Witty and sensuous, it's pure magic.
A Day in the Country (1936)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:8
Fresh:8
Rotten:0
Average Rating:8.8/10
Runtime: 40 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Synopsis: Adapted from a Maupassant story, A DAY IN THE COUNTRY is suffused with such an overpowering sense of reality that watching it can make one feel a bit like a voyeur. It stars Sylvia Bataille as... Adapted from a Maupassant story, A DAY IN THE COUNTRY is suffused with such an overpowering sense of reality that watching it can make one feel a bit like a voyeur. It stars Sylvia Bataille as Henriette Dufour and Georges Darnoux as Henri. They meet by chance when Henriette's father (Andre Gabriello), a Parisian ironmonger, borrows a cart for a trip into the countyside. He's joined by his wife, Juliette (Jane Marken); his daughter; her fiancé, Anatole (Paul Temps); and his mother-in-law. Stopping at a small riverside restaurant, they are charmed by a pair of local young men: Henri and Rodolphe (Jacques Brunius). The two locals offer to row the women down the river to see more of the countryside while their men rest and go fishing. Rodolphe, who has been lusting after Henriette since he first saw her, now has her in his boat and is prepared for action. Henri, concerned about what might happen to the girl, makes a deft switch, giving Madame Dufour to his friend and taking Henriette in his own boat. The two spend an unforgettable afternoon together. This deceptively simple masterpiece is the director's most lyrical evocation of lost love. [More]
Starring: Jean Renoir, Sylvia Bataille
Starring: Jean Renoir, Sylvia Bataille
Director: Jean Renoir
Director: Jean Renoir
Reviews for A Day in the Country
Sensuous and charming -- a moving and memorable tale, and a brilliant piece of cinema.
The charm of the film seems almost too easily won, but Renoir's real brilliance emerges in the way the light tone is subtly modulated into the profound sadness and regret of the conclusion.
A short film that may be imperfect in structure, yet is sublimely moving and beautifully realized, nonetheless.
Along with The Postman segment from Satyajit Ray's Two Daughters, it is, I think, the greatest short film ever made.
It's one of his most beautiful films, and one in which he purposely aped his father's painting style.
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- A Day in the Country at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

