The Advocate with Colin Firth: DVD Cover

    The Advocate Director: Leslie Megahey Cast: Colin Firth, Ian Holm, Donald Pleasence, Nicol Williamson

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    • DVD Release Date: 07/01/2003
    • Original Release: 1993
    • Rating: Rated R
    • Sales Rank: 20,212

    Viewer Rating: (1 ratings)

    Detailed Rating: "Performances" See All

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    • Overview
    • Editorial Reviews
    • Scenes
    • Customer Reviews
    • Cast & Crew
    • Full Product Details

    Features

    Closed Caption; Dolby Digital surround sound; Spanish-language track; Widescreen (1.85:1), enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions

    Full Product Details

    Scene Index

    Side #1 --
    1. Wrongfully Condemned [4:19]
    2. Country Pleasures [8:26]
    3. Simple Truths [4:37]
    4. Defending Beasts? [5:28]
    5. An Appeal To Reason [7:28]
    6. A Cock Crows [7:30]
    7. The Witch's Prophecy [2:24]
    8. Powers of Persuasion [4:55]
    9. A Man Of Conviction? [4:18]
    10. The State Vs. The Pig [8:11]
    11. A Secret Order [7:58]
    12. Just Tonight [3:05]
    13. Closing Arguments [6:52]
    14. The Object of Desire [5:21]
    15. No Need For Fear [7:13]
    16. A Guilty Pig? [6:37]
    17. Parting Ways [5:08]
    18. End Credits [2:17]

    Scene Index

    Editorial Reviews

    In France in 1452, the dark superstition of the Medieval era was beginning to give way to the more enlightened attitudes of the Renaissance. But the changes were slow in coming, as Richard Courtois (Colin Firth) learns when he moves to the country village of Abbeville, owned and ruled by the Seigneur (Nicol Williamson). Courtois is a lawyer, or an "advocate" as they were called in those days, and the Seigneur has hired him to act as a public defender for those who cannot provide their own legal counsel. One odd remnant of the dark ages that Abbeville has not purged from its legal system is the practice of prosecuting animals as well as humans for crimes; as Courtois arrives, he nearly witnesses the execution of both a man and a donkey who were found guilty of bestiality (the donkey was spared at the last minute because it could not be proved that she consented to the act). So Courtois is not exactly surprised when one of his first cases finds him defending a pig against charges of murdering a small child. Courtois soon discovers that the pig belongs to Samira (Amina Annabi), a beautiful gypsy woman he finds himself falling in love with. Losing the pig would mean losing many meals down the road, so to win Samira's good tidings, Courtois must prove the pig innocent -- which means finding the real killer. However, since the Seigneur is eager to see Courtois (or anyone, for that matter) marry his daughter Filette (Lysette Anthony), his affection for Samira may not be good for his future employment prospects. This period comedy/drama also features Donald Pleasance, Ian Holm, and Michael Gough. Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

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    • Ratings: 1Reviews: 1

    hidden gemby katknit

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    January 02, 2009: Set in medieval times, The Advocate opens with the journey of idealistic new lawyer Richard Courtois from Paris to the southern French village of Abbeville, where he hopes to make a difference in the lives of the downtrodden peasants. In no time at all, he's overwhelmed by a backlog of cases the likes of which he has never encountered. When he finds that the majority involve animals accused of such crimes as bestiality and murder, Courtois simply cannot accept the absurdity of such a practice. But his attempts to reform the local system of justice are vigorously impeded by the corruption of the gentry.

    This movie has much to recommend it, from the excellence of its cast, to the scrupulously rendered settings and costumes, to the factual underpinnings of its plot. Based loosely upon the life of medieval advocate Bartholomew Chassene, it achieves a pleasant balance between subtle comedy and drama, a commentary on the readiness of the powerful to capitalize upon the fears and superstitions of their day.

    (Warning to those who find nudity offensive - there is quite a bit, both male and female, although the love scenes are not excessively graphic.)