This is about memory and nostalgia. Competent but nothing noteworthy.

The story had promise, but the editing made it incredibly hard to follow.

Not reassuring, all of these reviews. I bought the dvd a while back and may have tried to watch it but I believe I sold it to a second hand store then more recently "bought it back" and I will finally try and watch it tonight. Until this point, I'd been catching up on season 1 of Dallas...I wonder if this movie will be worth the wait or if any of these reviewers can be trusted for their opinions and evaluations of the film and characters? This movie was worth the wait and the patience to see it through and no: Scott Foundas, Elizabeth Weitzman, V.A. Musetto, Stephen Holden and David Blaylock cannot be trusted for their opinions and in fact, I suggest that all of them need to find another line of work. Emile is an unusual, sad, sometimes uplifting look at an older man who is the lone survivor of three brothers who once worked a Saskatchewan farm. Emile left for England for studies (realistic?) and never returned to see either brother and in fact, failed to come back for his niece who was orphaned not just by her parents but also her grandparents. Emile finally returns to Canada for an honorary award and to see the last two members of family that he has but has never really known. He comes to stay with the two relatives who are already feeling awkward with one another due to marital trouble and growing pains and they slowly get to know each other and he plays a part in reconciling the daughter to her mother. 10/10

Slow, comtemplative and reflective like the old man it portrays. Also touching, compelling, well-acted with characters I cared about. Beautifully filmed in British Columbia.

another touching drama between past and present, mckellen is great.

A movie about the power of words.

Ian McKellen is amazing as always, and the subtle character study works quite well, even though the film could have used a bit more originality with the storytelling.

great acting from mckellen, love the solemn music in the background...the film is quite slow and sparse, wasn't completely clear on whose daughter nadia was for a while but interesting story about identity and regret, wld quite like to see the other bessai films.

A pleasant watch of distant relations coming together, with the obligatory dark secret.

Yksinkertainen tarina, joka paljastetaan katsojalle vähitellen. Hienovaraisesti kerrottu ja näytelty. Visuaalisesti kaunis elokuva.

Svikande farbror återvänder till hemlandet och sin brorsdotter och hennes dotter, och först blir det gnissel men sen ordnar det sig, Inte helt otippat. Fint foto.

I really enjoyed this, a very moving movie that takes you on a touching journey. Ian McKellen is excellent in it, challenged by his past & present throughout. Well worth making time for.

Mysterious and moving. I loved the way Emile was struggling with his aching past somewhere between reality and memories, and how elaborately the combat of the intertwining past and present was shot. Sir Ian McKellen was almost heartbreaking as Emile, but also the rest of the cast was succesfull. The pianomusic was eloquent.

Well acted, but not so much directed, they become to caught up in showing strangely coloured pictures of the orphanage which could have been spent writing a better ending. Emile gives a speech... "errr yer... sorry bout that leavin u in the orphanage." neice: "oh that's alright come let us go home and be best mates!" and I jsut want to state McKellen is an acting geniouse!

Very watchable film. However I felt utterly depressed throughout!

the beauty and poetry of this canadian movie will pierce your chest.

Well written Canadiian set drama with Ian McKellen trying to make amends for the past, with frequent flashbacks. It is quite slow moving, and unfortunately not one where you can pick up easily half way through without having lost an important part of the story.

Brilliantly played and a really nice story. I'll not normally wtach a film like this but it struck me. It's a wonderful film and the music is hauntingly beautiful.

A routine memory piece about long-buried family secrets that bubble back to the surface to wreak havoc.

Ian McKellen stars as a Saskatchewan-born professor who spent most of his life in England and now returns to Canada to receive a degree and to visit his niece whom he has never met. As the story unfolds, we discover the emotional scars beneath the surface of each character that prevent them from being whole. McKellen is brilliant as always, and seems eminently suited for the role of a retired professor.