Death and the Maiden (1994)

Date	User	Rating
Mar 20, 2020	matthagen	58 _69th
Seen: 2.
Feb 09, 2020	jimmyp	0 _1st
directed by a convicted rapist who fled the country to avoid jail time.
Feb 07, 2020	jnydam	60 _37th
Entirely one giant dialogue
May 02, 2016	rafa_livrari	81 _71st
The way Polanski keeps us glued to the sofa is amazing. A delicate issue very well put in a film. Weaver nails it, it looked like she was on the stage. So many people have been tortured and much of what happened is still hidden. Great movie, it never gets old.
Sep 04, 2015	Moribunny	70 _75th
This is the point where Polanski, no doubt owing to circumstantial constraints, began focusing on intimate chamber dramas often based on plays. Death and the Maiden is what you might call a chamber political thriller. The text's great complexity bolsters the suspense, adding constant little twists and turns, but to its detriment renders the film stagy and less realistic. Weaver's great talent is stretched to its limit, showing signs of effort at the peaks, but Kingsley's mastery is unassailable.
Feb 07, 2015	thereeldeal	75 _65th
Death and the Maiden shows its source medium of a play very clearly in positive ways with a gripping single-setting that has a curious mystery and high stakes. The combination works like a guarantee and it's entertaining throughout. Weaver overacts incredibly and actually loses sympathy, not as a victim, but as a human being. Wilson is the only reasonable character and by extension, performance, but Kingsley's mostly good. Fairly silly throughout thanks to Weaver, but this is worth your time.
Jan 14, 2015	Timon88	68 _63rd
Utterly irritating. But even the relentless heavy-handedness of both the writing and the directing can't kill the integrity of the performances of the two leads.
Aug 23, 2014	jspidah	75 _72nd
Very gripping throughout, very similar to most Post-Tate Polanski movies, where they deal with the drama between only a couple of people in a small space. The theme seems to be forgiveness through the admission of guilt.
Oct 16, 2013	glm01	78 _58th
78.000
Jun 17, 2013	walkearth	75 _89th
The plot has many differences with Ariel Dorfman's play, on which the film is based, but I believe it is a great adaptation nevertheless. Ben Kingsley, Sigourney Weaver and Stuart Wilson were all wonderful, never seeming to overact as is sometimes the case with film-plays, delivering strong and real performances.
Jun 20, 2012	tinysausage	73 _52nd
Intense revenge chamber piece with good performances and intimate mis en scene but marred by a stagey feel.
Oct 18, 2011	glm	76 _57th
75.500
Feb 03, 2011	djross	60 _62nd
Interesting exploration of torture and the possibility or impossibility of justice and forgiveness, undermined to some extent by a rather clunky presentation and variable performances.
Apr 24, 2010	JooJoo	5 _80th
Certainly the most dramatic work I've seen of Sigourney Weaver, and it's seems clear why her status has declined over the years (the rest of the cast is serviceable). An ending with no clear satisfaction was the best choice. Not overly impressive, but worthwhile.
Mar 22, 2010	billkerwin	85 _66th
A good film version of an excellent Ariel Dorfman play. Ben Kingsley and Sigourney Weaver are both very good.
Feb 19, 2010	SirRobbie	90 _96th
After giving it another shot I have to now excuse myself [previous rank 50/100]. The tension here could've been cut by scissors, and as for the acting, both Weaver AND SIR KINGSLEY were brilliant. I also love the subtle way Polanski films this small but powerful gem of a movie.
Nov 13, 2009	luc	72 _80th
Nice suspense movie with only 3 actors. I like such movies and Weaver and Kingsley were great in their performances but the end was for me predictable. Good movie.
Aug 01, 2009	freqflyer	80 _55th
Decent film.
Apr 23, 2009	rthornhill	93 _86th
Well done cat and mouse, dialogue driven thriller.
Mar 17, 2009	eggbeater	67 _61st
Though Weaver's occasionally over-the-top performance contributes to a wobbly midsection, Polanski is pretty much up to the tough claustrophobic challenge. Kingsley is exceptional.
Aug 04, 2008	Travisbickle	80 _38th
Tense throughout!
Feb 04, 2008	muutanet	75 _74th
Theatre act kind of movie. Acted mostly inside of one house.
Jan 30, 2008	torontodog	70 _66th
Good acting/directing but it would have been better if it was under an hour.
Nov 17, 2007	meerkat	85 _66th
If you like films with clear-cut roles and endings, this is not for you. However, if you realize that these things are often mixed and that situations do not often have clear endings, this is a film you should definitely watch. Beautiful and filled with suspense. The acting and directing is incredible.
Sep 17, 2007	Dustyd	60 _39th
acting is better than film itself
May 02, 2007	Stain	90 _86th
Polanski scores again. One of the rare examples of a good play done very well in modern cinema

Average Percentile 62.76% from 647 Ratings