The Best Years of a Life
Seen it?2019 | 90 min | Drama, Romance, Comedy
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no 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 romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 30 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
They knew each other long ago: a man and a woman whose dazzling and unexpected romance captured in the now-iconic film revolutionized our understanding of love. Today, the former race car driver seems lost in the pathways of his memory. In order to help him, his son seeks out the woman his father wasn’t able to cherish but whom he constantly revisits in his thoughts and dreams. Anne reunites with Jean-Louis and their story picks up where they left it…
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
80% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$2 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 11K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Claude Lelouch
- Anouk AiméeAnne Gauthier
- Jean-Louis TrintignantJean-Louis Duroc
- Antoine SireAntoine Duroc, le fils de Jean-Louis
- Marianne DenicourtLa responsable de la maison de retraite
- Souad AmidouFrançoise Gauthier, la fille d'Anne
- Monica BellucciElena Duroc, la fille de Jean-Louis
- Tess LauvergneTess
- Laurent PrudhommeGendarme
- Jean-Yves CressenvilleGendarme
- Bernard WarnasGendarme