Detachment

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Detachment

2012,

1h 37m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

59%

69 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

69 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Henry Barthes (Adrien Brody) is a substitute teacher who shuns emotional connections, and never stays long enough in one district to bond with his students or colleagues. Troubled and lost, Henry lands at a public school where an apathetic student body and disinterested parents have created a frustrated, burned-out group of teachers and administrators. Inadvertently, Henry becomes a role model to his disaffected students and bonds with a teenage runaway who is just as lost as he is.

Critics Consensus

Detachment's heart is in the right place, but overall it doesn't offer any solutions to its passionate ranting.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 8, 2017

A

A gripping drama, Detachment offers a gut-wrenching look at the school system, as told by the unsung heroes--the teachers.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Jul 15, 2012

3/5

Detachment has such original energy and is so infused with righteous anger that it proves hard to dismiss.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jul 13, 2012

1/5

Grappling with the dilapidation of America's school system is fair enough, but the movie is painfully undone by its pretentious poetry of despair.

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Sonia Zadurian

CineVue

Jan 26, 2019

3/5

Detachment clearly has high aspirations, but unfortunately its jumbled narration means that it falls just shy of the mark.

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

Jan 8, 2019

3/5

Tony Kaye's ragged, expressionistic aesthetic may have its detractors but it intuitively suits the wrought scenario of Detachment.

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Neely Swanson

Easy Reader (California)

Sep 18, 2017

This is imitation Polanski, and not a good imitation at that.

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Jan 24, 2019

Detachment is often criticised as poorly executed. Yet it is important to see that the movie is actually a state of being as Henry defines the house of Usher. It does not offer a strong end, yet merely a snapshot of day-to-day life. The movie is a slap in the face which everyone should take. Detachment made me empathise every single second of every single individual in it.

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Rey R

Oct 24, 2018

A really terrible follow-up from the Director who brought us the excellent 'American History X'. It's basically teenage level/Hallmark style shoe gazing for the entire duration. 'Hey man it's like so sad, that we're all sad and like kids hate school man, but what about the parents'. Basically dirge.

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Ron P

Oct 16, 2018

Beautifully poignant film about the disillusionment inherent in teaching disaffected children. Though unrelentingly somber, there remains a persistent hope that is stressed in the last scene. Strong performances.

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Anakin W

Aug 27, 2018

'Detachment' is absorbing but messy in terms of execution. Adrien Brody gives one of his greatest performances and is supported by a handful of high-profile actors. Bryan Cranston is sorely wasted and most of the plot lines presented are not given enough depth.

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Jul 15, 2018

It is depressing and contains many triggers but at the same time seems to miss something that could have subverted the final message and/or elevate one's spirit.

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Albus R

Feb 6, 2018

Strange story, but I liked it.

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Tony Kaye

Director

Adrien Brody

Henry Barthes

Marcia Gay Harden

Carol Dearden

James Caan

Mr. Seaboldt

Christina Hendricks

Ms. Madison

Lucy Liu

Dr. Parker

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Synopsis

Henry Barthes (Adrien Brody) is a substitute teacher who shuns emotional connections, and never stays long enough in one district to bond with his students or colleagues. Troubled and lost, Henry lands at a public school where an apathetic student body and disinterested parents have created a frustrated, burned-out group of teachers and administrators. Inadvertently, Henry becomes a role model to his disaffected students and bonds with a teenage runaway who is just as lost as he is.

Director: Tony Kaye
Producer: Austin Stark, Benji Kohn, Chris Papavasiliou, Bingo Gubelmann, Greg Shapiro, Carl Lund
Screenwriter: Carl Lund
Distributor: Tribeca Film
Production Co: Paper Street Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 16, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.2K
Runtime: 1h 37m

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