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A Self-Made Hero

Original title: Un héros très discret
  • 19961996
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Un héros très discret (1996)
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Play trailer1:25
1 Video
3 Photos
  • Drama
  • Comedy

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... Read allSet 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 collaborator... Read allSet 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.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jacques Audiard
  • Writers
    • Jean-François Deniau(novel)
    • Alain Le Henry
    • Jacques Audiard
  • Stars
    • Mathieu Kassovitz
    • Anouk Grinberg
    • Sandrine Kiberlain
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jacques Audiard
  • Writers
    • Jean-François Deniau(novel)
    • Alain Le Henry
    • Jacques Audiard
  • Stars
    • Mathieu Kassovitz
    • Anouk Grinberg
    • Sandrine Kiberlain
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 1:25
    Bande-annonce [OV]

    Photos

    Un héros très discret (1996)
    Un héros très discret (1996)
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    Top cast

    Edit
    Mathieu Kassovitz
    Mathieu Kassovitz
    • Albert Dehousseas Albert Dehousse
    Anouk Grinberg
    Anouk Grinberg
    • Servaneas Servane
    Sandrine Kiberlain
    Sandrine Kiberlain
    • Yvetteas Yvette
    Jean-Louis Trintignant
    Jean-Louis Trintignant
    • Albert Dehousse (old)as Albert Dehousse (old)
    Albert Dupontel
    Albert Dupontel
    • Dionnetas Dionnet
    Nadia Barentin
    • The General's Wifeas The General's Wife
    Bernard Bloch
    • Ernstas Ernst
    François Chattot
    • Louvieras Louvier
    Philippe Duclos
    Philippe Duclos
    • Caronas Caron
    Danièle Lebrun
    Danièle Lebrun
    • Madame Dehousseas Madame Dehousse
    Armand de Baudry d'Asson
    • Englishmanas Englishman
    Wilfred Benaïche
    • Henry Nervoixas Henry Nervoix
    François Berléand
    François Berléand
    • Monsieur Joas Monsieur Jo
    Philippe Berodot
    Philippe Berodot
    • Leguenas Leguen
    Gilles Del Frate
    • The Partisanas The Partisan
    Stefan Elbaum
    • 'Little Versailles' Man 1as 'Little Versailles' Man 1
    • (as Stéfan Elbaum)
    Marc Ernotte
    • De Vaincourtas De Vaincourt
    Jérôme Floch
    • Étienneas Étienne
    • Director
      • Jacques Audiard
    • Writers
      • Jean-François Deniau(novel)
      • Alain Le Henry
      • Jacques Audiard
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —David Morgans <in2023@wlv.ac.uk>
    • french resistance
    • younger version of character
    • widow
    • dead father
    • liar
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Les vies les plus belles sont celles qu'on invente.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Featured in The Movie Show: Episode dated 23 April 1997 (1997)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Forget Catch Me If You Can! Watch this!
    Impostors and make-believes have always been favorites of story tellers all over the globe, and there are quite a few movies about them. This biopic/mockumentary (with old war veteran's interviews!) is one of the very best, and you enjoy wondering how much truth is in the story long after the movie is over. I guess quite much of it.

    The "hero" of the story is a very endearing person. The viewer gets to know him as a boy who grows up in fairly conventional circumstances. From the earliest days he lives between reality and fantasy. His acting out adventure stories he had read by himself in his small room in the attic is moving, it reminded me of my own childhood. The "hero" is naive and shrewd at the same time, and his rising in the military hierarchy of post war France as an alleged resistance hero is a fairy tale you can believe very easily. The hero's downfall is at first sight tragic but, on second thought, might also have been carefully planned by him. Well, he lived on happily ever after, they say.

    The acting is very good, Mathieu Kassovitz proves to be an excellent performer who brings the ambiguity in the hero's character to life and gives him credibility, the child actor who plays the hero as a boy is equally convincing. Some secondary parts are worth remembering: There is a very non-stereotypical homosexual, a French army officer who makes a pass at the "hero" and, as there is no response to his advances, starts a lasting platonic friendship with him, teaching him in a fatherly way in the art of make believe. After becoming an officer of the secret service, the "hero" is transferred to Germany. There he resides in a spacious palace, waited on by an old uniformed German butler. Movie buffs will possibly recognize it as a parody of Erich von Stroheim in Renoir's "La Grande Illusion" (he teaches the socially unexperienced "hero" the waltz).

    The movie is so good, I expect to see an American remake in the near future. To whoever will try to tackle the subject transatlantically, I recommend Preston Sturges' "Hail the Conquering Hero!".
    helpful•28
    3
    • manuel-pestalozzi
    • May 27, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Den diskrete hjälten
    • Production companies
      • Alicéléo
      • Cofimage 7
      • Lumière
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • FRF 29,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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