Bon voyage (2003)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Jean-Paul Rappeneau

Writers:

Jean-Paul Rappeneau (scenario) and
Patrick Modiano (scenario) ...

Release Date:

16 April 2003 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

An actress, a writer, a student, and a government worker band together in an effort to escape Paris as the Nazis move into the city.

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Nazi | Bordeaux | Actress | Heavy Water

Awards:

5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Isabelle Adjani	...	Viviane Denvers
Gérard Depardieu	...	Jean-Étienne Beaufort
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Camille
Yvan Attal	...	Raoul
Grégori Derangère	...	Frédéric Auger
Peter Coyote	...	Alex Winckler
Jean-Marc Stehlé	...	Professeur Kopolski
Aurore Clément	...	Jacqueline de Lusse
Xavier De Guillebon	...	Brémond
Edith Scob	...	Mme Arbesault
Michel Vuillermoz	...	M. Girard
Nicolas Pignon	...	André Arpel
Nicolas Vaude	...	Thierry Arpel
Pierre Diot	...	Maurice / Le gardien du studio
Pierre Laroche	...	L'érudit

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG | Czech Republic:15 | Italy:T | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Arcachon, Gironde, France

Company:

ARP Sélection

Trivia:

During lunch in the hotel Beaufort asks Frederic if he knew Viviane's father, "the hero"? 'Gerard Depardieu', who plays Beaufort, starred in both the original and the remake of the film Mon père, ce héros. (1991).

Soundtrack:

Bon voyage

Unique look at war

This movie was unique in the fact that it took place in the few months prior to and during the Nazi invasion of WWII. This gave the film a hectic atmosphere, as the French government and those surrounding it are in constant chaos while fleeing the approaching Blitzkrieg. For once we see the great disruption that war causes to millions of innocents, not just the horrors that occur on the front. However I don't agree with he genre characterization that it is a comedy- as it is a very entertaining blend of mystery, double-crossing and drama, as well as a few funny moments. Gerard Depardieu didn't have a overbearing role in the film, but played just one of the many interesting characters that are introduced. I was also surprised by Peter Coyote's French and German language skills - and I think it's worth commenting that an American was included in a French film - and I'm glad to say he held his own. Of course Ms. Adjani and Virginie Ledoyen play excellent roles- there's just something about those French ladies...