Reviews & Ratings for
A Soldier's Tale More at IMDbPro »

9 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
Gabriel Byrne in a bad movie....NOT!, 28 January 2004
Author: Karen (krucins@allstate.com) from reggie100

The other comment is pretty harsh on this movie. I rather enjoyed it. It was intense, and Gabriel Byrne's performance, as always, was outstanding.

Some of the war movies always seem to be so much alike. This one was so different and the ending is very unexpected.

I'd see it again - in fact, I own the movie, and I'm very glad I do.

Gabriel Byrne is so down to earth and SO believable. He is truly a joy to watch. Again, I stress the fact that this is not like an ordinary war movie -- it's GREAT, man!

1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
A War story with a difference, 22 September 2006

Author: Caz1964 from England

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I actually thought this was a very good film,i missed the beginning probably the first half hour,but i soon got the idea of what this film was about.I was always hoping that it would be shown again so that i could see this film the whole way through,but as far as i know it has never been shown on a UK main channel.I saw it on one of the cable channels a couple of years ago and it is definitely a film that sticks in the mind.Especially the ending,extremely controversial.In case anyone wonders what i am talking about,the story goes like this----{bare in mind i missed the beginning}A British Sgt who has helped liberate France comes across a young French woman she is living in a farm house.From a distance she is being watched by the French Resistance,as they believe her to be a traitor.All the way through the film you see flash backs of her and her association with the Nazis,and she is by no means innocent of what she is being acused of.The only reason the French Resistance has not moved in on her is because of the British Sgt whose name is Saul is staying with her.If he moves away they will close in and will kill her for sure,but while he stays with her shes safe.Towards the end of the film the situation becomes very intense and desperate as he has to go back but he doesn't want to leave her at the hands of the French Resistance.He can not take her with him as his fellow British officers say she is guilty of collaboration and will not help her,its down to the French law.So what actually happens is that he kills her himself,rather than leave her to suffer the trauma of what ever the Resistance may have in store for her.Very heavy going stuff,however the film is tragic as they were in love and probably would have made a life together somewhere,but their circumstances were hopeless.Its a very well acted film,and Gabriel Byrne gives a very convincing performance as a British Sgt.But be warned do not expect a happy ending.

6 out of 13 people found the following review useful:
Just behind the front lines., 5 June 2003
Author: jessewillis from Canada

Slow and low budget character piece. A SOLDIER'S TALE seems interested in the corruption moral norms in wartime. The indoor scenes are dark and grainy, the outdoor scenes are just grainy. No one in the film is likeable enough to care about. Even the war content is of limited interest to WWII aficionados.

A British sargeant named Saul (Gabriel Byrne) in recently liberated Normandy meets a French woman named Belle (Marianne Basler). Belle is in trouble, the French Resistance wants her for crimes against France. Saul wants her affections all she wants is his protection. But an American G.I. (Judge Reinhold) has similar plans for Belle. Through use of voice over and flashbacks we get Belle's backstory, which is again slow, ponderous and unimpressive.

Saul thinks nothing of taking sexual advantage of a lone and powerless woman. Rape vs. execution isnt much of a choice and yet its hard to muster up much sympathy for Belle. A disappointment.

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