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The Guardians

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Overview

An affecting human drama of love, loss, and resilience unfolds against the backdrop of World War I. The women of the Paridier farm, under the deft hand of Hortense, the family’s matriarch (Nathalie Baye,) must grapple with the workload while the men, including two sons, are off at the front. Hortense reluctantly brings on an outsider, the hard-scrabble teenage orphan, Francine (Iris Bry), to help her daughter Solange (Laura Smet). New tools allow the women to triumph over the land, newfound independence is acquired, yet emotions are stirred especially when the men return from the front on short leaves. Acclaimed filmmaker Xavier Beauvois (Of Gods and Men) revels in the mysteries and beauties of the French countryside, here unravaged by war, with painterly images bathed in natural light, yet keeps his focus on the intricate drama that plays out against the upheaval of the Great War.

Reactions, Awards & Festivals

Critic’s Pick. "With narrative restraint and a lapidary visual style, Mr. Beauvois opens up this isolated world with stirring emotional force."

A.O. SCOTT

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Stirring emotional force.”

MANOHLA DARGIS

THE NEW YORK TIMES

“A serious-minded and...rather powerful portrait of women getting by in a world where all the men are either gone or gone mad.”

JORDAN MINTZER

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Cast & Crew
  • Hortense Sanrail : Nathalie Baye
  • Solange : Iris Bry
  • Francine Riant : Laura Smet
  • Georges Sandrail : Cyril Descours
  • Henri : Gilbert Bonneau
  • Clovis. Constant Sandrail : Olivier Rabourdin
  • Marguerite : Nicolas Giraud
  • John : Mathilde Viseux
  • : Yann Bean
  • Director : Xavier Beauvois
  • Screenplay : Xavier Beauvois, Frédérique Moreau, Marie-Julie Maille
  • Based on the Novel by : Ernest Pérochon
  • Producer : "Sylvie Pialat, Benoît Quainon"
  • Co-Producers : "Pauline Gygax, Max Karli, Michel Merkt"
  • Director of Photography : Caroline Champetier
  • Editor : Marie-Julie Maille
  • Production Designer : Yann Megard
  • Music : Michel Legrand
Technical Info
  • Production Year : 2017
  • Release Date : May 4, 2018
  • Countries of Production : France
  • Languages : French
  • Running Time : 135 minutes
  • Screen Ratio : 2:35:1
  • Sound : Dolby 5.1
  • Color : Color
  • Rating : R (For Some Violence and Sexuality)
Theatrical Engagements
Theater Name
City
State
Date
New York
NY
05/04/2018
Pasadena
CA
05/18/2018
Los Angeles
CA
05/11/2018
Sante Fe
NM
05/25/2018
Columbus
OH
05/25/2018
Chicago
IL
05/25/2018
Los Angeles
CA
05/18/2018
Houston
TX
08/04/2018
Seattle
WA
05/18/2018
Lafayette
LA
06/11/2018
Philadelphia
PA
06/01/2018
Oklahoma City
OK
07/15/2018
Albuquerque
NM
06/15/2018
Manistee
MI
05/18/2018
Queens
NY
05/11/2018
Hartford
CT
06/01/2018
Irvine
CA
05/18/2018
Bloomington
IN
06/09/2018
Winston-Salem
NC
06/15/2018
Coral Gables
FL
06/15/2018
Santa Barbara
CA
06/15/2018
Sedona
AZ
05/25/2018
Beaufort
SC
06/11/2018
Hollywood
FL
06/15/2018
Fort Lauderdale
FL
06/15/2018
Nevada City
CA
08/05/2018
Arcata
CA
05/25/2018
Phoenixville
PA
06/08/2018
Eugene
OR
05/25/2018
Tunkhannock
PA
07/15/2018
Hudson
NY
07/05/2018
Washington
DC
06/22/2018
Wilmette
IL
06/01/2018
Libertyville
IL
07/06/2018
Gloucester
MA
06/08/2018
Cleveland
OH
08/02/2018
Vancouver
MA
06/29/2018
Boise
ID
06/29/2018
Coral Gables
FL
06/22/2018
St. Charles
IL
08/01/2018
Oak Park
IL
08/07/2018
Taos
NM
06/10/2018
Staunton
VA
07/16/2018
Larkspur
CA
06/15/2018
Port Townsend
WA
06/16/2018
Delray Beach
FL
06/22/2018
Wilmington
DE
07/13/2018
Fairfax
VA
06/22/2018
Bryn Mawr
PA
06/22/2018
Portland
OR
06/29/2018
New Orleans
LA
07/24/2018
Scottsdale
AZ
06/29/2018
Grand Rapids
MI
07/06/2018
Monterey
CA
06/29/2018
Washington
DC
07/18/2018
Chatham
NY
07/22/2018
Key West
FL
07/13/2018
Norfolk
VA
07/17/2018
Tacoma
WA
07/20/2018
Bar Harbor
ME
08/07/2018
Damariscotta
ME
08/09/2018
Jaffrey
NH
08/18/2018
St. Johnsbury
VT
08/31/2018
Winchester
VA
09/08/2018
Macon
GA
08/21/2018
Downers Grove
IL
09/10/2018
DVD/Blu-Ray Special Features
  • Filmmaker Q&A with director Xavier Beauvois
  • Interviews with Caroline Champetier and Nicolas Giraud
  • Recording of the Music of the Film
  • Casting Featurettes and Outtakes
  • Collector’s Booklet featuring an Interview with director Xavier Beauvois