Au revoir là-haut

I wish I could give it 50 STARS. In my over 70 years of watching movies, this is probably the best of tens of thousands. The sheer enjoyment I felt watching propelled me to buy the book; the book is in a superb English translation and just marvelous.

I didn't expect to like this movie, for reasons I can't explain even to myself. But I did. Dupontel, both in front and behind the camera, does his thing, and it's truly remarkable. For those unfamiliar with his work, I invite to watch some. The guy exists in his own world and does his own thing. And it works. It often makes you feel uncomfortable, probably because it's stirring emotions under the surface. This movie is visually stunning, the costumes, the era, the music, all this without being too long. Really well executed. And the story itself, the emotions, loss, mourning, injustice, revenge, hatred, love. Again, remarkable. A good example of what cinema should be, yet rarely is. If it matters, I'm French.

This could have easily been a movie directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, if you consider the style, fashion, atmosphere, directing, acting, editing and so on...I strongly thought about JP Jeunet's UN LONG DIMANCHE DE FIANCAILLES all long this feature, and not because it is related to WW1 and also post war matters. Everything here is connected in a way or another in the Jeunet's film. That's my own opinion. The story itself, based on the Goncourt Prize winner, is rather surprising, unusual at the most. I don't quite remember the ending of the book and this one seems to be different, if you read the other French user comments on Internet. Maybe the ending is different, but the overall spirit of the novel is followed, faithful. Nothing is changed basically spoken. Only details. Some really moving sequences. And in this tale, you have NO totally good and true heroes. You have a real bad ass, a real heavy character, played by Laurent Laffite, as a ruthless and disgusting former assassin officer who killed two of his own men and who makes money on the war victims. The other characters are maybe better than him, but certainly not totally white. Swindlers, cheaters, liars, Dupontel's character himself can make you Dizzy from time to time. Dupontel was pretty lucky to make this high budget stuff for Gaumont productions. A daring topic. Worth watching for sure. Besides, Bertrand Tavernier had already made a film about post WW1 issue concerning dead bodies or unkown corpses business and - or - swindle: LA VIE ET RIEN D'AUTRE. It was in 1989.

So different than all the other special effects agenda pushing movies out there. beautiful atmosphere ,full of emotion , wonderful story .hollywood should really learn something from the french. i really don't understand why and how this movie is a low profile one. if you consider if it's worth the time - DEFINITELY ! i enjoyed every minute

A magnificent story bathed in the poetry of extraordinary sets and costumes.

In addition to a host of brilliant actors, the subject evoked (the smashed faces) is rarely recounted in the cinema.

Albert Dupontel has created a masterpiece.