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Comedy drama

Synonyms (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Synonyms (2019) movie poster

Synonyms is a 2019 comedy drama directed by Nadav Lapid, starring Tom Mercier as Yoav, Louise Chevillotte and Uria Hayik. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes and earned $501,223 worldwide on a $2.5 million budget. Critics gave it 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
87%
worldwide gross
$501.2K
Echo Score
74
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Synonyms (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 3m (123 min)
Director
Nadav Lapid
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
French
Budget
$2.5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Synonyms About?

The premise of Synonyms without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Yoav, an Israeli man, moves to Paris with dreams of a new life, but encounters hardship and disappointment. Struggling to adapt, he becomes fixated on transforming himself into a Frenchman, meticulously studying the language and culture. Determined to shed his past and find acceptance, Yoav embarks on a personal journey of reinvention, using a dictionary as his guide in an attempt to erase his Hebrew identity and find redemption.

Synonyms Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • erection
  • male nudity
  • male rear nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • man runs naked
  • man wears tighty whities
  • gay subtext
  • gay interest
  • male star appears nude
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male pubic hair
  • french
+38 more
  • man in a bathtub
  • man masturbates
  • penis
  • man in a shower
  • man and woman carry a naked man
  • ex israeli soldier
  • male model
  • man undresses
  • man touches his penis
  • man puts a finger up his anus
  • man licks his finger
  • threesome
  • homoerotism
  • running naked
  • gay
  • woman undresses
  • bisexuality
  • jewish
  • fleeing
  • identity
  • pubic hair
  • shower
  • one word title
  • male protagonist
  • sex scene
  • feeling cold
  • empty apartment
  • small apartment
  • dictionary
  • father son relationship
  • man wears underwear
  • man wears briefs
  • israeli
  • iraeli in france
  • farnco israeli
  • paris france
  • hebrew
  • autobiographical
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Cast & crew

Synonyms Cast & Characters

Tom Mercier leads the cast as Yoav, with Louise Chevillotte as Caroline and Uria Hayik as Yaron. Directed by Nadav Lapid; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Nadav Lapid

More films directed by Nadav Lapid, best-rated first: Policeman, Ahed's Knee, The Kindergarten Teacher and Yes.

Full filmography
Ratings

Synonyms Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Synonyms 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and 84 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 74/100, strongest in sensory experience (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

74 /100

Synonyms Echo Score Breakdown

In overall terms, Synonyms presents a largely confident exploration of identity with a vivid visual approach and insightful thematic ambition. Its episodic structure and relentless shifts create a dynamic narrative environment, though at times pacing feels uneven and conceptual extremes verge on self-indulgence. Performances, especially Mercier’s kinetic lead turn, anchor the film’s emotional core, even amid its abstraction. The result is a predominantly compelling, if occasionally taxing, cinematic experience.

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

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, Synonyms delivers a striking visual palette characterized by saturated colors, dynamic whip pans, and thoughtful production design. Direction exhibits a bold willingness to shift styles, though the episodic editing occasionally disrupts narrative cohesion. The cinematography’s assertive framing and bold color choices establish a confident aesthetic identity. Overall, the film’s craft elevates its thematic depth through a vivid, meticulously composed visual language.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, Synonyms thrives on a forceful lead performance that channels inner turmoil and cultural dislocation with urgency. The protagonist’s emotional journey is conveyed through precise physicality and expressive nuance, though supporting figures remain more opaque. Chemistry among characters is deliberate but distant, reinforcing the film’s thematic alienation. Net, the portrayal sustains interest despite varying depth in secondary characterization.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In narrative terms, Synonyms employs an episodic structure that underscores thematic exploration but occasionally impairs momentum. Plot coherence yields to thematic alchemy, creating unpredictable shifts that some viewers may find uneven. The pacing accelerates in moments of crisis but slows in reflective passages, balancing originality with intermittent weariness. Overall, the story presents a daring conceptual framework that engages intellectually, even as it challenges conventional narrative flow.

  • Sensory Experience 90

    When considering sensory experience, Synonyms offers a potent audiovisual landscape anchored by a resonant soundtrack and nuanced sound design. The score complements the visuals with atmospheric restraint, while ambient sounds heighten the protagonist’s disquiet. Visual style remains consistent, with bold color grading and dynamic camera movement enhancing thematic tension. Ultimately, the film’s sensory elements coalesce into an immersive backdrop that amplifies its introspective tone.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Regarding rewatch value, Synonyms presents a complex thematic and stylistic tapestry that rewards analysis more than casual repetition. The film’s intense pacing and abstract sequences may feel taxing on subsequent viewings, yet its layered symbolism and aesthetic richness invite deeper attention. While its narrative opacity can reduce comfort in later watches, attentive viewers are likely to uncover fresh interpretive insights. Overall, later viewings lean toward thoughtful engagement over light entertainment.

Plot

Synonyms Plot Summary

What happens in Synonyms from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In Paris, Yoav, a young Israeli man, arrives with the aim of distancing himself from his Israeli identity. Not long after settling into an empty apartment, his belongings are stolen while he’s in the shower, leaving him naked, penniless, and desperate. He knocks on the doors of neighboring flats for help, and two young neighbors, Émile and Caroline, come to his aid. They find him unconscious in the bathtub, dress him, and lend him a little money. Émile, the son of a wealthy industrialist, feels an immediate pull toward him, while Caroline, who studies oboe at the conservatory, becomes a constant presence in his life as he tries to rebuild.

Full summary

The whole story of Synonyms, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Synonyms Box Office & Budget

Synonyms grossed $501,223 worldwide on a $2.5 million budget, 20% of what it cost. $206,003 came from the US and Canada and $295,220 (59%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$501.2K

20% of its budget back

US & Canada
$206K
International
$295.2K
Budget
$2.5M
US & Canada 41% Rest of the world 59%
Videos

Synonyms Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 5 featurettes.

All 7 videos
Synonyms – Official U.S. Trailer
  • Clip
  • Featurette SYNONYMS Director Q&A | TIFF 2019
  • Featurette Nadav Lapid on the Story of Synonyms and Casting Tom Mercier
  • Featurette Nadav Lapid on Israeli Identity, Paris, and the Message of Synonyms | NYFF57
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Synonyms?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of the main character who moves to Paris at the beginning of the film?

Details

Synonyms Also Known As

17 alternative titles, including “Micro Robert” and “Milim Nirdafot”.

Also known as
  • Micro Robert
  • Milim Nirdafot
  • Sinônimos
  • 시너님스
  • Синонимы
  • Sinónimos
  • מילים נרדפות
  • 字旅巴黎
  • Синоніми
  • 同义词
  • Eş Anlamlılar
  • Synonyma
+5 more
  • Συνώνυμα
  • Synonimy
  • Synonymá
  • Синоними
  • 出走巴黎

Seen Synonyms?

FAQ

Synonyms FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Synonyms?

Synonyms runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).

When was Synonyms released?

Synonyms was released on October 25, 2019.

Who directed Synonyms?

Synonyms was directed by Nadav Lapid.

More films by Nadav Lapid

Who is in the cast of Synonyms?

Synonyms stars Tom Mercier as Yoav, Louise Chevillotte as Caroline and Uria Hayik as Yaron, among 15 credited actors.

How much did Synonyms make at the box office?

Synonyms grossed $501,223 worldwide ($206,003 domestic, $295,220 international) on a budget of $2.5 million.

How is Synonyms rated?

Synonyms has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.

Does Synonyms have a post-credit scene?

No. Synonyms has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Synonyms in?

The original language of Synonyms is French.

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