Burning at Both Ends

EN: 'Burning at Both Ends' was better than I expected, especially considering the low IMDb rating. Unlike many World War II films, the story was not predictable, which made it more engaging. The message was powerful and still relevant today, especially with the rise of far right movements. It shows that not standing up to an aggressor makes you complicit. The soundtrack was very good and the actors gave strong performances. The dinner scene was hard to watch because of the hatred shown by the Nazis, making it one of the most intense moments in the film. The only issue is that the story is not fully accurate from a historical point of view. Still, it is a thought provoking and memorable film.

June 1940 , the last British forces evacuate from Dunkirk , leaving France in the hands of Germans. France signs an armistice creating the Vichy Regime, a puppet government controlled by the Nazis. December 1941 , most people lack food , warmth , and medicine. 1942. France is under Nazi control. The Allies have been pushed off the continent and their defeat in North Africa seems likely. Germany's victory is nearly absolute. The government exerts control by restricting travel, information , and freedom of assembly. Radio emerges as one of the most powerful weapons of the war . Leaders sway hearts and minds with potent speeches and propaganda. August 1942, Vichy Police and specially trained units of Gestapo pursue any rogue radio broadcasters with brutal determination . Under threat of death and the dark shadow of tyranny , one voice dares to keep a message of hope alive. Under this shadow, a man named Jacques (Cary Elwes) provides hope and illusion to the unfortunate French people besieged , mistreated and harassed by the ruthless Nazis . So Cary Elwes gives life to Jacques, the voice of a clandestine station that gives hope to the French in the dark hours of Nazi domination . He hides in an attic with his daughter Juliet (Greer Grammer) and a small group of fellow survivors (Judd Hirsch, Mira Furlan), playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the German occupiers. The world becomes too dangerous when the Gestapo send Captain Klaus Jager (Sebastian Roche) to catch Jacques. As Klaus closes in, Jacques and his small group make a desperate bid to escape their pursuer , trusting themselves to the help of enigmatic Andre (Jason Patric), a Swiss banker. In the end, that trust may turn out to be the very thing that leads the hunter to his prey . Together, they try to avoid detection while hoping to be liberated by the Allies, but even meeting basic needs can become a challenge, and even minor incidents could present a grave risk. To protect the broadcast, a group of resisters will put their lives at stake, having to trust someone outside of them to survive. But the hunt has only just begun.

This is a worthwhile film paying cinematic tribute to "The Diary of Anne Frank" and other films about the brave resistance againt the cruel Nazis . Dealing with a small group of dissident survivors who caught behind enemy lines ,struggle to remain hidden from the Nazis as they use a radio to broadcast a message of hope. This is a nice thriller set in occupied France in 1943 with a terrible game of cat and mouse between the Nazis with a group of resistance fighters who give hope to the population. It offers a solid cast, some cheap but very effective settings , and a generally well-considered selection of actors . Stars Cary Elwes as the brave man who uses a radio to broadcast a message of hope , however a new German command well played by Sebastian Roché has arrived with the purpose of silencing it , along with Jason Patric acting as an enigmatic Swiss financer . While Judd Hirsch and Mira Furlan (whom is dedicated the film due a her sudden death) play an unfortunate Jewish marriage , and the newcomer teen Greer Grammer -Kalsey Grammer's daughter- performs pretty well as a valiant young freedom fighter. The motion picture was efficiently and professionally directed by Matthew Hill and Landon Johnson. Rating : 6.5/10. Worthwhile watching . The flick will appeal to WWII buffs.

Good quality filming and sound. Good sets for a low budget. Acting... a tad bit over emphasizing. Sort of over dramatic at the end. Not a bad film if you are into Nancy Drew type stuff.

Stumbled across this on Paramount and very happy it popped up. The relationship between Jaque and Andre was so delightfully suspenseful, I honestly didn't know how this would end until the credits rolled.

I supposed this is the constraint of indie movies like this, but I do wish I could have seen more of the wider world. This felt very boxed in, which lends to the tension, now that I think about it! But the production design was so detailed and textured, I really wanted more and bigger.

Final note on the score, absolutely lovely. There's a beauitful moment between the Christian and Jewish characters about half way through, and the music... you have to watch!

Watched via Amazon Prime, this film rates at 4* for a film and 5* for a TV Movie. As a TV Movie, it probably would screen over two evenings at 2 hours a time including adverts. As a low budget film, it is lacking in action.

A radio on the Cote D'Azur with a 50 Km signal range could not be picked up in Lyon.

In 1944, the Cote D'Azur was under Italian occupation. Wehrmacht officers wouldn't have been there at all. They were either shoring up the Eastern Front or preparing the Western Wall in anticipation of the Allied invasion.

In 1944 the Italians were more interested in getting back to Italy. The family could have stayed there indefinitely.