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Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Rinko Kikuchi, Adriana Barraza ... see more see more... , Koji Yakusho , Said Tarchani , Boubker Ait El Caid , Elle Fanning , Nathan Gamble , Mohamed Akhzam , Peter Wight , Abdelkader Bara , Mustapha Rachidi , Driss Roukhe , Clifton Collins Jr. , Robert Esquivel , Michael Peña , Yuko Murata , Satoshi Nikaido , Mahima Chaudhry

The tragic aftermath of human carelessness travels around the world in this multi-narrative drama from filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu. Richard (Brad Pitt) and Susan (Cate Blanchett) are a coupl... read more read more...e from the United States who have traveled to Morocco in Northern Africa on a vacation after the death of one of their children has sent Susan into a deep depression. Richard and Susan's other two children have been left in the care of Amelia (Adriana Barraza), their housekeeper. Amelia is originally from Mexico, and her oldest son is getting married in Tijuana. Unable to find someone who can watch the kids, or to obtain permission to take the day off, Amelia takes the children with her as she travels across the border for the celebration. Around the same time, in Morocco a poor farmer buys a hunting rifle, and he gives it to his sons to scare off the predatory animals that have been thinning out their goat herd. The boys decide to test the weapon's range by shooting at a bus far away; the shot hits Susan in the shoulder, and soon she's bleeding severely, while police are convinced the attack is the work of terrorists. In Japan, Chieko (Rinko Kikuchi) is a teenage deaf-mute whose mother recently committed suicide. This despairing, confused girl experiences such rage and frustration that she causes her volleyball team to lose a match, and later yanks her underwear off and begins exposing herself to boys in a crowded restaurant. Chieko's father then struggles to reach past the emotional distance which separates him and his daughter. Babel earned Alejandro González Iñárritu the prize for Best Director at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

76% liked it

347,320 ratings

Critics

69% liked it

194 critics

R, 2 hr. 22 min.

Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Release Date: October 27, 2006

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DVD Release Date: February 20, 2007

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Stats: 26,160 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (26,160)

  • romy861
    May 26, 2012
    romy861
    This is one we have had lying around the house since it came out. (husband bought the DVD but never got around to watching it). Actually got a shock when i put it on and realized the little girl was Elle Fanning, who certainly doesn't look that young these days! (I guess that mea... read morens we have had this movie for 6 years!). The only reason I bothered now is I recently saw Mammoth, which was unfavorably compared to this.
    Well this was certainly better. It follows 3 stories which are all linked in some way. All also have some type of tragedy. The Japanese story did not seem to link in as well as the others with only a very slight connection, but I still really liked it.
    The Morrocan story is good as well, though I have to say it wouldn't be my idea of a relaxing place to go and work on a strained marriage. I did end up feeling sorry for the parents of the two boys, and the other family who got abused over "owning" the gun.
    Probably the most relatable story was of Amelia the Mexican nanny. I really did feel sorry for her.
    This is very nicely filmed and cast are all great (though I still can't stand Brad Pitt - one of the things putting me off watching, I think).
    If I had one complaint, it is that it drags on quite a bit at the end. I think the last half hour could have been trimmed a bit, which would have given all the endings a bit more impact. Overall a good film, but certainly not a feel-good movie, be warned!
  • phubbs1
    May 14, 2012
    phubbs1
    Well I started to watch this and at once thought...'oh no what have I done!?, this looks lame', 'I spent how much on this apparent dubbed movie' *weep*

    It then progressed with the individual stories, each one being a little more intriguing by the minute, until all of a sudden yo... read moreur hooked and really thinking, what's gonna happen here? why? how will it end? how do they connect?

    The stories are very simple everyday (almost) things that you could relate to (here and there). To be honest I thought it was gonna be boring and I only went because Pitt is a big name and I was enticed by that (the shame), but the movie is really good, really gets you. I wasn't emotionally upset about it but you just wanna see how the story unfolds, it really sucks you in well.

    The weakest link was the story set in Japan in my opinion, they all link but this section was a little dull compared to the others.
    I was really surprised with this, not usually my thing but it was good. Pitt was also good and not in an ego trip kinda way, very grounded.
  • fb1463751009
    March 18, 2012
    fb1463751009
    "Babel". Fitting title.

    The narrative has many different story arcs involving many different characters in many different settings and eventually, these story arcs intersect one another to make a cohesive plotline, ala "Crash" except "Babel" is much more mature, stylized, and le... read moress preachy. Easily, the most interesting story arc is the one involving the deaf and insecure deaf Japanese girl, Chieko. Innovating plot developments and turns are the name of the game. It's what keeps "Babel" fresh throughout and what makes "Babel" a movie to experience.
  • jamers2011
    February 3, 2012
    jamers2011
    I thought this was absolutely incredible! Excellent film making in my opinion. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu takes another multi-faceted story but this time, he perfects it! Babel is even better than his 21 Grams of 2003. The story is emotional; the characters are fascinat... read moreing; the music is gripping and the script is wonderful. The acting is outstanding. HowJennifer Hudson won an Oscar over Rinko Kikuchi and Adriana Barraza I don't know, both were absolutely stunning. A great film about people and communication! Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Babel is one of the best films of the great film year 2006!
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    It was as good as Crash.
  • fb732260458
    May 12, 2011
    fb732260458
    Very moving and atmospheric work from this able Mexican director - in fact, it's one of those movies that you will hate to watch, yet be glad you went along for the ride.
  • jarobb3
    March 14, 2011
    jarobb3
    Complex and heart-wrenching, Babel keeps your stomach tied in knots throughout the entire 2.5 hours. The funny thing is: I'm not crazy about feeling depressed and stressed out for 150 minute periods of time. Babel is complex and deep, as far as the storyline goes, but the emotion... read moreal impact is (by design, from what I can tell) one-dimensional. Really could have benefited from some comic relief or other device to release tension.

    With that said, the vision and execution of the film is top class, although the underlying message seems to be : "the gringos always come out okay while they ruin everyone else's lives."
  • DreamExtractor
    March 2, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    What film can show so much of four great cultures and a series of events that will lead to attempted murder
  • ironclad1609
    February 27, 2011
    ironclad1609
    Probably the movie with the best title ever as compared to its point and meaning. The topic of misunderstanding, not being able to communicate and listen is omnipresent. The acting is great, the four storylines are nicely put together. However, the film could have been a little m... read moreore fast-paced sometimes and a few scenes are more vulgar than they'd have to be.
    The story of the numb Japanese school girl was the saddest one in a way, although the others were way more dramatic. But last year's Crash, a similar movie in many aspects, touched me a lot more somehow.
    Still, well done, including some outstanding acting and definitely worth seeing.
  • nadirairdiana
    January 12, 2011
    nadirairdiana
    Photography is outstanding, probably the best part the director made. However, some scenes are unnecessary long and make you bored. Not easy to watch for some people, really complicated movie. Its central theme is insecurities among the people.The movie taken in various parts of ... read morethe world, bringing different views on overcoming problems. Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett was wonderful. Very emotional and in some way, disturbing. Interesting movie that are not for everyone.

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Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
November 10, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's a great film made with style and heart and hope, a cautionary parable and an almost certain Oscar contender. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
November 10, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

[Iñárritu] remains as entranced as ever by fate, loss and the interconnectedness of humankind, and I admire him for it. But Babel isn't the last or best word on that subject. It's just a lot of talk. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
November 10, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

True to its title, Babel hinges on missed and faulty communications of both the personal and the cultural variety. It's a sweeping movie about characters who often suffer from tunnel vision.

Michael Booth
November 10, 2006
Michael Booth, Denver Post

Babel is the masterful third installment in this trilogy of truth and consequence. Full Review

Bill Muller
November 10, 2006
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

As each story comes to its conclusion, some characters rise above, while others are crushed under the weight of the day's events. The tales are equal parts miracle and tragedy. And that's often what l... Full Review

Richard Roeper
November 9, 2006
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

One of the most challenging and saddest movies of the year -- and also one of the most memorable. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
November 9, 2006
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

[Babel] is, in short, one of the year's best movies.

Jonathan Rosenbaum
November 9, 2006
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The filmmakers don't seem to understand or care much about many of these people, but they use them to unload ideas about violence, communication, and tribal misunderstandings -- trading on suffering a... Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
November 9, 2006
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Good intentions don't always make good movies. And this one simply wasn't worth their effort. Full Review

Ty Burr
November 4, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

For a movie that insists on the truth of humanity's mutual dependency, Babel feels disconnected from anything but its own artistic determinism. Full Review

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    • Richard: What about you? How many wives do you have?
    • Anwar: I can only afford one.
    • Yussef: I killed the American, I was the only one who shot at you. They did nothing... nothing. Kill me, but save my brother, he did nothing... nothing. Save my brother... he did nothing.
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Babel Trivia

  • Babel talks about stories happened in Japan ,the States , Morrocco &  Answer »
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  • Who played in all of the following films? Troy The Mexican Meet Joe Black Thelma and Louise Legends of the Fall 12 Monkeys Babel Mr.and Mrs. Smith  Answer »
  • In the film "Babel" how is Cate Blanchetts character wounded?  Answer »
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