Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- jaunty
- irreverent
- sensual
- retro movie night
- arthouse double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly admired Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau's chemistry, comic adventure energy, and sophisticated cinematography while finding the episodic film overlong and stylistically uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Maria I and Maria II form the film's central performing and revolutionary partnership, with both women driving the action.
The revolution explicitly opposes the Church, and the film's sexual provocations generated censorship over anti-Catholic content.
The film moves among circus spectacle, cabaret, romantic comedy, revolutionary adventure, and western parody.
Maria's accidental invention of the strip-tease makes the circus famous before the two women become leaders of a revolution.
Films like Viva Maria!, and why
The Three Musketeers
shared irreverent comedy, revolutionary politics, anti-clerical satire, and flamboyant period adventure
Thelma & Louise
shared female-centered adventure, sexual liberation, witty tone, and stylized period spectacle
The Great Dictator
shared circus performance, political rebellion, broad farce, and anarchic comic energy
Duck, You Sucker!
shared spaghetti western influence, anti-authoritarian politics, and playful genre hybridity
Movie Details
- Director
- Louis Malle
- Release Date
- 1965-11-22
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (114)
Cast
- Brigitte Bardot
- Jeanne Moreau
- Paulette Dubost
- Claudio Brook
- Carlos López Moctezuma
- Poldo Bendandi
- George Hamilton
- Gregor von Rezzori
- Francisco Reiguera
- Adriana Roel
Common questions
- What is Viva Maria! about?
- Two adventurous Marias turn circus fame, sexual freedom, and accidental revolutionary leadership into a flamboyant comic revolt against authoritarian power.
- What is Viva Maria! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Viva Maria! as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Viva Maria! violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Viva Maria! as mild.
- What did critics think of Viva Maria!?
- Critics broadly admired Brigitte Bardot and Jeanne Moreau's chemistry, comic adventure energy, and sophisticated cinematography while finding the episodic film overlong and stylistically uneven.
- Which films are like Viva Maria!?
- Films with a similar feel include The Three Musketeers, Thelma & Louise, The Great Dictator, and Duck, You Sucker!.
- How long is Viva Maria!?
- Viva Maria! runs 120 minutes.
