Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

The Confessional

Original title: Le confessionnal
  • 1995
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
The Confessional (1995)
DramaMysteryThriller

The year is 1952, in Québec City, Québec. Rachel (Suzanne Clément), sixteen, unmarried, and pregnant, works in the church. Filled with shame, she unburdens her guilt to a young Priest under ... Read allThe year is 1952, in Québec City, Québec. Rachel (Suzanne Clément), sixteen, unmarried, and pregnant, works in the church. Filled with shame, she unburdens her guilt to a young Priest under the confidentiality of the confessional. In the present year of 1994, Pierre Lamontagne (L... Read allThe year is 1952, in Québec City, Québec. Rachel (Suzanne Clément), sixteen, unmarried, and pregnant, works in the church. Filled with shame, she unburdens her guilt to a young Priest under the confidentiality of the confessional. In the present year of 1994, Pierre Lamontagne (Lothaire Bluteau) has returned to Québec to attend his father's funeral. He meets up with h... Read all

  • Director
    • Robert Lepage
  • Writer
    • Robert Lepage
  • Stars
    • Lothaire Bluteau
    • Patrick Goyette
    • Jean-Louis Millette
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Lepage
    • Writer
      • Robert Lepage
    • Stars
      • Lothaire Bluteau
      • Patrick Goyette
      • Jean-Louis Millette
    • 10User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos8

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast35

    Edit
    Lothaire Bluteau
    Lothaire Bluteau
    • Pierre Lamontagne
    Patrick Goyette
    Patrick Goyette
    • Marc Lamontagne
    Jean-Louis Millette
    Jean-Louis Millette
    • Raymond Massicotte
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    • L'assistante de Hitchcock
    Ron Burrage
    Ron Burrage
    • Alfred Hitchcock
    Richard Fréchette
    Richard Fréchette
    • André Lamontagne
    François Papineau
    François Papineau
    • Paul-Émile Lamontagne
    Marie Gignac
    • Françoise Lamontagne
    Normand Daneau
    Normand Daneau
    • The Young Priest Massicotte
    Anne-Marie Cadieux
    Anne-Marie Cadieux
    • Manon
    Suzanne Clément
    Suzanne Clément
    • Rachel
    Lynda Beaulieu
    • Jeanne d'Arc
    • (as Lynda Lepage-Beaulieu)
    Pascal Rollin
    Pascal Rollin
    • The Parish Priest Laliberte
    Billy Merasty
    Billy Merasty
    • Moose
    Paul Hébert
    Paul Hébert
    • The Parish Priest (1989)
    Marthe Turgeon
    Marthe Turgeon
    • The Healer
    Renée Hudon
    Renée Hudon
    • Self
    Adreanne Lepage-Beaulieu
    • Evelyne
    • Director
      • Robert Lepage
    • Writer
      • Robert Lepage
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    7.41.6K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6gridoon2025

    Ambitious, intriguing, if not wholly successful

    "Le Confessionnal" is nothing if not ambitious: playing out in 2 time zones about 40 years apart simultaneously, AND going to the extra trouble of recreating a faux "making-of" feature for Alfred Hitchcock's 1953 drama "I Confess", which was set and (partly) shot in Quebec. The film has an intriguing plot but loses momentum after a while and at times becomes exceedingly muddled, though it mostly clears up by the end. The best thing about it are the transitions between the present and the past, which are smooth and sometimes purely magical. The actor who plays Hitchcock bears an almost uncanny physical resemblance to the real man, the only thing he doesn't get quite right is the voice. **1/2 out of 4.
    1waldenpond88

    I really wanted to like this film...

    ...but it was so confusing, so boring and without a real plot leading.

    "I Confess" by Hitchcock is one of my favorite movies and it made me visit Québec City 4 times in my life.

    I even stayed over night at the Château Frontenac Hotel (it was with $ 700 per night my most expensive hotel ever).

    And I took the guided tour through this famous hotel twice, once in English and once in French.

    So I would have expected to enjoy this film, but I didn't.

    Actually I'm amazed it got 7 stars in the imdb.

    My advice: rather watch "I Confess" with Montgomery Clift. That's true movie art. This one is chaos without a real story line.
    9duke_manga_man

    Truly innovative film

    Visually, this is one of the best films ever made. There are 3 elements, one in 1952 Quebec, one in 1989 Quebec and one actually from Alfred Hitchcocks "I Confess", of which this movie seems to be a realy loose remake of.

    The way the film moves seamlessly between 1952 and 1989, and the odd dreamlike sequences that occur a couple of times, and the continous sequence of brilliant images is the best things of the film. The plot, however, does take a bit of a back seat,although the ending is excellent, and the Kristen Scott Thomas character is unneccesary.
    10JennyO-2

    Beautifully-Filmed masterpiece from a dramatic veteran

    Robert LePage is, in my opinion, a film-making genius. "Le Confessionel" has some of the best photography I have ever seen on film. The plot, the characters, the pacing, and the editing all come together perfectly to make a compelling and visually stunning film. I know Mr. Lepage has done a lot of work in the theater, as well as acting in film (e.g. "Jesus of Montreal"). He is multi-talented and truly gifted.
    10dkochan

    Riveting

    I caught this film on a movie channel on television today. Although I didn't know anything about it I was drawn into the story and couldn't stop watching it. The film has very pretty scenes with outstanding cinematography and framing of the characters. Great angles and editing. Wonderful symbolism. The pieces of the puzzle keep appearing but the puzzle isn't solved until the final moments. The movie kept me in suspense the entire 2 hours. Bravo! Oustanding acting and use of colors. The acting was very good and although I hadn't heard about this film previously I expect to pass it on. If you life foreign films and movies that make you think you'll enjoy this movie tremendously.

    More like this

    L'affaire Dumont
    7.2
    L'affaire Dumont
    Across the Universe
    7.3
    Across the Universe
    Un été inoubliable
    7.3
    Un été inoubliable
    Mommy
    8.0
    Mommy
    I've Loved You So Long
    7.6
    I've Loved You So Long
    That Thing You Do!
    7.0
    That Thing You Do!
    The Far Side of the Moon
    7.2
    The Far Side of the Moon
    Leaving
    6.3
    Leaving
    Love & Confusions
    4.5
    Love & Confusions
    Belle Époque
    5.9
    Belle Époque
    Up at the Villa
    6.0
    Up at the Villa
    Man to Man
    6.5
    Man to Man

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Theatrical movie debut as a director for Robert Lepage, a famed Canadian play director.
    • Connections
      Featured in Joyeux Calvaire (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Blues serenade
      Written by Mitchell Parish

      Composed by Frank Signorelli

      Performed by Sarah Vaughan

      Published by EMI Music Ltd (1953)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ17

    • How long is The Confessional?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Günah Çıkarma
    • Filming locations
      • Aquarium - 1675 Avenue des Hôtels, Québec, Québec, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Canal+ Productions
      • Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)
      • Channel Four Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $575,001
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Confessional (1995)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for The Confessional (1995)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.