Suite Francaise

[Beate]

Greenwich Picturehouse this morning at the till: "I am afraid I can't print you a ticket for this. - You can go straight up." Phew. It was about 75% full.

I liked this bit to be honest there was less going on than I thought there would be, and why only explain at the end that the Suite Francaise composition that I thought the German might have left behind on the piano, was in actual fact the work of the Jewish woman whose story was only told in passing? The rest was fine. Nice to see jojojoanne.

7/10

[fredolac]

Good movie! 8/10

[prettyxcool]

Really enjoyed this. Based on a story written by a Russian-Jewish novelist, Irène Némirovsky, which was only uncovered after 50 years, pages of her manuscript are shown during the credits.

I thought it was a very powerful insight into parts of the Second World War and living under German occupation. There is a sense of peril, neighbours betraying neighbours and starting petty rumours and the controversial relationship between the German officer (Matthias Schoenarts) and Lucille (Michelle Williams), whose husband had left to fight in the war. Kristin Scott-Thomas plays her mother-in-law, a wealthy landowner, who at first is a thoroughly unlikeable character but in the end goes to great lengths to look after her tenants. 7/10

Thanks for the company, funthing, missgotty and elski at Clapham Picturehouse, which was very full.

A very interesting Daily Mail article of the true story behind the novel.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rayal.html

[funthing29]

Not a bad film but a bit too tame for my liking. It did not feel like a passionate love story nor a dramatic war film but a wishy washy blend of the two - the end result was unsatisfying. 6.5/10.

[ladams888]

Saw this yesterday in Clapham. A touching film which quietly and very movingly portrayed what life was like for the French once the country had surrendered to the Nazis. It was apparent that, although the government had surrendered, its people had not. An understated Michelle Williams was excellent as the down-trodden Lucile, whose husband was off fighting, and who had a relationship with the German officer who was billeted with them. Kristin Scott-Thomas, and her amazing hair-do, was likewise excellent as her fervently patriotic but very strict mother-in-law, Madame Angellier. At the end of the film before the titles, we realise that the film was based on a book, written in secret by a French Jew before she was transported to a concentration camp, where she died. The manuscript of the book was only discovered in the 90’s and became a best-seller in 2004.7/10

[jojojoanne]

Saw this at Greenwich Picturehouse with my eldest daughter. We both thought it was a very good film. The lady sitting next to us cried through most of the screening! Hadn't seen Beate and OH for a while, so it was nice to catch up with her. And she very kindly saved two seats for us!

[Yinster]

Back from a very full screening in Glasgow. Really liked this and the haunting music. Michelle Williams just keeps getting better and better and everyone else was just as good. Matthias Schoenaerts who I thought I recognise but had to google was dashing and mesmerising. Last time I saw him was in the French film Rust And Bones. Well worth beating the high winds and sitting in the new seats tonight. 8/10

[nosila50]

Was at a packed Edinburgh performance tonight.

This was a very movingly portrayal of France under the control of the Nazis. Michelle Williams was excellent as Lucile, as was Kristin Scott-Thomas, as her mother-in-law. The story covered the betrayal of neighbour over neighbour but also how others would protect each other. I enjoyed the nearly romance between the German Officer and Lucile and how he was uncomfortable with his role in the war. Had not heard of the novel but will be searching it out to read. 8/10

[stuartboy]

Quite a girly film, but Mother loved it!
Was very immersive and captivating. Somewhat bloodless for a war film, but then again it is a BBC film so didn't need gore.
Mother thought the blurb before the credits was far too rushed and hard to read. I have to concur.

Big thanks to Biggins who directed us to spare seats near her in a pretty full screening.

7/10

[chelle1973]

I really liked this movie, I thought the cast were brilliant and I too was mesmerised by Bruno! Lump in my throat at the end. 8/10