The Big Picture
After a fatal act destroys his privileged Parisian existence, a lawyer steals a dead photographer’s identity and seeks reinvention on the Adriatic coast.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- paranoid
- melancholic
- late night viewing
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a tense, atmospheric European thriller anchored by Romain Duris's performance and its exploration of identity and escape.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Paul leaves his law-firm life, assumes the dead photographer's identity, and pursues photography on the Adriatic coast.
Paul's affluent Parisian family, marriage, and legal career collapse after Sarah's affair and the killing of Grégoire.
Paul adopts Grégoire Kremer's identity and relocates to the former Yugoslavia while concealing his past.
The isolated Adriatic coast offers striking scenery while Paul remains burdened by violence, deception, and exile.
Films like The Big Picture, and why
The Talented Mr. Ripley
identity transformation, moral collapse, and brooding psychological tension
A Prophet
stylized crime drama centered on reinvention, guilt, and escape
The Double Hour
identity crisis, marital betrayal, and atmospheric European suspense
Movie Details
- Director
- Éric Lartigau
- Release Date
- 2010-11-03
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (165)
Cast
- Romain Duris
- Marina Foïs
- Niels Arestrup
- Branka Katić
- Catherine Deneuve
- Eric Ruf
- Enzo Caçote
- Luka Antic
- Rachel Desmarest
- Esteban Carvajal-Alegria
Common questions
- What is The Big Picture about?
- After a fatal act destroys his privileged Parisian existence, a lawyer steals a dead photographer’s identity and seeks reinvention on the Adriatic coast.
- What is The Big Picture like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Big Picture as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Big Picture violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Big Picture as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Big Picture?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a tense, atmospheric European thriller anchored by Romain Duris's performance and its exploration of identity and escape.
- Which films are like The Big Picture?
- Films with a similar feel include The Talented Mr. Ripley, A Prophet, and The Double Hour.
- How long is The Big Picture?
- The Big Picture runs 114 minutes.
