Bon voyage (2003)

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.

Director:

Jean-Paul Rappeneau

Writers:

Jean-Paul Rappeneau (scenario), Patrick Modiano (scenario)

Stars:

Isabelle Adjani, Gérard Depardieu, Virginie Ledoyen

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

At the start of World War II, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance at the posh Hotel Splendide in Bordeaux. Cabinet members, journalists, physicists, and spies of all persuasions gather in order to escape the Nazi occupation of Paris. High society socialites hobnob with jailbirds. Murderous intrigues, scientific secrets and love affairs flourish.

---

Plot Keywords:

bordeaux | nazi | german | actress | heavy water | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller | War

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Picture Classics [United States]

Country:

France

Language:

French German English Italian

Release Date:

21 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boa Viagem

Filming Locations:

Prison, Place Saint-Louis, Autun, Saône-et-Loire, France

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,112,397 (France), 25 April 2003

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,480, 21 March 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,353,728, 15 August 2004

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARP Sélection, France 2 Cinéma, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Spoofs L'honorable Catherine (1943)

---

Soundtracks

Bon voyage
Performed by Isabelle Adjani
Lyrics by Martin Rappeneau
Music by Gabriel Yared
Enregistrée aux Studios FERBER - Paris
Recording engineer René Ameline
Ingénieur Protocols Hélène Texier

User Reviews

Great fun, brilliant, superb

"Bon Voyage" has the fast pace that in some ways reminds me of the Indiana Jones/Star Wars films -- it's as if you're on a fast train or roller coaster.

It's billed as a romance, mystery, thriller, and farce; it's all of that and more including candid observations on the reactions of French society during the Nazi invasion at the start of WWII. And it's also an exhibition of juggling that involves 7 main characters. The scenes all seemed historically accurate (to my eyes) and gave an excellent feeling for the period.

All of the actors were well cast and gave great performances but IMO the most superb was that by Isabelle Adjani who played the role of an opportunistic, self-centered French movie star; not only did she quite convincingly play the role of a young actress perhaps half her age but she also played her amorous wiles convincingly yet in such a way that the audience sees she's only half serious and more complex as a person than just a gold digger. Her character and energy propel the film through from beginning to end. It wasn't until I read Roger Ebert's review that I discovered she was 48 years old at the time of the film. What beauty!!

I appreciated the ending -- it's satisfying but lets you write your own conclusion as to what happens to the main characters.

As another User Commenter observed -- do NOT arrive late; you need to be there from the opening scene. Good advice.

I gave it 9 of 10.