Partir, revenir

French film "Partir/Revenir" would always be remembered for its musical score.This film's solid foundation has been built around a mesmerizing musical score composed by great Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff and Michel Legrand.Those who know about French director Claude Lelouch and his "large than life" films would surely be aware of the fact that Mr.Lelouch had directed all kinds of major stars of French cinema.This phenomenon is quite visible in this film as there is something unique about unparalleled Lelouchian method of handling actors.This is one reason why players like Annie Girardot,Jean Louis Trintignant,Marie France Pisier, Michel Piccoli and Richard Anconina who are veritable stars of French cinema remain true actors when they are in a Claude Lelouch film.While making "Partir/Revenir",Claude Lelouch has ensured that there should not be any hint of an impending sensationalism and suffering.This narrative device functions well in this film as it has neither tears nor trauma with which audiences generally tend to associate Holocaust/Nazi themed films.The true beauty of this film lies in its many scenes of joyful madness.PS : Film critic Lalit Rao would like to thank a good friend Mr.Philippe Pham for having gifted a DVD of this film for detailed analysis.

The TFO network has been showing Lelouch's work of the 70's and 80's over the last 10 weeks. It's been a miserable time since this man's career is a study in schlock-making. There is no dumb story he will not tell; no actor he will not use solely for their star-value; no attempt to respect the intelligence of his audience (that they keep coming back for his messes is a telling comment on French culture today).

He's a recidivist because he keeps returning to the scene of his crimes against sense, dramatic values, pacing. Partir, revenir looks much like any of his films of this period; the same actors keep turning up--Piccoli, Anconina, Bouix. I can't take this holocaust drama seriously because it's shot like a Spielberg comedy: the terror element is completely missing, all you get are thuggish-looking German troops and very elegant Jewish victims. I look back with fondness to The Garden of the Finzi-Continis for a portrait of doomed people that engages my mind and spirit.

Briefly, I have to say it's one of the best French films I have ever seen.Starting with an ordinary interview nowadays the sole surviver of a large extended jewish family, an elderly woman remembers her brothers constant playing S.Rachmaninov music,and her other family members all tragically perished in a Nazi Concentration camp.With a clever use of flashbacks,excellent editing and no overbearing rhetoric's American style,the Director tells a family's holocaust experience in a balanced composed style while at the same time exposing all the elderly woman's pain.And throughout the WHOLE film excellent Rachmaninov piano music played,by a present day piano-player....... but for the elderly lady it's her dear,dear, little brother who is really playing!! A must see for fans of French cinema !!

French film "Partir/Revenir" would always be remembered for its musical score.This film's solid foundation has been built around a mesmerizing musical score composed by great Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff and Michel Legrand.Those who know about French director Claude Lelouch and his "large than life" films would surely be aware of the fact that Mr.Lelouch had directed all kinds of major stars of French cinema.This phenomenon is quite visible in this film as there is something unique about unparalleled Lelouchian method of handling actors.This is one reason why players like Annie Girardot,Jean Louis Trintignant,Marie France Pisier, Michel Piccoli and Richard Anconina who are veritable stars of French cinema remain true actors when they are in a Claude Lelouch film.While making "Partir/Revenir",Claude Lelouch has ensured that there should not be any hint of an impending sensationalism and suffering.This narrative device functions well in this film as it has neither tears nor trauma with which audiences generally tend to associate Holocaust/Nazi themed films.The true beauty of this film lies in its many scenes of joyful madness.PS : Film critic Lalit Rao would like to thank a good friend Mr.Philippe Pham for having gifted a DVD of this film for detailed analysis.

I saw this film when it was looking for U.S. distribution. I never did find out why it was not distributed here. Some in the screening room were in tears while watching this gripping film told in an interesting way.

I described the film to friends as "THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK as if directed by Bob Fosse." I say that because the structure reminded me a lot of ALL THAT JAZZ (one of my favorite films). Lots of cutting back and forth in time with creative ways of showing what some of the characters where thinking.

Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a copy of this with English subtitles or dubbing. Once a French only video rental place said that I needed a French girl to translate for me (I wonder if they rented those as well........). Hopefully, I'll find a source or see it in some other way. Please contact me with suggestions.

A film that I still remember large parts of, after seeing it 20 years ago! --------------------------------------- UPDATE: After a lot of work and expense, I have finally seen this film again. I bought a German DVD(via ebay)of the film, which also had French with English subtitles. I then bought a DVD player that was region free.

While I still liked the film, it lacked the impact it had so many years ago. I thought the pacing was slower than I remembered, but still an excellent film.

The lengths I will go to in order to see some films!