Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- tragic
- intense
- historical drama night
- literary adaptation viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the adaptation overwrought and overlong, with contrived dialogue, lumbering storytelling, and manipulative twists that weakened its wartime melodrama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gemma’s return to Sarajevo triggers extended memories of her relationship, escape, and wartime losses.
Gemma and Diego’s relationship, infertility struggles, and family decisions unfold against the Bosnian War.
The film combines infertility, wartime trauma, hidden parentage, and devastating revelations in an intensely emotional register.
Gemma’s unresolved wartime history resurfaces through her relationship with her teenage son Pietro.
Films like Twice Born, and why
Atonement
shared sweeping wartime romance, nonlinear revelation, and emotionally intense melodrama
The Search
shared Balkan conflict setting, romantic tragedy, and morally harrowing wartime drama
The English Patient
shared intergenerational trauma, forbidden intimacy, and nonlinear historical melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- Sergio Castellitto
- Release Date
- 2012-09-13
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (480)
Cast
- Penélope Cruz
- Emile Hirsch
- Adnan Hasković
- Saadet Işıl Aksoy
- Pietro Castellitto
- Mira Furlan
- Jovan Divjak
- Vinicio Marchioni
- Branko Đurić
- Jane Birkin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Twice Born about?
- A mother’s return to postwar Sarajevo unlocks a buried love story, impossible choices, and the devastating cost of survival.
- What is Twice Born like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Twice Born as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Twice Born violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Twice Born as moderate.
- What did critics think of Twice Born?
- Critics broadly found the adaptation overwrought and overlong, with contrived dialogue, lumbering storytelling, and manipulative twists that weakened its wartime melodrama.
- Which films are like Twice Born?
- Films with a similar feel include Atonement, The Search, and The English Patient.
- How long is Twice Born?
- Twice Born runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch Twice Born?
- In United States, Twice Born streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
