London River (2009)
Genre: Drama / Mystery
Duration: 87 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom / France / Algeria
Directed by: Rachid Bouchareb
Stars: Brenda Blethyn, Sotigui Kouyaté and Roschdy Zem
IMDb score:
6,9 (3.948)
Releasedate: 9 February 2009
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
London River plot
Ousmane, a 60-year-old Muslim from France, and Mrs. Sommers, a 55-year-old Englishwoman, who do not know each other, travel from their respective residences to London. This was in response to the bomb attacks on public transport in that city that had just taken place at that time (2005). Their children are missing after these attacks.
Actors and actresses
Elisabeth
Ousmane
Imam
Le Boucher
Inspecteur anglais
Ouvrier Forestier
Edward
Pasteur
Guide Chapelle
Inspecteur anglais
Reviews & comments
Sol1
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- 585 messages
- 261 votes
Despite the heavy subject matter, pure drama in which the better acting clearly comes from Sotigue Kouyaté in his role of Ousmane.
Unfortunately, he passed away in 2010, quite shortly after the release of this film.
Brenda Blethyn does have the disadvantage that she has to play the role of someone, Elisabeth Sommers, who initially lingers in her prejudices and only slowly grows out of it. In this story she allows herself to be determined too strongly by her emotions.
It is clear that the French director Rachid Bouchareb deliberately opted for a striking difference in length between the two main characters. This underlines once again that Ousmane's thoughts (also) exceed those of Elisabeth.
Matching music, by the French composer Armand Amar and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, completes this film into a good whole.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Movsin
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- 8286 messages
- 8441 votes
Very beautiful film that perfectly reflects the doubts, despair and suffering of people whose loved one may have been the victim of an act of terror.
A touching quest of two people of completely different cultures but who experience the same tragedy.
Moving and masterfully portrayed in all its simplicity with two wonderful actors.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
A poignant story of two parents looking for their missing children, where it is clear from moment one that they "were in the wrong place at the wrong time". The search for and especially the emotional insecurity and (des) hope is strongly palpable and was well portrayed. Just thought it was a bit bizarre that the government/police/terror cell offered so little information or help to (possible) victims. People don't just disappear and in combination with a terrorist attack, a bell should have rung a little faster.
Also nice about the film is the openness that the film shows without passing judgment. No communities, religions or persons of foreign origin are targeted. On the contrary. Mrs. Sommers' daughter lived in a multicultural suburb and she was initially surprised by this, but her contacts were very positive. The role of Ousmane also fits in with this trend and the suspicion towards him was not based on his origin.
At times a very successful film, but all in all not such an easy theme to fill 100 minutes with in the sense that you know what happened. There is no question of tension and then the focus has to be placed elsewhere: on the sadness, processing, ... And that was just a little too little in my opinion. The uncertainty before the confirmation was then thoroughly explored again.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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