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Cold Water

1994·Movie
1h 35min·NR
81
GreatGoodWatch score

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Big heart, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension5
  • Adrenaline3
  • Fast Pace3

Heart

Profoundly sad and moving

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Melancholy9
  • Coming of Age9
  • Pathos8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Cringe Humor2
  • Physical Comedy1

World

Growing up, history, and everyday modern life

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • 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 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

An outer suburb of Paris, 1972. Gilles and Christine, both sixteen, are classmates and lovers who have become frustrated with the aloofness of their families and the general monotony of their lives. When the pair are caught shoplifting, Christine's father ships her off to a home for emotionally disturbed children, temporarily putting space between her and Gilles. Luckily for them, though, she escapes and the couple contemplate running away together.
Youthful DisillusionmentFrench New Wave StyleMelancholic Coming-of-AgeRebellious RomanceSlice-of-Life DramaQuietly ObservationalAtmospheric & EvocativeEmotional JourneyAuthentic Period Piece

Media

Questions about Cold Water

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Cold Water legally?

You can rent or buy it from Apple TV, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Cold Water worth watching?

81
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 81/100 (IMDb 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 90). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Cold Water rated?

NRDrug useStrong language

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: drug use and strong language.

How long is Cold Water?

1 h 35 min

Cold Water runs 1 h 35 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Cold Water?

Critics95
Audiences69

Not quite. Critics rate Cold Water higher (95) than audiences (69). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is Cold Water in?

FrenchEnglishHungarian

It was made in French, with some English, Hungarian. Produced in France.

In how many countries can I watch Cold Water?

4BECAFRUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Cold Water in 4 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Cold Water use?

Five-Finger DiscountAmbiguous EndingWild Teen PartyThe Runaway

TV Tropes lists 4 storytelling tropes for Cold Water, including Five-Finger Discount, Ambiguous Ending, Wild Teen Party.