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A Secret

Play trailer Poster for A Secret 2008 1h 45m Drama History War Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When French teen Francois (Mathieu Amalric) learns a confusing family secret from his aunt (Julie Depardieu), he sets out to discover his true history. Francois struggles to understand his identity in light of the realization that, in the face of German occupation of Paris, his father, Maxime (Patrick Bruel), made the difficult decision to erase his Jewish heritage and transform the family into the Grimberts -- faux-Catholics who would have a better chance of surviving the Holocaust.

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A Secret

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Critics Consensus

A Secret is poignant, sad, and beautifully crafted, featuring fine performances that stave off a drift toward soap opera territory.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan F. Richards Film.com 03/06/2009
The title of this movie suggests the difficulty in writing about it. You can't reveal a secret without spoiling it, and in this intriguing, complex family drama spread out over several time frames covering half a century, the secrets keep on coming Go to Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe 12/19/2008
2/4
A structural mess that turns contrived just when it should be hitting home. Go to Full Review Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 10/24/2008
4/4
A Secret is a showcase for great acting. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia 08/06/2021
5/10
An anodyne and predictable drama about the tragedy of the holocaust. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review James Vance Tulsa World 02/06/2018
2.5/4
It's such a handsomely mounted and well-acted piece that few serious cinema-goers are likely to mind the circuitous path it takes in getting there. Go to Full Review Keith Cohen Entertainment Spectrum 04/04/2009
3.5/4
It is a deeply moving and heartfelt story that makes an indelible impression on the viewers' hearts and minds. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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01/29/2017 Beautiful, moving and absorbing film See more 11/07/2016 Le film a été très puissant. J'ai apprécié la distribution polyvalent. Mon grand-père a vécu en France, et il a dû s'échapper pendant la Deuxieme Guerre mondiale. Alors, ce film a été très important pour moi. J'ai pleuré quand François a été regarder les images de l'Holocaust. Bien que j'avais une connexion avec l'histoire dans le film, j'ai pensais le montage était incompatible. Francois's frére imaginaire n'est apparue qu'une petite quantité de temps. Je n'ai pensais pas qu'il était nécessaire. Les transitions ont été mouillé. Mais, j'adore l'interprètes. Le premier rôle féminin était élégant et talentueux. L'éclairage du le film fait ses semblent très. Cecile De France et Ludivine Sagnier ont fait un merveilleux travail. Elles ont apportées le complexité dans le film. See more 08/25/2013 UN SECRET, then, is a stunning work that explains many aspects of the varying responses of Jews to that horrid period of history designed by Hitler. It is a deeply satisfying and profoundly moving film. Highly recommended. See more flixster f 05/21/2013 Nothing extraordinary or a secret that most can't see coming, yet I liked it. Maybe because besides being based on real events, the execution too was good enough & that it's not just a Holocaust/war movie. See more 05/19/2013 A deliberately paced story of a Jewish family in France affected by WWII. It's not a typical Holocaust story, and in fact it's hard to believe it's based on a real-life story. See more 09/09/2012 Excellent movie, but knowing the outcome hampered my enjoyment of the movie, though only a little bit since it is a very different kind of movie. Definitively not commercial so it was better! See more Read all reviews
A Secret

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Cast & Crew

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Claude Miller

Director

Cécile de France

Tania

Patrick Bruel

Maxime

Ludivine Sagnier

Hannah

Julie Depardieu

Louise

Mathieu Amalric

Francois

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A Secret

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Movie Info

Synopsis When French teen Francois (Mathieu Amalric) learns a confusing family secret from his aunt (Julie Depardieu), he sets out to discover his true history. Francois struggles to understand his identity in light of the realization that, in the face of German occupation of Paris, his father, Maxime (Patrick Bruel), made the difficult decision to erase his Jewish heritage and transform the family into the Grimberts -- faux-Catholics who would have a better chance of surviving the Holocaust.
Director
Claude Miller
Producer
Yves Marmion
Screenwriter
Claude Miller, Natalie Carter
Distributor
Strand Releasing
Production Co
UGC YM, Integral Film
Genre
Drama, History, War
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$623.4K
Runtime
1h 45m
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