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Poster for The Innocent

The Innocent

Seen it?

2022 | 99 min | Comedy, Crime, Romance

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. 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 crime fans, romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved His Girl Friday or The Thin Man, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Light and funny, romantic.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 39 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Sylvie, a nearly sixty-year-old woman, has fallen in love with Michel, a thug she marries in prison. The couple dream of starting again with a clean slate by opening a flower shop. But Sylvie’s son Abel, convinced that Michel will fall into a life of crime, disapproves of this relationship.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.7 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    4 wins and 12 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $5 million worldwide on a $4 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 22K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Louis Garrel

  • Louis GarrelAbel Lefranc
  • Roschdy ZemMichel Ferrand
  • Noémie MerlantClémence Genièvre
  • Anouk GrinbergSylvie Lefranc
  • Jean-Claude PautotJean-Paul
  • Yanisse KebbabCaviar truck driver
  • Léa WiazemskySylvie's witness
  • Manda TouréWoman at the aquarium
  • Olga AmelchenkoMaud
  • Romain BlachierChosen one at the first marriage