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This entry from Quebec tells the story of a bon vivant, raconteur and inveterate Lothario who is confined to a Montreal hospital, his womanizing days permanently behind him as he dies of cancer. Determined to live life to the fullest, even to the end, he gathers his friends, former lovers and colleagues around him the hospital to help ease his last days. Even his ex-wife joins him, and convinces their son, long estranged from his father, to come and make peace with the old man before it is too late.

The Barbarian Invasions is a sequel to Denys Arcand’s Decline of the American Empire, and features the same cast playing the same roles as in the first film, which premièred nearly two decades ago. Arcand’s latest offering appeared at this year’s Cannes Festival, where it made quite an impression on the crowd, winning several awards and even creating talk that it was in serious contention for the Palm d’Or. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising the literate nature of the script and the deftness of direction and performance. The film is now set for a limited release beginning November 21, 2003 in New York and LA only, with a wider relapse planned for December 19, 2003. If critical reaction and word-of-mouth in this country match the film’s buzz at Cannes, it will likely kick around the art-house circuit well into the New Year, and should also make a respectable showing in the year-end awards races. (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)

Vital statistics for The Barbarian Invasions Main Cast Remy Girard, Stephane Rousseau, Louise Portal, Dorothee Berryman, Dominique Michel, Marie-Josee Croze, Marina Hands Supporting Cast Johanne Marie Tremblay, Yves Jacques, Pierre Curzi, Toni Cecchinato, Mitsou Gelinas, Denis Bouchard, Micheline Lanctôt, Markita Boies, Isabelle Blais, Yves Desgagnes Director Denys Arcand Screenwriter Denys Arcand Distributor Miramax Trailer Click Here for Trailer Official Site http://www.miramax.com/the_barbarian_invasions/ Rating R Running Time 99 minutes Screen Count 6 Awards Marie-Josée Croze, Best Actress, 2003 Cannes Film Festival Denys Arcand, Best Screenplay, 2003 Cannes Film Festival Awards page for The Barbarian Invasions Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture