La rivière du hibou

I first saw this film, and thought it to be a Hollywood production. It is of course a French film; I had seen the dubbed version. However I urge anyone that has the chance to watch it! It has a unique twist to the plot, superb acting and a quality storyline. It has not dated, and is a standard for all involved in this genre to attain. When I first saw the location, and the uniforms I really did think it to be a big company film. I was amazed to see the credits at the end, all in French.The genre of this movie is somewhat similar to another film, I believe also to be from France "The Telephone Box", another superb piece of surreal film making. Thanks, and I hope you get to watch this superb film. Posted July 2004

When I saw the movie Brazil in 1986, I had a nagging feeling that the ending was familiar. I vaguely recalled seeing a film in a high school cinema appreciation class in 1977 or 1978 with a similar theme. The 24 minute film made such an impression, that 20 years later, after screening the Brazil video for my parents, it still rang a bell. After we discussed it I subsequently checked here to confirm the existence of La Riviere, which was identified in my HS class as Incident at Oxbow Creek. The theme of imagined escape is rather unique in my experience of cinema, and the similarities between La Riviere and the ending of Brazil are such that I wonder if Riviere du Hibou may have influenced Terry Gilliam.

I cannot believe that this film is remembered by more than myself! I was a young teenager waiting for the main picture to start when this small black and white movie was shown as a filler. Forty years later, I can still remember the impact this film had on me. It was stunning! It reached me in such a way, that I have never forgotten it, and it was this film that started my love of cinema..Real cinema!

Over the years, I have mentioned this movie to many people, none of whom have even heard of it, I thought I'd imagined it all..! It was also the film that had me wishing I could work in the movies.... Forty years on, I still have that same dream! Silly isn't it?

I first saw this film on The Twilight Zone when I was only about eleven.It was unforgettable.I believe it was a winner at the Cann Film Festival also.Just recently bought it and shown it to many friends.They all loved it.

Rod Serling brought this to American attention as a part of the Twilight Zone series and I have to agree with his departure from the popular series. A great story, intimately told. It points out the beauty of life and how it is magnified when death threatens. I think it is as good or even better than any Zone episode both in style and depth.