The Gleaners and I
Seen it?2000 | 82 min | Documentary
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. 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 the curious. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 22 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Varda focuses her eye on gleaners: those who scour already-reaped fields for the odd potato or turnip. Her investigation leads from forgotten corners of the French countryside to off-hours at the green markets of Paris, following those who insist on finding a use for that which society has cast off, whether out of necessity or activism.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.7 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 36K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Agnès Varda
- Agnès VardaSelf
- Bodan LitnanskiSelf
- François WertheimerSelf