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Drama

A Couple (2022): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

A Couple (2022) movie poster

A Couple is a 2022 drama directed by Frederick Wiseman, starring Nathalie Boutefeu as Sophie Tolstoï. It runs 1 hour 3 minutes and earned $18,334 worldwide. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.

IMDb rating
5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
worldwide gross
$18.3K
Echo Score
74
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A Couple (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 3m (63 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
French
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is A Couple About?

The premise of A Couple without spoilers.

Sophia Tolstoy offers a revealing look into her complex and enduring 36-year marriage to celebrated author Leo Tolstoy, the father of their thirteen children. Through her recollections, the film explores the joys and profound hardships they faced, blurring the boundaries between their private lives and the public perception of their iconic literary partnership. It’s a deeply personal and intimate portrait of a remarkable union.

A Couple Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • female protagonist
  • french speaking
  • love letters
  • nature
  • countryside
  • tree
  • frog
  • flowers
  • 1800's
  • year 1900
  • russian literature
  • writer
+38 more
  • novelist
  • family relationships
  • beach
  • ocean
  • plants
  • vegetation
  • character says i'm alone
  • loneliness
  • landscape
  • complain
  • swamp
  • couple relationship
  • island
  • long marriage engagement
  • long engagement
  • admiration
  • fall in love
  • reference to tolstoy
  • long term relationship
  • personal diary
  • dispute
  • spouse
  • married couple
  • reconciliation
  • monologue
  • behaviour
  • insects
  • one character
  • lillies
  • aquatic plant
  • spring
  • sadness
  • russian writer
  • russian culture
  • inside the mind
  • frustration
  • regrets marrying
  • existential loneliness
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Cast & crew

A Couple Cast & Characters

Nathalie Boutefeu plays Sophie Tolstoï in A Couple. Directed by Frederick Wiseman.

From the director

More from Frederick Wiseman

More films directed by Frederick Wiseman, best-rated first: Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros, EX LIBRIS: The New York Public Library, Domestic Violence and National Gallery.

Full filmography
Ratings

A Couple Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave A Couple 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 74/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (62).

74 /100

A Couple Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, A Couple offers a thoughtfully crafted portrait that leans more toward admiration than criticism. Critics highlight the film’s measured direction and the compelling central performance, while noting the austere visual style and occasional monotony in the monologues. The narrative structure is praised for its inventive use of diaries, yet some reviewers found the pacing demanding. Consequently, the film stands as a nuanced work that rewards attentive viewers despite its occasional restraint.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s visual composition and production design receive generally positive acknowledgment. Critics mention the calming garden visuals that counterpoint the emotional intensity, and describe the production as intelligent and expressive, though one reviewer calls the overall aesthetic painfully austere. These mixed remarks situate the artistic execution in the upper‑mid range.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the central performance is widely lauded. Reviewers note the actor’s laser‑like focus, nuanced conveyance of anger, longing, and bitter amusement, and! describe the portrayal as both intense and graceful. The sustained emotional resonance offsets occasional monotony in the monologues, leading to a high assessment of character work.

  • Story & Flow 68

    Regarding story and flow, the narrative structure is seen as inventive yet demanding. Critics appreciate the diary‑based framing that documents history, but point out the film’s slow pacing and the need for multiple viewings to become fully absorbed. This blend of originality and challenging rhythm places the storytelling in a moderate range.

  • Sensory Experience 72

    In the sensory experience, the film’s visual style is noted for its! understated garden imagery that softens the tense dialogue, and the sound design is described as expressive. While some find the overall aesthetic austere, the prevailing view is that the sensory elements support the emotional tone, earning a solid score.

  • Rewatch Factor 62

    The rewatch factor reflects the film’s divided appeal. Several critics acknowledge that repeated viewings reveal deeper layers and appreciate the lasting emotional impact, yet others describe the experience as difficult to endure beyond a single sitting. This ambivalence results in a modest rewatch rating.

Box office

A Couple Box Office

A Couple grossed $18,334 worldwide.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$18.3K

US & Canada
$18.3K
Details

A Couple Also Known As

7 alternative titles, including “어 커플” and “부부”.

Also known as
  • 어 커플
  • 부부
  • Пара
  • 托尔斯泰的妻子
  • 托爾斯泰的妻子
  • Tolstói y Sophia, una pareja
  • Um Casal: Sophia e Tolstói

Seen A Couple?

FAQ

A Couple FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of A Couple, each answered in a sentence.

How long is A Couple?

A Couple runs 1 hour 3 minutes (63 minutes).

When was A Couple released?

A Couple was released on November 11, 2022.

Who directed A Couple?

A Couple was directed by Frederick Wiseman.

More films by Frederick Wiseman

Who is in the cast of A Couple?

A Couple stars Nathalie Boutefeu as Sophie Tolstoï.

How much did A Couple make at the box office?

A Couple grossed $18,334 worldwide.

How is A Couple rated?

A Couple has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic and 2.9/5 on Letterboxd.

Does A Couple have a post-credit scene?

No. A Couple has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is A Couple in?

The original language of A Couple is French.

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