Synopsis
A poor French teenage girl engages in an illicit affair with a wealthy Chinese heir in 1920s Saigon. For the first time in her young life she has control, and she wields it deftly over her besotted lover throughout a series of clandestine meetings and torrid encounters.
Ratings
IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes28%
Metacritic59/100
778 audience votes
Key crew
- Gérard BrachScreenplay
- Jean-Jacques AnnaudDirector
- Jean-Jacques AnnaudScreenplay
- Gabriel YaredOriginal Music Composer
Cast
- Jane MarchThe Young Girl
- Tony Leung Ka-faiThe Chinaman
- Frédérique MeiningerThe Mother
- Arnaud GiovaninettiThe Elder Brother
- Melvil PoupaudThe Younger Brother
- Lisa FaulknerHelene Lagonelle
- Jeanne MoreauNarrator (voice)
- Xiem MangThe Chinaman's Father
- Philippe Le DemThe French Teacher
- Ann SchaufussAnne-Marie Stretter
- Tania TorrensThe Principal
- Espérance Pham Thai LanFemme
Stills
Movies like The Lover
Themes
lolitavirginvietnambased on novel or bookage differencearranged marriageloveraffectationsaigonindochinaloss of virginitylove