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The House of the Spirits

Play trailer Poster for The House of the Spirits R 1993 2h 18m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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32% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A rancher (Jeremy Irons), his clairvoyant wife (Meryl Streep) and their family face turbulent years in South America.

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The House of the Spirits

The House of the Spirits

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Critics Consensus

An enviable collection of sterling actors are all woefully miscast in The House of the Spirits, a plodding saga of magical realism that lacks much magic or realism.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek 05/22/2018
The greatest actors in the world can't overcome a script that boils everything down to the Esperanto of cliche. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 05/20/2013
The thing works in its goofy way, mainly because Bille August is a man of apparently dauntless conviction. He has written and directed every scene with serene authority. Go to Full Review
Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune 05/20/2013
2.5/4
The flaws aren't fatal. The beauty and brilliance that might have been, don't preclude the quality and bravery that exist on the screen. Go to Full Review
Jeff Simon Buffalo News 02/29/2024
2/5
It's artsy polyglot baloney. Not house that's this divided against itself could possibly stand. Go to Full Review
Robin Holabird Robin Holabird 08/11/2021
Director Bille August creates striking visuals, and her standout cast never fails to hold attention, though it fails to catch Allende's nuance as a writer. Go to Full Review
Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant 05/22/2018
Nearly every magic detail, many key characters and half a generation has been sacrificed to clarify the plot. But so much has been cut away that only the skeleton of the story remains. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Alec B @AlecMichaelB Apr 8 Despite an undeniably star-studded cast including Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Winona Ryder, and Antonio Banderas, The House of the Spirits is a disappointing misfire on nearly every level. I love these actors individually, but they are grossly miscast; for a story so rooted in Latin American history and identity, the near absence of Latin American actors makes the film feel culturally unmoored and inauthentic. More disappointing is how thoroughly the adaptation strips away the rich magical realism that defines Isabel Allende’s novel, leaving behind a hollow, overly literal story. Performances across the board feel stiff and disconnected, as though each actor is operating in a different film, resulting in scenes that come off clunky and emotionally underdeveloped. The passage of time, which is so essential to the story’s generational sweep, is a total rush job. The story was disjointed and awkward, where major events seem to occur without weight or consequence. See more Meri S. @mschroeder Mar 29 I do not understand the low critic scores for this movie. Head scratching. I do agree with some though about the casting. I read the book and would have never envisioned Anglo white women playing the part of Clara or her daughter. The setting is South America, so that casting is odd. However, the cast is all top notch. The cinematography was spectacular. The movie adaption tweaked a lot of the story to help it fit into two hours. A lot of details and main characters missing. I’d def rec the film though. See more tatjana K. @Tatjana1021 Mar 12 I’ve watched it many times and love it. A multi generation movie, filled with every emotion. See more Nina W. @Ninaxxx Mar 12 I absolutely love this movie. I do not understand the bad rating. I think it’s one of the best movies ever made. See more R T @Ericka255 Dec 12 Great film based on this fantastic novel by Isabel Allende. Of course, there is so much you can squeeze in a bit more than two hours, but the movie is GREAT. It is a classic that everyone should watch. See more Mo S. @9mr_0 Dec 10 فلم جيد وقصه جيده لكن مدة الفلم تسبب ملل See more Read all reviews
The House of the Spirits

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Movie Info

Synopsis A rancher (Jeremy Irons), his clairvoyant wife (Meryl Streep) and their family face turbulent years in South America.
Director
Bille August
Producer
Bernd Eichinger
Screenwriter
Bille August
Production Co
Lionsgate, Neue Constantin Film, House of Spirits Film, Costa do Castelo Filmes
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 8, 2016
Runtime
2h 18m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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