The Kindness of Strangers

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The Kindness of Strangers

2019

1h 52m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

29%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Ordinary, disparate strangers living in New York City go about their business. Clara runs away from her violent husband with her two boys and meets four people who are also going through difficult times. Alice, a nurse on the verge of cracking, Mark, accused of a crime he did not commit, John Peter, his lawyer, and Jeff, an unambitious man, find they are all connected as their paths intertwine.

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Critics Consensus

A talented onscreen ensemble is done no favors by The Kindness of Strangers, which searches for meaning and comes up empty.

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Nell Minow

AWFJ.org

10/14/2021

Zoe Kazan gives a luminous performance in a story about the transformative impact of kindness and forgiveness

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Tomris Laffly

RogerEbert.com

02/14/2020

1.5/4

A syrupy brew thick with twee and an abundance of cringe-inducing moments pulling at heartstrings.

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Monica Castillo

TheWrap

02/14/2020

The movie functions like one of those star-studded Garry Marshall ensemble movies but made terribly sad until the last few minutes, when a tacked-on happy ending arrives in time for the credits.

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Loren King

AWFJ.org

10/14/2021

The glum, disparate stories never gel into a satisfying whole. Scherfig is entitled to a misfire when she's a filmmaker of skill and sensitivity; I'm looking forward to what she does next.

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Sandie Angulo Chen

AWFJ.org

10/14/2021

This isn't my favorite Lone Scherfig drama (that remains An Education), but she still knows how to draw out nuanced performances.

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Cate Marquis

AWFJ.org

10/14/2021

Audiences who like neat, tidy narratives might not like this film but its big-hearted sympathy for people on the margins of society and hope-filled belief in the power of kindness will win others over...

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joe d

@Welshboy 01/19/2025

Excellent acting, has exactly the right atmosphere for the New York story. Beautifully filmed & well crafted from an obviously v talented filmmaker. I can only assume the people who have given it bad reviews aren't much into storytelling and subtlety.

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Martin Geoffrey H

04/04/2023

A lovely story of six people who do not know each other with their own problems and how somehow their lives connect. This all results in an intense story.

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Anita F

02/04/2023

Thoroughly heart warming! Don't listen to the critics.

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Lorna C

01/15/2023

This film was like a book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster building empathy with characters.

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DIISIN W

10/24/2022

I don't make this a habit to write a review before the film is over, but I'm just a little over an hour in and breaking. This film is so powerful, insightful, and has shaken me up in ways that very few films have. Nearly every scene of this film reflects how the smallest of gestures can make a world of difference to someone, whether it's for the good or bad, and it makes me rethink my every decision. My choices to be kind to others, whether I feel their situations are genuine or a calculated scam, no longer matter to me. This film, even more so than my faith, has disallowed me to ignore that a single choice in a moment can wreck or rebuild a life.

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Phil O

10/04/2022

I was very moved by this movie about kind souls caring for others that are down on their luck in this world and helping them to get back on their feet. Great complex characters. This is the kind of spirit the world needs.

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Lone Scherfig

Director

Jay Baruchel

John Peter

Zoe Kazan

Clara

Andrea Riseborough

Alice

Bill Nighy

Timofey

Caleb Landry Jones

Jeff

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The Kindness of Strangers: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Ordinary, disparate strangers living in New York City go about their business. Clara runs away from her violent husband with her two boys and meets four people who are also going through difficult times. Alice, a nurse on the verge of cracking, Mark, accused of a crime he did not commit, John Peter, his lawyer, and Jeff, an unambitious man, find they are all connected as their paths intertwine.

Director: Lone Scherfig
Producer: Malene Blenkov, Sandra Cunningham
Screenwriter: Lone Scherfig
Distributor: E1 Entertainment
Production Co: Arte, Creative Alliance, HanWay Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2020
Runtime: 1h 52m

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