The film earned positive reviews from critics , as it currently holds an 87 % rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 151 reviews , with the consensus : " Thoughtful and wonderfully acted , The Quiet American manages to capture the spirit of Green 's novel . " The first rough cut was screened to a test audience on September 10 , 2001 and received positive ratings . However , the September 11 attacks took place the next day , and audience ratings dropped with each subsequent screening . Reacting to criticism of the film 's " unpatriotic " message , Miramax shelved the film for a year . It was finally screened publicly at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2002 to critical acclaim . The film received an Oscar qualification release in November 2002 and a limited release in January 2003
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
The Quiet American (2002 film)