I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Just perfect...

hyped garbage

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

This movie was a surprise. It all starts as an old woman sees that her last day on this world is coming, so she gets ready to say goodbye to all the women in her family (daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter). From that we go back to the past, to the moment she arrived back to her hometown with her daughter, and we see how they both grow old there, how their relationship with the other inhabitants develop and how they re-adapt to live in the countryside, in a very small village.The movie has hard moments, but also quite some funny ones, is quite smart and its characters are well developed. If it seems like a small movie, it may be, but it will grow on the watcher pretty fast, as you will get involved in the life of Antonia and all those that surround her. The actors do a great job and they bring a lot to the movie too.It will surprise you, it will make you laugh and, maybe, cry too.

A feminist tale which in some ways reminded me of The World According to Garp, with Glenn Close as an independent woman who decides to have a baby without the active participation of a father figure. The difference is that rather than an American perspective, it is a Dutch one. Antonia tells everyone that this is the last day of her life and she tells her story in flashbacks, starting with her arrival at the family farm with her daughter Danielle, and her intention of raising her as a single mother. Following in her mother's footsteps, Danielle announces that she would like to have a child and so Antonia searches for the proper donor. The line continues when Danielle gives birth to Therese who then begets Sarah; got it? This is not a mainstream work, by any means. The acting is solid and the viewpoint an interesting one. I was mildly amused.

ANTONIA'S LINE continues as fresh today as when it was released and awarded Oscars in 1995. This very fine little Dutch film mocks the old adage of 'You can't go back home again' by introducing Antonia and her daughter returning to a village she had abandoned and setting up changes among the odd assortment of townsfolk that initiate a heritage of both wonderful and tragic events, each of which is a parable about family and community. The women rule here, even to the point of deciding to conceive by barter, by compulsion, and by taking arms against the macho power symbols of rape. All manner of variations of normal (spiritually possessed, moon howlers, disillusioned priests, mentally retarded, social outcasts) come under the influence of Antonia's strongly world-wise persona. The results are like a fairy tale for adults, both in content and in the wonderful visual effects. The cast is extraordinary as is the pacing of the direction. The message of this film endures - it pleads to be viewed regularly.Grady Harp

movies where you're just waiting for something to happen. WEll in this case waiting for something natural, spontaneous to happen.I t never does. Antonia's line is horribly contrived with so much narration it doesn't allow you to think...there's no foreshadowing, connected plot, growing relationships...it's just a movie where stuff happens.All the characters are flat and boring, from the beginning apparently we should have seen this coming ( as they killed off the Mother who seemed to have some issues in about 5 minutes.)There's no feeling and comedy? Comedy? How the hell is this a comedy? I didn't laugh once.There was more character development in Seasame Street than Antonia's. And yes like everyone is saying... the movie is quite anti-male or rather treat men like disposable diapers. Kill 'em, do 'em and don't let them know they have a kid.The first 15 minutes ARE really the way the whole movie is.