Activate your BLOCKBUSTER On Demand device

Sombre (1998)

Sombre (1998)
Member Rating:  
Former video installation artist Philippe Grandieux made his feature directorial debut with this French psychological thriller that probes the mind of a serial killer. A hand-held camera follows murderer Jean (Marc Barbe) as he strangles French women while driving about France. When Claire (Elina Lowensohn) has a roadside car breakdown, she and her sister Christine (Geraldine Voillat) get a lift from the demented Jean, who later attacks Christine while she's at a lake for a swim. Back at the hotel, he menaces both sisters. Claire succeeds in extricating Christine, who leaves on a train for Paris -- while Claire makes the mistake of sticking around in order to "help" the crazed Jean. Shown in competition at the 1998 Locarno Film Festival where it provoked controversy and an official statement: "Half of the jury would like to call attention to Sombre. Our jury split between those who were morally offended by the film and those who saw a purpose in its darkness, and in the strength of its mise-en-scene and images." ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

 Read More


Starring:
Marc BarbéElina Löwensohn, (more)
Director(s):
Philippe Grandrieux
Format(s):
DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
 
 
 
 

Synopsis of Sombre

Former video installation artist Philippe Grandieux made his feature directorial debut with this French psychological thriller that probes the mind of a serial killer. A hand-held camera follows murderer Jean (Marc Barbe) as he strangles French women while driving about France. When Claire (Elina Lowensohn) has a roadside car breakdown, she and her sister Christine (Geraldine Voillat) get a lift from the demented Jean, who later attacks Christine while she's at a lake for a swim. Back at the hotel, he menaces both sisters. Claire succeeds in extricating Christine, who leaves on a train for Paris -- while Claire makes the mistake of sticking around in order to "help" the crazed Jean. Shown in competition at the 1998 Locarno Film Festival where it provoked controversy and an official statement: "Half of the jury would like to call attention to Sombre. Our jury split between those who were morally offended by the film and those who saw a purpose in its darkness, and in the strength of its mise-en-scene and images." ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
111 mins

Complete Cast of Sombre


Director(s):
Philippe Grandrieux
Writer(s):
Sophie FillièresPhilippe GrandrieuxPierre Hodgson
Producer(s):
Catherine Jacques
Categories:
Mystery & Suspense
Looking for special editions of Sombre?
See All Versions
Subtitles:
Check All Versions
Closed Captioning:
Check All Versions
 
 
 
 

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription 
NEW! 7 - Day Rental
No subscription required. Usually ships in 24 hours.
 
Buy New  $15.99
 

IN-STORE

 

What's Your Take?

Add to FavoritesIn Favorites  |  Share:     Email to a friendShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
YOUR REVIEW
WRITE A REVIEW
 
1000 
 
Member Reviews
 
Michael S.

This is the worst movie I could not see. The movie is so dark that you, literally, could not see what was happening. A total waste of time. I kep't jumping ahead to see if the flick got better. It never did.

Yes   |   No

 
Stephanie W.

Usually, if a foreign film doesn't make sense to me, I chalk it up to cultural differences. This one is different; I don't think it would make sense to anyone- unless the cultural differences include there being no police in France & getting raped is a common occurance that is treated with a level of indifference similar to being stuck in traffic. The cinemetography was awful, most scenes were so poorly lit that it was impossible to tell what was going on, and this may have contributed to making the movie even harder to understand. I just didn't get it.

Yes   |   No

 
Read All 2 Reviews