LUCIE AUBRAC |
| CREDITS: Director: Claude Berri Cast: Daniel Auteuil & Carole Bouquet France
(Subtitled) 1996 (12) INTRODUCTION: The phrase "Based on a True Story" never ceases to send shivers down my spine. With recent atrocities such as Titanic & Amistad completely re-writing history and then being accepted into school curriculums, one has worry about the 'future of the past', to coin a rather dodgy phrase. Lucie Aubrac however seem to remain reasonably true to its source, warts and all. It even ends with a signed statement from Lucie herself, in case you should doubt its voracity. SYNOPSIS: The year is 1943, the setting is occupied France and our heroine Lucie Samuel (Bouquet) is a member of a resistance cell only slightly less competent then Rene Artois and his motley crew. Apart from the destruction of a German Troop Train in the beautifully shot opening sequence, they seem to achieve very little, deteriorating to the point where they seem unable to even arrange a meeting without all the attendees being arrested. Lucie's husband (Auteuil) is picked up in one of these raids and Lucie starts plotting to free him. REVIEW: Carole Bouquet excels as Lucie as we follow her outwitting a series of comedy Germans, and Daniel Auteuil puts in a sterling performance as her condemned husband Raymond. The film does seem to drag a little in places and leaves far too many loose ends for my liking, but real life's like that isn't it. A thoroughly enjoyable movie that highlights how closely related heroism and crass stupidity truly are. Mutt's Rating: *** |