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Drama

Saint Omer (2023): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Saint Omer (2023) movie poster

Saint Omer is a 2023 drama directed by Alice Diop, starring Kayije Kagame as Rama, Aurélia Petit and Xavier Maly. It runs 2 hours 2 minutes and earned $953,502 worldwide. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best International Film at the Spirit Awards 2023. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.

IMDb rating
6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
95%
worldwide gross
$953.5K
award nominations
2
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Saint Omer (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 2m (122 min)
Director
Alice Diop
Genre
Drama
Original language
French
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Saint Omer About?

The premise of Saint Omer without spoilers.

During a trial in Saint Omer, a novelist named Rama witnesses the case of Laurence Coly, a woman accused of killing her baby. Observing the proceedings and Coly’s composed demeanor, Rama finds her own beliefs challenged. The unsettling testimonies and Coly’s own statements force Rama to confront complex questions about justice, motherhood, and the ambiguities of human behavior, leading to a deeply personal and introspective journey.

Saint Omer Themes & Keywords

· 38 tags
  • france
  • location in title
  • novelist
  • daughter
  • immigrant
  • courtroom
  • life
  • justice
  • case
  • partner
  • title directed by female
  • f rated
+26 more
  • triple f rated
  • saint omer
  • north of france
  • jury trial
  • trial
  • trial for murder
  • murder of daughter
  • lawyer
  • crying
  • crying woman
  • city name in title
  • based on real case
  • reference to marguerite duras
  • interracial couple
  • 2010s
  • senegalese woman
  • mother daughter relationship
  • reminiscence
  • pregnancy
  • education
  • caught in a lie
  • african culture
  • marabout
  • looking at the camera
  • female infanticide
  • infanticide
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Cast & crew

Saint Omer Cast & Characters

Kayije Kagame leads the cast as Rama, with Aurélia Petit as Maître Vaudenay and Xavier Maly as Luc Dumontet. Directed by Alice Diop; 16 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Alice Diop

More films directed by Alice Diop, best-rated first: We, RER B, Towards Tenderness and Danton’s Death.

Full filmography
Ratings

Saint Omer Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Saint Omer 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 71/100, strongest in character & emotion (82) and weakest in rewatch factor (62).

71 /100

Saint Omer Echo Score Breakdown

Saint Omer elicits sharply divergent reactions, with critics lauding its disciplined direction, cerebral approach, and thematic depth, while many viewers find its pacing laborious and its visual language minimalistic. The film’s courtroom framework is praised for fostering an austere atmosphere, yet audiences report fatigue from prolonged dialogue and a lack of cinematic dynamism. Acting performances consistently receive commendation, providing emotional anchors amid the restrained aesthetic. Consequently, the work stands as a thoughtful, if polarizing, meditation on justice and identity that rewards attentive viewers but may deter those seeking narrative propulsion.

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

  • Art & Craft 68

    In terms of direction and visual craftsmanship, the film is described by critics as a fresh, austere reinterpretation, yet several viewers criticize its static staging and limited camera movement. Praise centers on moments of evocative cinematography and disciplined framing, while detractors note an absence of compelling visual variety. The overall impression is that the artistry, though purposeful, does not fully engage all audiences, resulting in a modestly positive assessment.

  • Character & Emotion 82

    When evaluating performances, both critics and many viewers highlight the strength of the lead actresses, citing nuanced portrayals and powerful emotional restraint. Critics emphasize the commanding presence of the cast, and audience comments frequently label the acting as “sensational” or “excellent.” Although a few reviewers find dialogue monotone, the consensus affirms that character work anchors the film, yielding a high score for this aspect.

  • Story & Flow 72

    Regarding narrative structure, the film is praised for its meditative exploration of truth, justice, and cultural tension, with critics noting its originality and intellectual rigor. Conversely, several viewers describe the pacing as sluggish and the storyline as disjointed, limiting engagement. The mixed feedback balances innovative storytelling against perceived narrative inertia, resulting in a moderately positive rating.

  • Sensory Experience 66

    The sensory experience, encompassing sound and visual tone, receives both commendation and critique. Critics remark on the film’s hypnotic quietude and clear auditory focus, while some audience members find the soundscape and visual style underwhelming or monotonous. Positive remarks highlight beautiful cinematography in certain scenes, but overall the sensory impact is viewed as restrained, leading to a middling score.

  • Rewatch Factor 62

    Assessing replay value, the film’s intellectual depth and strong performances invite repeat viewings for some, as noted by critics and a few appreciative users. However, many audience comments cite boredom, excessive length, and slow pacing as barriers to revisiting the work. This split perspective produces a modest rewatch factor, reflecting limited but present appeal for repeat engagement.

Box office

Saint Omer Box Office

Saint Omer grossed $953,502 worldwide. $213,953 came from the US and Canada and $739,549 (78%) from the rest of the world.

2023 box office

Worldwide gross

$953.5K

US & Canada
$214K
International
$739.5K
US & Canada 22% Rest of the world 78%
Awards

Saint Omer Awards & Nominations

Saint Omer earned 2 award nominations, including Best International Film at the Spirit Awards 2023. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Saint Omer Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 3 trailers, 1 teaser and 1 clip.

Official HD Trailer
  • Trailer Official Theatrical Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Teaser Official UK Trailer #2
  • Clip Clip
Details

Saint Omer Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “เธอนั้นหรือคือหญิงบาป” and “母罪假定”.

Also known as
  • เธอนั้นหรือคือหญิงบาป
  • 母罪假定
  • Saint-Omer
  • サントメール ある被告
  • 생토메르
  • Сент-Омер
  • Saint Omer, el pueblo contra Laurence Coly
  • 圣奥梅尔
  • סנט-עומר
  • El poble contra Laurence Coly
  • 聖奧梅爾殺嬰案
  • سانت أومير

Seen Saint Omer?

FAQ

Saint Omer FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Saint Omer, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Saint Omer?

Saint Omer runs 2 hours 2 minutes (122 minutes).

When was Saint Omer released?

Saint Omer was released on January 13, 2023.

Who directed Saint Omer?

Saint Omer was directed by Alice Diop.

More films by Alice Diop

Who is in the cast of Saint Omer?

Saint Omer stars Kayije Kagame as Rama, Aurélia Petit as Maître Vaudenay and Xavier Maly as Luc Dumontet, among 16 credited actors.

How much did Saint Omer make at the box office?

Saint Omer grossed $953,502 worldwide ($213,953 domestic, $739,549 international).

How is Saint Omer rated?

Saint Omer has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Was Saint Omer nominated for any awards?

Saint Omer received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Saint Omer have a post-credit scene?

No. Saint Omer has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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