It is not a good film because it uses reductionism to render a stereotype of man in his relationships with women, that is not historically accurate and glosses over essential facts that would provide context: thus, the time of the Bray affair Beckett and Suzanne had lived separate lives, loyal, yes, but more as lodgers in the same apartment. The time spent on the unfortunate Lucia is wasted as it has no import but to display the relationship with Joyce, and if it was seen as important, it might have shown Beckett visit Lucia in the asylum as he did.
Where it has promise is in the duologue between the Becketts, which allow for a dramatic exposition of his inner life. Or some variant of it; ready for a streaming platform and easy consumption. These scenes were quite effective but not enough to save the overall feeling of superficial understanding and cliche: Beckett quoting an American review of Godot is ridiculous.
This is not a good film because it squanders its talent, though they are all able, but the shrewish depiction of Suzanne is unfair and is a simplistic device for Beckett to seek affection elsewhere.
It is not good because the locations are obviously neither shot in Paris nor in France.. The latter may seem a quibble but the scenes of the war time in Roussillon are critical to rendering Beckett's life with Suzanne and to his development as a writer.
It is not a good film because it uses reductionism to render a stereotype of man in his relationships with women, that is not historically accurate and glosses over essential facts that would provide context: thus, the time of the Bray affair Beckett and Suzanne had lived separate lives, loyal, yes, but more as lodgers in the same apartment. The time spent on the unfortunate Lucia is wasted as it has no import but to display the relationship with Joyce, and if it was seen as important, it might have shown Beckett visit Lucia in the asylum as he did.
Where it has promise is in the duologue between the Becketts, which allow for a dramatic exposition of his inner life. Or some variant of it; ready for a streaming platform and easy consumption. These scenes were quite effective but not enough to save the overall feeling of superficial understanding and cliche: Beckett quoting an American review of Godot is ridiculous.
- ferdinand1932
- Aug 29, 2024
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $24,914
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $13,011
- Aug 11, 2024
- Gross worldwide
- $163,151
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2:1
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