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Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

I wanted to but couldn't!

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

I had just finished reading Vercors' novel when I heard about this film. I found Vercors' writing so perfect that I couldn't imagine any cinematic adaptation to be able to surpass it. But the film is such a wonderful surprise! It remains faithful to the novel where necessary and where it takes the liberty to change the story line, it does so with full justification and with a finesse that arguably exceeds that of Vercors' novel. Take for example the role of Bach's music. It plays only a subsidiary role in the novel, but in the film it has become the milestones in the development of the plot: Vercors has only briefly mentioned that the heroine plays the piano, whereas in the film, the first encounter between the hero and heroine takes place exactly when the heroine was playing Bach's Prelude No 1. Immediately this moment becomes emotionally charged. Also the novel only mentions in passing that the German officer on a certain morning begins to play the piano, whereas in the film, he does so on the Christmas' Eve, where he and the French girl for the first time have the chance to be alone with each other. The German officer's performance becomes thus a powerful declaration of love. Not to mention the strongest scene of the film: the moment the French girl plays Bach's Prelude No 2 in order to save the German officer's life. This scene is entirely the invention of the filmmaker!There are many more subtleties to be discovered in this film. The filmmaker has attended to the smallest detail, even the barely audible background conversations in the original German language. Everything carries a meaning and contributes to the dramatic tension in this film. It's particularly enjoyable to study the various forms and perspectives from which the filmmaker sets the figures on the scene: whether as a real person or as a mere shadow on the door or as a mirror-image...It's a great story rendered in great form. And this makes it not only an entertaining film, but a real work of art.

Ususally, I don't watch recent WWII dramas, especially those taking place in occupied France. Honestly, they're often much too depressing, and they seem to delight in the horror of the situation and to shy away from delving into what human dignity, love, and self-sacrifice may have still surfaced, even between opposing sides. But this film was not depressing at all, although it didn't avoid the realities of what Nazis (even, apparently, hot sensitive caring musical Nazis) were doing to those who opposed them. It didn't romanticize at ALL, and yet it was not depressing as most Nazi-centric films. The film WAS frustrating. During the penultimate scene - I won't spoil it, for those with no eye-control - I couldn't breathe at all. But when I started breathing again I got that good shiver that separates the Art from the "merde." The strength of this film was its commitment to truth. The slightest cinematic indulgence - or audience-indulgence - would have ruined it, turned it into a fantasy, and made it a mediocre melodrama. But the brilliant writer and director avoided that pitfall, and let life show through in all its brilliance.

What a truly wonderful film. I have never seen the original but if it is better than this version it must be very,very good. I enjoyed the performances of the three main characters immensely and have watched the film time and time again. The strange thing is that I a don't actually speak French yet have been moved by the storyline and acting to want to watch it over and over again. I think I'm right in saying that this film hasn't been shown in England but with the addition of subtitles there is no reason it shouldn't. Channel Four Television recently had a 100 best war film programme that included many great films of that genre. In my opinion this is right up there with the best of them. Thanks to Pierre Boutron(Director) and stars Thomas Jouannet, Julie Delarme and Michel Galabru for a film that is simply a treasure.

The story starts in November 1941 in Nazi occupied France. A pretty, young and orphaned girl (late teens to early 20s) lives with her paternal grandfather, her only relative, in a comfortable villa. Proud but reserved, she gives piano lessons with unusual zeal and passion. One day, her house is invaded by the occupying Germans, and her parents' suite becomes the home of the local German Commander.However, this Nazi is a refined Francofile, a classical pianist and composer. He's also extremely handsome, and tries to make this embarrassing situation as acceptable as possible.This film is a remake of one of the best movies made in post World War II Europe, with a few adaptations to the original script, based on the novel 'LE SILENCE DE LA MER', published underground around February of 1942.With a French actor speaking slightly (but not caricature) German accented French, the German lieutenant character is quite believable. His Aryan looks certainly confirms his "authenticity" as the cultured (French-like) though disciplined (German-like) Nazi; an enemy a refined girl could possibly fall in love with.The original novel was practically a sacred book in France during the 1942-45 period, and a powerful symbol of the French Resistance. The 1947 film, due to budget and mainly personal and political problems, was, in hindsight, not as believable and well filmed as this new version. That said, the 1947 will probably always remain the definite version.But, nevertheless, this new made for TV movie is well worth seeing for its timeless anti-war, pro-humanity themes. The gorgeous cinematography, and excellent performances by perfectly casted actors make it a pleasant experience for the eyes and the mind, regardless of all else, including the inevitable comparisons to the 1947 film and the novel. It is now playing on the cable TV "Eurochannel" transmitted by Satellite and "DirecTV" in the Americas, and should not be missed!