JinRoz For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Isbel A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

theshephard It seems a lot of people can only view this film through the lens of the book, and with the title, how can you not? This film probably would have been better received if it used a different title and suffered accusations of 'ripping off' Camus. Today, I think we may be a little more used to films being 'inspired' by particular books but not even attempting to reproduce the book faithfully. I echo of few of the reviews I've read here on IMDb - that this film, when viewed apart from the book, is a great film in its own right. The actors are great, the story is of course solid, and the style is perfect. Some of my favorite scenes that I would point to - Opening of the film - the monologue of Hurt's character - "This is what happened". Still, dispassionate, reflective, tired, guiltily transcendent. Scene in the office of Duvall's character near the opening - "Hats off!" Joyful in its innocence, the hope and admiration exhibited by the other two characters in the room is palpable. Any confrontation scene between the female reporter and the doctor, whether on the tram or in the office. Towards the end when the cameraman gets shot - "I'm dying". This film is still and quiet - Hurt conveys his exhaustion so well, Duvall his hope and frustration so well. I really, really hope we see this in Blu-Ray (BD). With so many good actors it's a wonder it never went to DVD. Hopefully time will give this film the credit it deserves.

jllewell Well, well, well...After having read so many different views about this film, I just had to add my own. Lots of people are disturbed that it's so far from the book. Usually I hate that myself, but in this instance I am somehow easily able to compartmentalize, and see the film as something separate. I think it can be viewed on it's own as a great film, and I find it something that I will watch again, and again. I've also read that many people find the erotic elements gratuitous, but I've always found that 'sex and death' is a close 'idea relationship', in the human psyche.Sex and or intimacy are affirmations of life, in the face of it's opposite. People do lots of strange things when faced with death and the possibility of death, especially when it is expected, and in such a familiar form... what reasonably educated person doesn't know what this type of disease involves? I find that I can live with the changes of story and time setting in this film, and feel that it is just a fascinating movie which it is easy to view as an entirely 'stand alone' piece in it's examination of different personalities in crisis.

Peter-174 Too talkative. Crappy acting. Pathetic writing. I could go on for a while... It is a shame that such good material was wasted. The film is clueless, since the makers had no vision. The film even manages to become boring. It also tries too hard to be meaningful and deep, but it just isn't intelligent enough. The photography is OK, though. But that's about the only good thing in this movie. As far as I know the film is only out on DVD in Asia. The DVD can often be found on eBay. Not that I would advise you to buy it, though.The DVD is 4:3.Some of the actors deliver performances that are far below their usual standard. This must mean that director Puenzo did a lousy job.

Lee De Cola A fine example of the whole being less than the sum of its parts, this film might be more favorably received if we had been given more hints of its surreality. I certainly enjoyed it as a portrait of a city under stress; its residents not thinking clearly about what was really happening. Certainly I shared their struggle. And who knows, any of our cities may someday suffer as Oran did.