Is “Rembrandt” a Must-See? Early Reviews for the Thriller Starring Camille Cottin & Romain Duris!

“Rembrandt” is Pierre Schoeller’s fourth feature film, released this Wednesday in theaters, starring Camille Cottin and Romain Duris. His second movie, “L’Exercice de l’État” (2011), gained significant attention with multiple César nominations and an award at the ceremony. He then directed “Un peuple et son roi” in 2018 before unveiling his latest project now in theaters.

In this film, Pierre Schoeller tells the story of Claire and Yves, trained physicists who have always worked in the nuclear field. During a visit to the National Gallery, Claire is deeply moved by three paintings by Rembrandt. This encounter with these masterpieces will profoundly alter their lives.

What did the first viewers think of the film?

With 57 ratings and 13 spectator reviews on Allo Ciné, the film scores an average of 2.6 out of 5.

Original Storytelling and Stellar Performances by the Lead Actors

Themes that intertwine art and science, through a lens of symbolism, have captivated many viewers, who fully embraced the film’s universe, driven by the performances of Camille Cottin and Romain Duris.

Linda75 (5/5): “I loved the movie, it was disturbing and original. The actors are incredible, Camille Cottin portrays this woman of the present incredibly well. A must-see!!!“

Herve Smadja (5/5): “An interesting film about whistleblowers. Camille Cottin and Romain Duris play their parts perfectly well.“

Dominique M (4.5/5): “A powerful and disturbing film that moved me. It’s political, poetic, ecological, and also explores a couple’s relationship and probes a man’s love for his wife, which changes, transforms, shakes him up, and makes him lose his footing.“

Heavy Dialogues and Sometimes Muddled Narration

Several viewers note that slip-ups in the narrative and editing detract from the film, while still acknowledging the originality of the themes.

Jipéhel (3/5): “Camille Cottin is at her best and very convincing. Romain Duris, who is beginning to specialize in roles of fragile and somewhat overwhelmed men, delivers a ‘Duris’ performance… which is not bad at all. Céleste Brunquel, as always magnetic, and the brothers Denis and Bruno Podalydès, who are rarely seen on the same side of the camera, complete the top bill. But here we had an excellent scientific thriller—a rarity indeed—so why overlay it with a forced and artificial dramatic fiction? We still won’t penetrate the mind of a screenwriter today. Believe me, it’s far more complex than nuclear issues and their deviations. Frustrating!“

Valvie75 (2/5): “Very disappointed. I was bored. All these scenes where the male character tries to understand the heroine seemed long. Also, I don’t see the connection with Rembrandt. The idea of addressing the risks associated with climate change is good, but why mix it with catastrophic comments on nuclear power?“

Stef L. (2.5/5): “Confusing message. Clumsy film where nuclear risk, global warming, art, and a love story mix… In short, a rather indigestible cocktail, an incoherent narrative that leaves one uncomfortable and somewhat bored.“

Killian (1.5/5): “‘Rembrandt’ is a cinematic proposition, one that I unfortunately didn’t like, despite a promising cast and some good script ideas. But weak dialogues spoil everything.“

Clem Lepic (1/5): “It’s hard to get into this film, the connection is not clear between being dazzled by Rembrandt’s paintings at an exhibition in London and doing research in nuclear science. It drags on. Not very interesting.“

In Conclusion

Opinions on “Rembrandt” are mixed: while the originality of the narrative and the performances of Camille Cottin and Romain Duris appeal to many viewers, some criticize the heavy dialogues and sometimes confusing plot. The pacing and editing do not convince everyone, but the artistic dimension and the themes explored hold the attention.