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Poster for La Belle Noiseuse

La Belle Noiseuse

Seen it?

1991 | 238 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Unhurried and epic, at 3 hr 58 min.
What might put you off
  • It's long: 3 hr 58 min.
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

The former famous painter Frenhofer lives quietly with his wife on a countryside residence in the French Provence. When the young artist Nicolas visits him with his girlfriend Marianne, Frenhofer decides to start again the work on a painting he long ago stopped: La Belle Noiseuse. And he wants Marianne as model.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.3 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix.

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 50K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jacques Rivette

  • Michel PiccoliEdouard Frenhofer
  • Emmanuelle BéartMarianne
  • Jane BirkinLiz
  • Marianne DenicourtJulienne
  • David BurszteinNicolas
  • Gilles ArbonaPorbus
  • Marie BellucMagali
  • Marie-Claude RogerFrançoise
  • Leïla RemiliLa servante
  • Daphne GoodfellowUne touriste