Le retour de Martin Guerre (1982)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Daniel Vigne

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (writer)
Janet Lewis (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

10 June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

In medieval France, some villagers challenge a man's claim of identity when he (as he says) returns home from some time in the army.

Plot Keywords:

France | Medieval | Foreign Language Adaptation | Impersonation | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Arnaud de Tihl
Nathalie Baye	...	Bertrande de Rols
Maurice Barrier	...	Uncle Pierre Guerre
Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu	...	Martin Guerre
Isabelle Sadoyan	...	Catherine Boëre
Rose Thiéry	...	Raimonde de Rols
Chantal Deruaz	...	Jeanne
Maurice Jacquemont	...	Judge Rieux
Roger Planchon	...	Jean de Coras
Francis Arnaud
Philippe Babin	...	Jacques
Axel Bogousslavsky
Valérie Chassigneux	...	Guillemette
Neige Dolsky
Adrien Duquesne	...	Sanxi Guerre
Gilbert Gilles
Tchéky Karyo	...	Augustin
Jean-Claude Perrin
Dominique Pinon	...	Antoine
Alain Recoing
René Bouloc
Alain Frérot
Stéphane Pean	...	Young Martin
André Delon
Danièle Loo
Marcel Champel
Sylvie Méda	...	Young Bertrande
Yvette Petit
Jean Juillac
Guy Bertrand
Jean-Paul Barathieu
Bruno Bentegeac
Pierre Bouchet
Francis Chevillon
André D'Avant-Cour
Christian Fiter
Daniel Giraud
Guy Jacquet
Roger Payrot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
André Chaumeau	...	The Cure (uncredited)

Directed by
Daniel Vigne

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jean-Claude Carrière		writer
Janet Lewis		novel "The Wife of Martin Guerre"
Daniel Vigne		writer
Natalie Zemon Davis		writer

Produced by
Daniel Vigne	....	producer

Original Music by
Michel Portal

Cinematography by
André Neau

Film Editing by
Denise de Casabianca

Art Direction by
Alain Nègre

Costume Design by
Anne-Marie Marchand

Makeup Department
Jacky Bouban	....	chief makeup artist
Claudine Grumelart	....	makeup artist
Françoise Embry Kernevez	....	chief makeup artist
Didier Lavergne	....	chief makeup artist
Joëlle Weissleib	....	makeup artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Georges Pierre	....	still photographer
Jean-Pierre Plichon	....	assistant camera

Production Companies

• Dussault
• France 3 (FR 3)
• Société Française de Production (SFP)

Distributors

• Compagnie Commerciale Française Cinématographique (CCFC) (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• European International (1983) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Palace Video (1984) (UK) (VHS)
• Palace Video (1984) (UK) (video) (Betamax)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Fox Lorber Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Orion Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

The Return of Martin Guerre (UK) (USA)

Runtime:

122 min | Argentina:120 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14

Company:

Dussault

Trivia:

Based on a true story.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: The Return of Martin Crane (#9.4)" (2001)

Based on actual events

This isn't a comment on the actual quality of the movie itself, but rather a response to the number of postings which have suggested this movie is not an original concept.

I have some shocking news for you, but there really was a Martin Guerre. His court case in the mid-16th century is well documented in primary sources and this movie attempts to retell this story.

In 1983, historian Natalie Zemon Davis, who incidentally was originally involved with the film as an historical consultant, wrote a well received micro-history on the court case and it's outcome. (The Return of Martin Guerre - published by Harvard University Press, 1983)

This case was thought of as unusual even during the 16th century. So much so, that it became part of French folklore. Earlier Hollywood movies likely tapped into this folklore, when they penned similar stories.

So this film, rather than simply being another in a long line of similar movies, is the first to tackle the "original story". That being said, the movie is not perfect and strays from the facts a great deal. Natalie Zemon Davis, herself, states in her introduction to her book that she was troubled by the film's creative license with history.

Nevertheless, I recommend anyone to see this film yourself and make up your own mind. Better yet, read the book!