The French film "The Intouchables" has charmed Tulsa audiences in the same manner as it has the rest of the world, and it is now the No. 1 foreign-language film that has played at Circle Cinema.
The megahit comedic drama ($355 million in box-office receipts outside the U.S. alone) about a quadriplegic and his unlikely caregiver is still playing at Tulsa's arthouse theater, now in its sixth week.
"We'll probably have it here for a few more weeks, and you never know, it just might become our biggest ticket-seller, foreign-language or not," said Clark Wiens, president of the foundation for the nonprofit theater at 10 S. Lewis Ave.
The film has attracted audiences of all ages, Weins said, and to which I can attest. When attending the film two weeks ago, it was a Saturday at 1 p.m., and my wife and I were fortunate to claim two of the last remaining seats.
On the list of foreign films, "The Intouchables" topped the original Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" for the No. 1 spot at the Circle since it reopened in 2004. Behind that is "La vie en Rose," for which Marion Cotillard won her Oscar playing Edith Piaf in 2007.
Three English-language films remain at the top of the Circle's box-office list. At No. 1 is 2011's adaptation of the classic novel "Jane Eyre."
At No. 2 is 2010's "Winter's Bone," the Ozarks crime tale starring an Oscar-nominated Jennifer Lawrence, and No. 3 is "Sweet Land," the sweeping 2006 period picture about immigrants coming to America in the early 20th century that proved to be a local hit.
If "The Intouchables" continues its success for a couple more weeks, it's possible that a subtitled film could become the most-attended picture in the Circle's new history.
"We knew the film would find an audience," Weins said, "but this has been a word-of-mouth sensation, with so many people telling us they would tell others about this wonderful film."
