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Distant Voices, Still Lives

1988·Movie
1h 24min·PG-13

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Distant Voices, Still Lives fingerprint

Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Violence6
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Family Dynamics10
  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor3
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Situational Comedy1

World

Family, history, and the mind

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • World Immersion7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

In memory, everything happens to music.

Siblings Maisie and Tony, along with their mother, gather for their sister Eileen's wedding. It is a joyous occasion, but through flashbacks, it becomes clear that the family was not always happy. Their father was physically abusive to his wife and left the children emotionally traumatized. As a result, the children have grown into unhappy adults, looking for love they didn't receive when they were young.
AbuseFamily TraumaWorking ClassDomestic DramaBleakBritish CinemaFlashback NarrativeMelancholyHistorical

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Distant Voices, Still Lives

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Distant Voices, Still Lives legally?

You can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Distant Voices, Still Lives worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 80%, and Metacritic 86). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Distant Voices, Still Lives rated?

PG-13Violence

It's rated PG-13 in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is Distant Voices, Still Lives?

1 h 24 min

Distant Voices, Still Lives runs 1 h 24 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Distant Voices, Still Lives?

Critics83
Audiences76

Yes. Critics average 83 and audiences 76 out of 100, so both groups see Distant Voices, Still Lives much the same way.

What language is Distant Voices, Still Lives in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom, Germany.

In how many countries can I watch Distant Voices, Still Lives?

13BRCADKESFIGBGGIEJPNONZSEUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Distant Voices, Still Lives in 13 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Distant Voices, Still Lives use?

Abusive ParentsGray Rain of DepressionAwful Wedded LifeParental FavoritismWhat You Are in the DarkAs You KnowParting-Words RegretStarts with Their FuneralOff-into-the-Distance EndingPlucky Comic ReliefComing of Age StoryTwo-Act Structureand 13 more

TV Tropes lists 25 storytelling tropes for Distant Voices, Still Lives, including Abusive Parents, Gray Rain of Depression, Awful Wedded Life.