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Poster for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Seen it?

1964 | 93 min | Drama, Romance

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), it drew serious awards attention, it made about 38 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.

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

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved Dreamgirls, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 33 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1964: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 1 Cannes award: Palme d'Or. Also nominated for 4 Oscars. Plus 1 other award.

  • Box office & staying powerStrong

    $8 million worldwide on a $200K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 172K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jacques Demy

  • Catherine DeneuveGeneviève Emery
  • Nino CastelnuovoGuy Foucher
  • Anne VernonMadame Emery
  • Mireille PerreyTante Élise
  • Marc MichelRoland Cassard
  • Ellen FarnerMadeleine
  • Jean ChampionAubin
  • Jean-Pierre DoratJean
  • Harald WolffMonsieur Dubourg
  • Pierre CadenBernard