Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Mathieu Kassovitz | ... | Albert Dehousse | |
Anouk Grinberg | ... | Servane | |
Sandrine Kiberlain | ... | Yvette | |
Jean-Louis Trintignant | ... | Albert Dehousse (old) | |
Albert Dupontel | ... | Dionnet | |
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Nadia Barentin | ... | The General's Wife |
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Bernard Bloch | ... | Ernst |
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François Chattot | ... | Louvier |
Philippe Duclos | ... | Caron | |
Danièle Lebrun | ... | Madame Dehousse | |
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Armand de Baudry d'Asson | ... | Englishman |
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Wilfred Benaïche | ... | Henry Nervoix |
François Berléand | ... | Monsieur Jo | |
Philippe Berodot | ... | Leguen | |
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Gilles Del Frate | ... | The Partisan |
Set in France at the end of World War II Albert Dehousse finds out his father wasn't a war hero and his mother is a collaborator. He leaves his wife and goes to Paris. Gradually he inveigles himself with the resistance movement. They trust him and he helps them trace collaborators. Written by David Morgans <in2023@wlv.ac.uk>
Intelligent, droll, well made study of one cowardly man creating a new identity and remaking himself as a hero under the cover of war.
Poses interesting questions about identity and truth, and how we all invent ourselves.
Some terrific cinematography, and a solid lead performance by Mathieu Kassovitz.
On first viewing, something was missing for me emotionally. Sometimes the ideas seemed heavy handed, and other times, motives and characters underdeveloped.
But on re-visiting the pieces fell together, and while the underlying ideas still sometimes felt familiar, the sting of the satire danced beautifully with the underlying sadness of the main character.