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Cold Water

Cold Water

Drama · 1994

An outer suburb of Paris, 1972. Gilles and Christine, both sixteen, are classmates and lovers who have become frustrated with the aloofness of their families and the general monotony of their lives. When the pair are caught shoplifting, Christine's father ships her off to a home for emotionally disturbed children, temporarily putting space between her and Gilles. Luckily for them, though, she escapes and the couple contemplate running away together.

Movie details

Cold Water

1994 Drama 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

An outer suburb of Paris, 1972. Gilles and Christine, both sixteen, are classmates and lovers who have become frustrated with the aloofness of their families and the general monotony of their lives. When the pair are caught shoplifting, Christine's father ships her off to a home for emotionally disturbed children, temporarily putting space between her and Gilles. Luckily for them, though, she escapes and the couple contemplate running away together.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Cold Water?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Olivier Assayas

Written by

Olivier Assayas

Virginie Ledoyen

Virginie Ledoyen

Christine

Cyprien Fouquet

Cyprien Fouquet

Gilles

Szabó László

Szabó László

Le père de Gilles

Jean-Pierre Darroussin

Jean-Pierre Darroussin

L'inspecteur

Dominique Faysse

Dominique Faysse

La mère de Christine

Jackie Berroyer

Jackie Berroyer

Le père de Christine

Smaïl Mekki

Smaïl Mekki

Mourad

Court is in session

Put Cold Water on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.