This film is based on a novel by Sebastien Japrisot. During the Battle of the Somme, five desperate French soldiers shoot themselves. This is either by accident or with purpose in order to be invalided back home. A court-martial convenes and determines their punishment is to banishment to No Man’s Land. It is expected that the Germans will kill them?? A man’s life is briefly explored along with their next of kin. Methilde, the fiancee of one of the men, tries to determine the circumstances of her lover’s death? Her task is not easy and it is made more difficult because she had polio as a child. Along her journey, she discovers the heights and depths of the human soul.
Unusually, there is a combination of heart-wrenching emotions, quirky humor, bloody war footage and goofy comedy? This seems impossible but somehow they blend together into a beautiful story of romantic love. There are scenes of death and destruction during trench warfare. The battle and murder scenes can be difficult for viewers. Despite all this, rising above the war and mystery there is romance? 5* (I really liked this movie)
133 min, Drama directed and written by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, written by Sebastien Japrisot and Guillaume Laurant with Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominique Pinon, Chantal Neuwirth, Andre Dussollier, Ticky Holgado, Marion Cotillard, Dominique Bettenfeld, Jodie Foster, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Clovis Cornillac, Jean-Pierre Becker, Denis Lavant, Jerome Kircher.
Note: Imdb 7.6* out of 5* with 70,388 reviews, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* out of 4*, Rotten Tomatoes 78% with 148 critics 85% with 65,385 ratings, Slant Magazine 1 1/2* out of 4* Nick Schager, Common Sense Media Brian Costello, 5*, age 17+, 4* positive messages, 4* role models, 5* violence, 4* sex, 2* language, Amazon 4.4 out of 5* with 401 reviews.
Special Note: Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet also filmed Amelie.
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