Olivier Olivier 1992

Olivier Olivier 1992
R | 1h 50min | Drama | 28 October 1992 (France)

Storyline

A nine-year-old boy disappears without a trace. Six years later, he reappears in Paris but there are doubts about his real identity.

User review:

“… Holland is ‘one of the great film makers in telling a story, unlike so many Europeans who emphasize character. The American public takes to a film where a story is told well'” (Film Quarterly: Vol.52, No.2, Winter 1998-9, pg3).

This comment, made by Orion’s Michael Barker, is not far off the mark–at least with respect to Holland’s film: “Olivier, Olivier” (1992). Despite the plot’s non-fictional premise–the idea for the film, in fact, is based on a French newspaper item from the early 1980s–Agniezca Holland’s ability in fully capturing the truly bizarre nature of this story leaves viewers wondering if she, in making the film, could actually have been working from real-life experiences. Holland lays the storyline out in a traditional, chronological manner but makes sure to jump ahead several years at a time, where necessary, to retain her audience’s attention. I am American and I did ‘take to’ this film. In this sense, Michael Barker is absolutely correct. However, I imagine anyone would enjoy a story as well told as Holland tells this one.

Highly recommended.

Director: Agnieszka Holland
Writers: Agnieszka Holland, Agnieszka Holland (adaptation)
Stars: Brigitte Roüan, François Cluzet, Jean-François Stévenin
Country: France
Language: French
Release Date: 3 March 1993 (USA)
Also Known As: Olivier, Olivier
Filming Locations: Vendée, France