The Sea Wall (2009)
The film centers on a young French widow and her two adolescent children as they attempt to carve out a meager life for themselves by farming rice fields alongside the ocean in French Indo-China in the 1930s. Their efforts are hampered each year by the presence of the sea, which invariably floods the fields with saltwater and wipes out the crops. In desperation, the mother realizes that their only hope lies in the construction of a sea wall to prevent continued flooding, but the mother must cut a swath through the local bureaucracy in an almost Sisyphean attempt to make this happen. Meanwhile, her obstinate daughter, Suzanne, draws the romantic obsessions of a well-to-do Chinese gentleman, Monsieur Jo. Though he could easily provide a way out, the possibility of a romantic relationship between Jo and Suzanne could just as easily fall prey to local racial prejudices that would damage or ruin the lives of both.
Cast
- Gaspard Ulliel - Joseph
- Isabelle Huppert - Madame Dufresne, la mère
- Stéphane Rideau - Agosti
- Astrid Bergès-Frisbey - Suzanne
- Vincent Grass - Le père Bart
- Randal Douc - Monsieur Jo
- Lucy Harrison - Carmen
- Duong Vanthon - Le caporal
- Doeun Thenn Nan - M. Khing
- Chorn Solyda - Le père Sok
Screenplay
- Michel Fessler
- Rithy Panh
- Marguerite Duras (Novel)
- Agnès Sénémaud (Lyricist)
Trailer
The Sea Wall TrailerFrequently Asked Questions
- What is The Sea Wall about?
- The film centers on a young French widow and her two adolescent children as they attempt to carve out a meager life for themselves by farming rice fields alongside the ocean in French Indo-China in the 1930s. Their efforts are hampered each year by the presence of the sea, which invariably floods the fields with saltwater and wipes out the crops. In desperation, the mother realizes that their only hope lies in the construction of a sea wall to prevent continued flooding, but the mother must cut a swath through the local bureaucracy in an almost Sisyphean attempt to make this happen. Meanwhile, her obstinate daughter, Suzanne, draws the romantic obsessions of a well-to-do Chinese gentleman, Monsieur Jo. Though he could easily provide a way out, the possibility of a romantic relationship between Jo and Suzanne could just as easily fall prey to local racial prejudices that would damage or ruin the lives of both.
- Who directed The Sea Wall?
- The Sea Wall was directed by Rithy Panh.
- Who stars in The Sea Wall?
- The Sea Wall stars Gaspard Ulliel, Isabelle Huppert, Stéphane Rideau, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Vincent Grass, Randal Douc.
- How long is The Sea Wall?
- The Sea Wall has a runtime of 1h 55m (115 minutes).
- What genre is The Sea Wall?
- The Sea Wall is a Drama film.
- Where was The Sea Wall produced?
- The Sea Wall was produced in Cambodia, France, Belgium.