Cold Water (1994)

Name: Cold Water (1994)
Genre: Drama
Released: April 27, 2018
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Cyprien Fouquet, Dominique Faysse, Ilona Györi, Jackie Berroyer, Jean-Christophe Bouvet

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 6 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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7.0

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Janus Films | Release Date: April 27, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Cyprien Fouquet, Dominique Faysse, Ilona Györi, Jackie Berroyer, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, László Szabó, Renée Amzallag, Smaïl Mekki, Virginie Ledoyen

Summary: Drawing from his own youthful experiences, Olivier Assayas revisits the outskirts of Paris in the early 1970s, telling the story of teenage lovers Gilles (Cyprien Fouquet) and Christine (Virginie Ledoyen), whose open rebellion against family and society threatens to tear them apart, as Christine is sent to an institution by her parents andDrawing from his own youthful experiences, Olivier Assayas revisits the outskirts of Paris in the early 1970s, telling the story of teenage lovers Gilles (Cyprien Fouquet) and Christine (Virginie Ledoyen), whose open rebellion against family and society threatens to tear them apart, as Christine is sent to an institution by her parents and Gilles faces an uncertain future after running into trouble at school. With a rock soundtrack that vividly evokes the period, and provides the backdrop for one of the most memorable party sequences ever committed to film, Cold Water is a heartbreaking immersion into the emotional tumult of adolescence. [Janus Films]… Expand

Director: Olivier Assayas

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 92 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

David Edelstein

Apr 27, 2018

Cold Water has the kind of emotional purity that puts it in a class by itself. Its blue fog envelops you. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Apr 26, 2018

Mr. Assayas succeeded in making a young person’s film when he was on the cusp of turning 40. He has said that he wanted Cold Water to feel like a movie from 1972. It doesn’t really, but, perhaps more remarkably, it’s so fresh it could have been made now. Read full review

Justin Chang

May 17, 2018

Drawn from the director's personal memories of post-1968 excitement and disillusionment, the drama moves from surging emotional highs to melancholy lows, but it also pulses with a vibrant, moody energy that a 24-year delay from American screens has done nothing to diminish. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Jun 14, 2018

As Assayas himself has pointed out, the passing years have magically transformed a movie made in 1994 into a seeming product of post-1968 cultural turbulence and unresolved matters of the heart. It feels honest, in other words. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Apr 26, 2018

Mr. Assayas's screenplay is loose and uneventful, but his direction has more energy. Read full review

Christopher Machell

Oct 11, 2018

Equal parts arthouse cinema and coming-of-age drama, the influence of his tribute to teen rebellion remains deeply felt. Read full review

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Mixed:

User Reviews

StevieGJD

May 25, 2018

While I don't think this is the 91 that it is adorned with here on metacritic, I very much enjoyed Cold Water. The performances by the two main actors are terrific. There are a number of really excellent scenes that feel very real and genuine. The film is an amazingly honest portrayal ofWhile I don't think this is the 91 that it is adorned with here on metacritic, I very much enjoyed Cold Water. The performances by the two main actors are terrific. There are a number of really excellent scenes that feel very real and genuine. The film is an amazingly honest portrayal of teenage angst, rebellion and ignorant imortality. The end is unfortunately predictable. There is one plot line that is built up to a point, but there is never a payoff to it. I kept wondering what happened to that plot line, even at the main story's tragic end. The music, the licensing of which delayed the film's release for more than 20 years, is absolutely great and is reminiscent of the early 70s the film is supposed to take place in (even though there is a scene in a location that could not have existed in the early 70s). I thoroughly enjoyed the film, warts and all.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Jun 8, 2018

An early film from a much-praised director that has not been available in the U.S. until now -- and, after seeing it, I can see why. This meandering, pretentious exploration into the lives of lost youth in 1972 France tries the viewer's patience and ultimately ends up pointless andAn early film from a much-praised director that has not been available in the U.S. until now -- and, after seeing it, I can see why. This meandering, pretentious exploration into the lives of lost youth in 1972 France tries the viewer's patience and ultimately ends up pointless and unsatisfying, much like many of the director's later and more celebrated works. Despite an appealing soundtrack and some inventive camera work, this largely directionless offering is otherwise little more than a strung-together series of incidents intercut with a number of music video-style montages. Yet another in a series of inconsequential, highly overrated films from a vastly overhyped director.… Expand

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