Strayed-Movie Review 11/14/2010
Posted by Films to consider in French language film, Psychological Suspense, World War II.trackback
Strayed (French) 2003
Les égarés
Directed by André Téchiné
Starring Emmanuelle Béart and Gaspard Ulliel
In 1940, as the Germans begin to occupy France, young widow Odile takes her two children and joins the crowds escaping Paris for the countryside. When the caravan is bombed by the Germans, a tough young man named Yvan helps save her son’s life. The four escape into the forest together and find refuge in a large house whose owners have already fled.
They live a semi-comfortable existence, as if there is no war going on in the distance. Yvan has the survival skills necessary to make their exile bearable; Odile contributes by cooking and cleaning, but she is emotionally devastated. Odile, who is a teacher, learns that Yvan can’t read or write, but the rest of his life remains a mystery to her. Despite her better judgment, she refuses to listen to her inner doubts and becomes physically attracted to him.
As the story unravels, it’s obvious that something’s not right with Yvan. Not until the armistice does Odile learn the real truth.
The performance by Béart, a famous French actress, is well-matched by newcomer Ulliel.
95 min. Not rated. Some sexual content.
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