Nous nous sommes tant haïs

The personal story of Marie and Jürgen, with the birth of the European Union as the background, is very moving. We yearn so much for them to reach happiness, against all odds and so many hurdles and prejudices to overcome, that, when it finally arrives, a tear of joy can be forgiven. Paris early 1950s: The social and political situation of France, only 5 years after the end of the war, is framed very well and sets the tone of the movie. The internal conflicts within the French political and industrial classes, as well as on the German side, are pretty well described and highlight the courage of a handful of leaders who were able to rise above the most common feeling of hate and revenge that were prevalent at this time. As the European Union just celebrated (December 22, 2007) the enlargement of the Schengen zone, welcoming 9 new members within a 400- million free-movement Europe, it is refreshing to see how much feelings have evolved over a span of 50 years. Long live the European Union and may the dream of Robert Schuman and Jean Monet inspire more Maries and Jürgens.