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    A Family for 1640 Days

    Total score 
    8.1

    Rated by 8 users. Scroll down to read reviews.

    Average ratings

    Age   1-12 13-17 18-25 26-35 36-49 50+ Total
    Men  
    votes  
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    0
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    0
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    0
    8
    1
    -
    0
    8.3
    3
    8.2
    4
    Women  
    votes  
    -
    0
    -
    0
    -
    0
    -
    0
    -
    0
    8
    4
    8
    4
    Total  
    votes  
    -
    0
    -
    0
    -
    0
    8
    1
    -
    0
    8.1
    7
    8.1
    8

    Distribution of reviews

    Number of reviews per rating.

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    1
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    4
    3
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    Did you see ''A Family for 1640 Days''?

    How do you rate this movie?

    Select stars from 1 to 10.
    10 - A masterpiece, go, see it now
    9 - Excellent movie, a must see
    8 - Great movie, don't miss it
    7 - Good movie, worth seeing
    6 - Not bad, could be much better
    5 - So so, okay if you don't pay
    4 - Not good, even if you don't pay
    3 - Poor movie, not recommended
    2 - Very bad, forget about it
    1 - Worst ever, avoid at all costs

    Share your thoughts about this movie...

    User reviews

    This is a deeply emotional movie that highlights the tragic reality of foster children being sent back to their parents no matter what. Mélanie Thierry delivers an incredibly authentic performance, as she so often does.

    8
    msp1968@  10.1.2023 age: 50+ 863 reviews

    I didn't really enjoy this movie; the topic could have been dealt with better. The director focused too much on the mother's emotions, with scenes frequently lingering on her teary face. This clumsiness, among other things, irritated me rather than moving me. Fortunately, the ending aligned more with my perspective. : )

    6
    pauline@  13.9.2022 age: 50+ 11 reviews

    A movie that radiates authenticity and benevolence!
    Such a spot-on performance by Mélanie Thierry and the young boy Félix.
    A star is born!
    The two of them absolutely steal the show.
    Bravo! So talented.

    9
    jacques@  1.9.2022 age: 50+ 16 reviews

    This movie is both moving and true to life. It's heartbreaking to see a loving foster family have to return the child to their biological family. Mélanie Thierry does a great job showing the emotional complexity of a woman torn between her feelings. The young actor playing Gabriel gives an outstanding performance. Definitely a film worth watching.

    9
    suzanne@  31.8.2022 age: 50+ 61 reviews

    This is a touching film that sensitively portrays the bond between a foster family and a young boy they take in from the age of 18 months. The performances by the mother (Mélanie Thierry) and the little boy (Gabriel Pavie) are outstanding, really capturing the deep connection they share. It's a heartwarming look at a loving foster family that is definitely worth watching.

    9
    celfort@  30.8.2022 age: 50+ 73 reviews

    This simple yet moving story is both touching and unsettling. It brings to light the dilemma of a heart-wrenching human situation without taking sides. The performances of the main characters are worth watching, particularly Mélanie Thierry as the mother and young Gabriel Pavie as the little boy.

    8
    rstamour58@  30.8.2022 age: 50+ 111 reviews

    The premise of "A Family for 1640 Days" is the kind that could have been used to illustrate or pad out a debate on foster families in a pre-program on a major channel during a themed evening. This was the type of film program that offered a movie or a TV film depicting fictional situations related to the evening's debate topic. Fortunately, this feature film is much more than that, completely avoiding the typical TV movie pitfalls thanks to many aspects, including the cinematic staging. From the introductory sequence at a summer camp, we are immersed (literally and figuratively) in family scenes full of naturalness and complicity between the adult and child actors. So much so that we are totally convinced we are watching a real family. This authenticity is reinforced throughout the film, providing the realism needed to connect with the characters and be moved by their story, as it should. But what sets this work apart is the way director Fabien Gorgeart films not only the key sequences but all the others as well. His camera is aerial, twirling, using long takes that closely follow each protagonist, avoiding static shots or lazy shot/reverse shot setups. The fluid editing and modern, aesthetic photography further distance "A Family for 1640 Days" from the TV movie aspects it could have fallen into. Such dynamic camerawork and carefully adapted staging in a family drama like this has not been seen in a long time, perhaps reminiscent of the sublime "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life" by Rémi Bezançon.

    The subject itself is handled perfectly, which is refreshing given its usual scarcity in cinema. The question is simple: how to deal with welcoming a child who is not your own and having to return them to their biological family once they are able to take them back? The notions of rights, attachment, and inheritance are brought into play. While "A Family for 1640 Days" focuses on almost all the characters, it is the mother played by Mélanie Thierry who rightly receives the most attention. She fully embraces her role (likely positioning her for a César nomination) and radiates intensely. The inevitably heartbreaking final sequence drives home the point of her talent and her strong, intense, and authentic performance. The child actors are equally impeccable, which is essential given the importance of their roles. Without exaggeration, simplicity, or modesty, the film perfectly portrays the difficult separation between a foster family and a child. Although less focused on this aspect, it also touches on the probable difficulty of a child adapting to their new family, even if it is their own. The final images bring a positive note of hope after the emotional farewells. In the end, we finish this very beautiful film with a tear in our eye and the impression of having seen a work that is both social and dramatic, endowed with a cinematic scope at every moment and invested performers. It is a touching, strong, and powerful work, yet also full of humility.

    8
    jorik.remy@  30.8.2022 age: 26-35 1,354 reviews

    The movie centers around a foster family and the family bonds that develop. It's heartbreaking to see what innocent children go through in these situations. The acting is excellent and the story is touching. There are also plenty of playful and fun moments in this lovely, very welcoming family.

    8
    aroame@  29.8.2022 age: 50+ 350 reviews



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