Baptême

We were taken on a school outing to see this film 16 years ago and it had a really lasting effect on me. I have searched for this film - I would love to see it again - as I remember it is the most wonderful and heart-wrenching story of life and love that I had ever seen before. Now, because I have not seen it since, and with older eyes, I may have an altogether different opinion - but my frustration is not being able to get my hands on a copy!! It was a wonderful experience - we were in Warwick Arts Centre and the producer and leading lady were there to give us a talk about it afterwards. I still have my ticket signed by both of them - the story was so powerful I cried when I was explaining it to my mum the next day!! (What an emotional teenager I must have been!)

In the recent history of French cinema,it has sadly been noted that the concept of films for families has vanished.If there is one film maker who has relentlessly pursued this theme in his films,it is René Féret whose films are a good portrayal of family life.Baptême is a family film which is not made these days.It is about the love of an entire life : love of a husband for his wife,love of a wife for her husband and love of the children for their parents.The dual concepts of happiness and sorrow have been nicely depicted in the form of family life and death.There is a concern for authenticity in Baptême as René Féret has portrayed an area which he know best:North of France.As a matter of fact,apart from Bertrand Tavernier and Bruno Dumont,there are not many filmmakers in France who have been honest and truthful in their depiction of harsh realities of northern France.René Féret is one of the very few French filmmakers who have vividly portrayed North of France.This must be kept in mind when a spectator goes to see this film.

From the very first moment of this film, it felt like I was holding my breath. It was artful romantic and heart wrenching. Two lovers meet and do what is necessary to be together. They start a family and work hard to stay in love. I have to see this movie again. But, the fact that it is a true story, about director, Rene Feret's family, makes it all the more romantic. When I saw this movie, they used the title, Naissons D'Une Famille,....which is probably why I couldn't find, 'Bapteme'. I believe there's another movie by director Rene Feret called La Place D'Un Autre that is always confused with Bapteme, but they are NOT the same movie.

Superb, dramatic and heartfelt, this movie has it all. Subtitles or not, it is more than worth it to see this movie.