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Poster for Disgrace

Disgrace

2008 · 2h · R Drama
Directed by Steve Jacobs

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Overview

Disgrace is the story of a South African professor of English who loses everything: his reputation, his job, his peace of mind, his good looks, his dreams of artistic success, and finally even his ability to protect his cherished daughter. After having an affair with a student, he moves to the Eastern Cape, where he gets caught up in a mess of post-apartheid politics.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
83%
Tomatometer
Fresh

It's an enormously complicated story with great potential for reductive schmaltz, but this is avoided thanks to Anna Maria Monticelli's sharp, sensitive screenplay and superb performances.

Nina Caplan, Time Out
Fresh

The movie eventually begins to wilt under the sober, plodding direction of Steve Jacobs, but the thoughtful screenplay gives Malkovich a complex, increasingly reflective character arc that he plays with great feeling.

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Fresh

Demanding but ultimately rewarding...

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
Rotten

Unfortunately, though Malkovich remains a compelling and cerebral screen presence, he comes off as too innately detached and prickly to elicit much empathy (not that his character is asking for it, mind you).

Gary Goldstein, Chicago Tribune
Fresh

Disgrace is an ugly movie, at times torturous to watch. It probably needs to be.

Ty Burr, Boston Globe

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