Besieged 1998

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: A purposefully romantic exploration of the nonverbal connections between people that can blossom into love. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: A film that combines a stunning sensuality with a rigorous economy. Read more

Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle: This is a deeply engrossing, often exquisite film by someone who knows visuals. It's sensory, sensual, handmade. Read more

Entertainment Weekly: Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: What an unexpected gift. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: I look forward to seeing it again, much as I would return to a favorite piece of music. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The film is a moderately involving, oddly lighthearted look at the connection between love, obsession, and sacrifice that is somewhat marred by instances of overwrought acting and bad dialogue. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: How can a director of such sophistication, in a film of such stylistic grace, tell such a shallow and evasive story? Read more

Daniel Mangin, Salon.com: Given Bertolucci's impish leanings, the self-referential sequences may merely be gags. If so, they're among a half-dozen others that backfire. Read more

Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle: Completely satisfying. Read more

Time Out: It's a film about the limits of art, about civilization at this moment of flux, and about a gentle connection between a man and a woman. Read more

Derek Elley, Variety: Bertolucci and co-writer Clare Peploe seem intent on deconstructing the story's interesting elements at every turn, substituting woolliness for clarity, atmospherics for real emotion and an often condescending, armchair-liberal naivete for real political Read more