Life and Nothing But (1989)

Intense character study of men and women driven by an overpowering obsession with the past.

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

Jean Cosmos (scenario & adaptation), Bertrand Tavernier (scenario & adaptation)

Stars:

Philippe Noiret, Sabine Azéma, Pascale Vignal

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 8 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philippe Noiret	...	Major Delaplane
Sabine Azéma	...	Irène de Courtil
Pascale Vignal	...	Alice
Maurice Barrier	...	Mercadot
François Perrot	...	Perrin
Jean-Pol Dubois	...	André
Daniel Russo	...	Lieutenant Trévise
Michel Duchaussoy	...	Général Villerieux
Arlette Gilbert	...	Valentine
Louis Lyonnet	...	Valentin
Charlotte Maury-Sentier	...	Cora Mabel (as Charlotte Maury)
François Caron	...	Julien
Thierry Gimenez	...	L'adjudant du génie
Frédérique Meininger	...	Madame Lebègue
Pierre Trabaud	...	Eugene Dilatoire

Storyline

November, 1920. 350,000 French soldiers remain missing in action. Major Delaplane tirelessly matches the dead and the wounded with families' descriptions. Honor and ethics drive him; he hates the idea of "the unknown soldier." Into his sector, looking for her husband, comes a haughty, politically connected Parisian, Madame Irène de Courtil. Brusquely, Delaplane offers her 1/350,000th of his time, but as their paths cross and she sees his courage and resolve, feelings change. After he finds a surprising connection between her missing husband and a local teacher, Irène makes Delaplane an offer. This man of action hesitates: has he missed his only chance?

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Plot Keywords:

missing in action | french soldier | presumed dead | post world war one | world war one | 

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Taglines:

Un monument!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

6 September 1989 (France)

Also Known As:

A Vida e Nada Mais

Filming Locations:

Dugny-sur-Meuse, Meuse, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,600

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hachette Première, AB Films, Little Bear

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film takes place in January 1920.

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Quotes

Mercadot: Humanity's entered its final stage, the dance of life and death, the great apotheosis. We plug up the holes and screw to prepare for the next war.

User Reviews

It worked for me

I watched La vie et rien d'autre, about a year ago. Well, it stuck with me. And I really wanted to see it again. So I watched it a second time. And some things became clearer to me. The central message obviously that war sucks, that war is a disaster for everybody. And nothing should be done to hide this truth from anybody. That's Delaplane's belief, that's his fight, his moral code. And yes, there is a love story coming to interfere with his dull and depressing duty. Why people can't see that a man such as Delaplane could not handle love, specially while in the middle of such an ugly struggle? I read some negative comments about this film. I just could not understand that. This is a beautiful movie, touching, a bit slow certainly, but the topic does require that we take time to learn all the details so as to better understand the nature of this human drama. What pushes all these people to look for remnants of their loved ones, just to have proof of their death. For what? This we may never understand for not having to live through this. Go ahead, watch this movie. It's not a big action movie, no, it's a reflection movie. A movie that a lot of people who see war as something that's glamorous should have seen, but probably never will... alas!