The Idol

2002 1h 50m FR

😐

5.1

MID

★5.1TMDB · 10

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An Australian actress forms a spiritual bond with an elderly Chinese chef who lives across from her in a Parisian tenement house.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

James Hong
Zao
Leelee Sobieski
Sara Silver
Jean-Paul Roussillon
Roger Castellac
Jalil Lespert
Philippe
Marie Loboda
Caroline
Jany Gastaldi
Madame Bordas
Liliane Montevecchi
Nicole
Liliane Rovère
Gilberte

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Samantha Lang
Writers: Samantha Lang, Gérard Brach
Languages: Cantonese, French, Mandarin, English
Countries: France, Germany, Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Cantonese, French, Mandarin, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Japan.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Samantha Lang, shot by Benoît Delhomme. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gabriel Yared. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chantal Hymans shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

James Hong and Leelee Sobieski and Jean-Paul Roussillon carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Samantha Lang directs. Benoît Delhomme behind the camera. Gabriel Yared scores. Chantal Hymans cuts. Produced in France, Germany, Japan. Dialogue in Cantonese, French, Mandarin, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 24 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 4 languages: Cantonese, French, Mandarin, English.
3International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Japan.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Samantha Lang, shot by Benoît Delhomme. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Gabriel Yared. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Chantal Hymans shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8James Hong and Leelee Sobieski and Jean-Paul Roussillon carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0291259 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.