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# Review
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/review-20031219-3/
- Published: 2003-12-19T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:21:10.000Z
- Author: Dan Dunn
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*‘Barbarian Invasion’ has talent that makes the film*

In “The Barbarian Invasions,” accomplished French-Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand reunites the characters from his most celebrated release, 1987’s “The Decline of the American Empire,” in an emotionally charged, and often hilarious tale about a dying man who reconnects with old friends and his estranged son.

Rémy (Rémy Girard) is a history professor with a storied sexual past whose body is being ravaged by cancer. Having been given a death sentence, it appears Rémy will spend his final days in a bleak, overcrowded hospital ward surrounded by his jilted but still-loving ex-wife (Dorothée Berryman), the near-dead, and thieves. Upon the arrival of his wealthy investment banker son Sébastien (Stéphane Rousseau), who Rémy hasn’t seen in years, father and son are forced to confront their many differences. Though bitter, Sébastien pours his heart into making Rémy’s remaining time as comfortable as possible — securing a private hospital room, reuniting his father with his old circle of friends, and enlisting a shattered but beautiful heroin addict (Marie-Josée Croze, whose performance garnered the Best Actress award at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival) to help dull the pain.

Arcand is a very smart writer, and he arms Rémy with an arsenal of strong opinions that make for some entertaining diatribes as the old man stumps about what he perceives to be humankind’s many shortcomings. It’s moving to watch as the ice slowly melts and unexpected tenderness emerges between Rémy and Sébastien. Rousseau, one of Canada’s most popular comedians, acquits himself nicely in his first dramatic role, and Croze is altogether fantastic. (Rated R for language, sexual dialogue and drug content. Running time: 99 minutes)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/121903-16_01.jpg)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 19, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)