[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
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
    • 270Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Official Trailer

    Photos134

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 128
    View Poster

    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
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    Gordon-11

    Who are the barbarians?

    This film makes the viewers question who are the real barbarians. I find it engaging and introspective. It's beautifully shot too.
    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.
    9mustafaghaleiw

    A great movie, great storyline, but not for everyone

    I'm a movie goer, I like very much watching great movies, the ones that touch our hearts with their great storyline, and every now and then one comes a long that leaves me think about what I've just watched and reflect its story on my personal life and the world we live in and what's going in it.

    I don't think it was about any specific events in the human history, but it captures very well the cruelty of human beings against each other, but at the same time in the midst of this savagery, there is still someone who still have a very good heart, still human, still have the courage to stand up against those savages, even when his own life is put at risk. I believe it shows extremely well how those who speak the truth and warns us of our evil deeds and the unfairness we do daily how they are being badly treated, mocked and ridiculed in our organizations and our societies. This movie is really great.
    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.
    Kirpianuscus

    decent

    I expected the film with...fear. Because each adaptation of a great novel remains a try . Because the characters and the atmosphere are more posessions of reader than work of the writer . But the film is decent . Grace to cinematography , reasonable solutions for inner monologue of Magister and, no doubts, for the admirable work of Mark Rylance and Greta Scacchi. And, sure, for not bad Colonel Joll proposed by Johnny Depp. Moments of novel are fresh, the intro is just beautiful and it works, maybe better than as adaptation, like a colonial story. And the barbarians as Mongols remains an inspired solution. In my case, only two surprises - the absence of generous belly of Magister and his so large office. But , obvious, it is a reasonable adaptation. So, just decent.

    More like this

    Sea of Dawn: Adventurer's Game
    7.0
    Sea of Dawn: Adventurer's Game
    Puffins
    6.4
    Puffins
    Minamata
    7.2
    Minamata
    Johnny Puff: Secret Mission
    4.8
    Johnny Puff: Secret Mission
    Dior: Sauvage - Legend of the Magic Hour
    8.0
    Dior: Sauvage - Legend of the Magic Hour
    City of Lies
    6.5
    City of Lies
    Dior: Sauvage
    7.8
    Dior: Sauvage
    Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
    5.9
    Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie
    Jeanne du Barry
    6.7
    Jeanne du Barry
    Les Derniers Jours de monsieur Brown
    6.7
    Les Derniers Jours de monsieur Brown
    Lucky Them
    6.1
    Lucky Them
    Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness
    5.5
    Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness

    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.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • 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

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Johnny Depp, Mark Rylance, and Robert Pattinson in Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)
    Top Gap
    What is the Hindi language plot outline for Waiting for the Barbarians (2019)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.