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IMDbPro

Waiting for the Barbarians

  • 2019
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
16K
YOUR RATING
Johnny Depp, Mark Rylance, and Robert Pattinson in Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)
The Magistrate of an isolated frontier settlement on the border of an unnamed empire looks forward to an easy retirement until the arrival of Colonel Joll, whose task it is to report on the activities of the "barbarians" and on the security situation on the border.
Play trailer1:51
1 Video
99+ Photos
Period DramaPrison DramaPsychological DramaDramaHistory

At an isolated frontier outpost, a colonial magistrate suffers a crisis of conscience when an army colonel arrives looking to interrogate the locals about an impending uprising, using cruel ... Read allAt an isolated frontier outpost, a colonial magistrate suffers a crisis of conscience when an army colonel arrives looking to interrogate the locals about an impending uprising, using cruel tactics that horrify the magistrate.At an isolated frontier outpost, a colonial magistrate suffers a crisis of conscience when an army colonel arrives looking to interrogate the locals about an impending uprising, using cruel tactics that horrify the magistrate.

  • Director
    • Ciro Guerra
  • Writer
    • J.M. Coetzee
  • Stars
    • Mark Rylance
    • Johnny Depp
    • Robert Pattinson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ciro Guerra
    • Writer
      • J.M. Coetzee
    • Stars
      • Mark Rylance
      • Johnny Depp
      • Robert Pattinson
    • 192User reviews
    • 269Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Official Trailer

    Photos134

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    Top cast43

    Edit
    Mark Rylance
    Mark Rylance
    • Magistrate
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • Col. Joll
    Robert Pattinson
    Robert Pattinson
    • Officer Mandel
    Gana Bayarsaikhan
    Gana Bayarsaikhan
    • The Girl
    Greta Scacchi
    Greta Scacchi
    • Mai
    David Dencik
    David Dencik
    • Clerk
    Sam Reid
    Sam Reid
    • Lieutenant
    Harry Melling
    Harry Melling
    • Garrison Soldier 4
    Bill Milner
    Bill Milner
    • Garrison Soldier 5
    Gursed Dalkhsuren
    • Old Man
    Tserendagva Purevdorj
    • Old Barbarian
    Isabella Nefar
    Isabella Nefar
    • Star
    David Moorst
    David Moorst
    • Garrison Soldier 6
    Joseph Long
    Joseph Long
    • Baker
    Nayef Rashed
    Nayef Rashed
    • Farmer 1
    Haqi Ali
    Haqi Ali
    • Farmer 2
    Dulguun-Erdene Garamkhand
    • Boy
    Wil Coban
    Wil Coban
    • Mandel's Guard
    • Director
      • Ciro Guerra
    • Writer
      • J.M. Coetzee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews192

    6.015.7K
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    Featured reviews

    7kimos_06

    A lost masterpiece

    Caught from the first act of the film by the set ,the mood,the music, the customs ,the lighting the performance of Mark Rylance and Johnny depp paving the way for watching a masterpiece..the structure of the characters revealed and their intentions is obvious leading to an inevitable clash between them..then there was the girl which was pivotal showing us another depth of Mark Rylance's character ..feeling guilty for what happened to her people and trying to redeem his guilt by saving her despite knowing what that would lead to ..that's where the film begin to have a lot of holes and unclear parts messed with the continuity of the film messing the script structure and a lot of things was just happening without explanation which made me couldn't fully immersed emotionally with some events despite how heavily strong they were ..loved the pace ,the acting performance the angles the natural light and cinematic look and mood ,the characters complications ..but the misconnections made it a lost masterpiece.
    8siderite

    An uncomfortable dissection of human nature

    This film is about how nasty we can be while hiding behind things like authority, law and other euphemisms for power. A slow burn movie, it stars Mark Rylance - in a yet another great role - as a decent man who has no power to control things, but has to observe others. I will have to say that both Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson did a great job, but their characters barely covered ten minutes of screen taken together. The film is well done, beautifully shot, introspective.

    Bottom line: a gem in the mud, a film that was bound to gather low ratings because it is uncomfortable to bear witness to human cruelty, pride and greed. It's a must watch, but be warned that it is not easy to do so.
    7j_slovak

    Beautiful

    It's a slow burn, but if you're ok with that, you're rewarded with strong performances, incredible cinematography and beautiful landscapes and a compelling lead character to root for.
    8J_F_Villefort

    A well crafted & superbly acted film, if you're prepared for a long, slow trek through the frontier.

    THE PRO'S: The Barbarians is a beautifully shot meditation on what it means to be civilized on both a national and a personal level. Every frame in this film is gorgeous; from the windswept vistas of the blazing frontier to the bespoke stucco architecture sinking into the sands of time, this film has texture. Mark Rylance turns in a touching performance as a man trying to remain decent in an increasingly cruel situation. And while the central message of "maybe WE'RE the barbarians!!!!" would be usually easy and trite, the movie is careful to depict both sides as falling prey to xenophobia and the us-vs-them mentality. Johhny Depp is also good here: his enigmatic strangeness is reigned in more than usual and he sells the cruelty well. The set design is also worth noting and really succeeds in transporting you to this forgotten outpost from another place and time.

    THE CON'S: At several points along its journey, the film can really drag. This was no doubt intentional, but that doesn't save the pacing. There's a little too much self indulgence, a few too many times the camera is allowed to linger. And while that does help this film achieve its melancholy epitaph for the civility and morals of an old world, it also breaks the immersion. The very last shot, which I won't spoil, is also in my opinion a misstep. There is a suspicion built up over the course of the film and bandied about by the characters which this shot sort of obliterates. Perhaps this is true to the source material; this is an adaptation after all. But a little restraint there would go a long way.

    THE BOTTOM LINE: Waiting for the Barbarians is a fascinating study of helpless people in helpless situations, civility vs. Brutality, and the decay of the old world in the face of the inevitable winds of change. If you can hunker down for a slower, longer burn that admittedly should have been cleaned up in the editing room, you'll be rewarded. 8 out of 10 stars.
    7joebloggscity

    Coetzee eye-view on the blurring of morality

    JM Coetzee is the author of the original book, and is rightly lauded for his story telling ability as much as his literary ability. However, his works haven't easily transferred to screen, which is not uncommon for high-end literary works. This one to me is borderline.

    What we have is a tale set in the 19th century of a humble wise magistrate of a garrision on the frontiers of an unnamed European Empire (seems like an area bordering around the former Soviet Union states). His stoic nature though is confronted by the entry of a colonel and his forces, who seem hell-bent to start battle with locals who are NOT looking for aggression. The Colonel is everything our magistrate is not, and the whole matter is complicated by the magistrates falling in love with a local lady he helps to return to her people.

    Surprisingly this film hasn't been warmly received by the critics which is surprising, as it is actually very good. The main hold is the sublime performance by Mark Rylance in the lead, who can't have been any better than what he has done with the role. You empathise with him, and see his destruction at the hands of his colleagues (which clearly shows that the true Barbarians are at his side and not beyond the walls).

    Johnny Depp was fine but seemed out of place, whilst Robert Pattison gets better with every film he stars in. The setting is perfect and beautiful, and the film has a fine slow pace. Admittedly it could have helped to flesh out some other characters more than just the magistrate to give them more weight, especially the mysterious colonel.

    I don't get what it is that the critics were downgrading here? It's a fine existential story, and one that some will enjoy revisiting. Fair enough, the subject matter and a number of scenes are uncomfortable to watch, but that's the point! It's not about a rose-tinted look at the colonial past. It's also not 'Zulu' (which admittedly I very much love).

    It's a tough watch at times, but very worth a viewing. Mark Rylance will little do better anywhere else ever again. He at least is a major reason to watch this one.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Ciro Guerra's English-language debut.
    • Quotes

      Col. Joll: Pain is truth. All else is subject to doubt.

    • Soundtracks
      Summer
      Music by Marco Beltrami & Buck Sanders (ASCAP)

      (p) 2019 Pianella Music, Inc.

      Courtesy of Marco Beltrami & Pianella Music, Inc.

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Waiting for the Barbarians?Powered by Alexa
    • When will this be released in the US?
    • What nationality are the solders? the Brits have never worn such clothes, I can surmise they are French, the Barbarians appear to be Mongolian ?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 7, 2020 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mongolian
    • Also known as
      • В очікуванні варварів
    • Filming locations
      • Marrakech, Morocco(location)
    • Production companies
      • Iervolino Entertainment
      • Ithaca Pictures
      • Lady Bacardi Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €15,362,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $764,815
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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