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The Sea Wall

2009·Movie
1h 55min

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

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

The Sea Wall fingerprint

Strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Spectacle5
  • Adrenaline4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Pathos9
  • Melancholy8
  • Family Dynamics8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Dark Humor3

World

History, class and money, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition7
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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You 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

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.
French Colonial DramaIndochina 1930sFamily StruggleClass ConflictPolitical CorruptionMelancholy AtmosphereRomantic ObsessionHistorical FictionSocial Commentary

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about The Sea Wall

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Sea Wall legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for The Sea Wall in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is The Sea Wall worth watching?

57
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 57/100 (IMDb 6.1). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

How long is The Sea Wall?

1 h 55 min

The Sea Wall runs 1 h 55 min.

What language is The Sea Wall in?

French

It was made in French. Produced in Cambodia, France, Belgium.

In how many countries can I watch The Sea Wall?

10ATBECHFRGBGGIEITSMVA

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Sea Wall in 10 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.