Resistência

Greetings again from the darkness. Learning of the courageous people who found their own way to battle the Nazis during World War II never gets old. Sometimes brain power and courage are more important than gun power. Such is the case in this latest from writer-director Jonathan Jakubowicz, who brings a fascinating story from within the French Resistance to the big screen. This is a group that rescued 10,000 orphaned kids, and this is a story of one special man from within that group.

Jesse Eisenberg (and an iffy French accent) plays Marcel, the son of a multi-generational Jewish butcher in Strasbourg France. Out of familial duty, Marcel works at the butcher shop with his father, but his passion is in performing arts. One evening his dad (Karl Markovics) 'catches' him performing a silent Charlie Chaplin act on stage at a local cabaret. A parental lecture follows. Marcel's penchant for entertaining does come in handy when he helps his brother Alain (Felix Moati) and cousin Georges (Geza Rohrig, SON OF SAUL) rescue 123 orphans.

The opening sequence in the film finds young Elsbeth (Bella Ramsey, Lorna Luft in JUDY) witnessing her Jewish parents being murdered in the street outside their Munich home by Nazis in 1938. We next see her in the group of 123 orphans noted above. As a kind of framing device, we flash forward to 1945 in Nuremberg, as General George S Patton (Ed Harris) is addressing the troops and telling the story of a remarkable man. That man is Marcel, and the film then takes us through his journey and we "see" the story that General Patton is "telling."

When Marcel and his brother agree to join the French Jewish Resistance (also known as Organization Juive de Combat, OJC), they face more danger, and maintain their focus on rescuing orphans. Helping in the cause is Emma (Clemence Poesy, IN BRUGES), and a mutual respect and attraction forms between she and Marcel. The brutality of the war is shown through the actions of Klaus Barbie (Matthias Schweighofer). As the head of the Gestapo in France (and known as The Butcher of Lyon), Barbie works out of the Hotel Terminus, and his sadistic tendencies find their way into the Resistance.

Once the war escalates to a certain point, the Resistance must decide whether it's best to continue hiding the kids, or risk the perilous journey across the Alps in hopes of freedom. In reality, it's not much of a decision, as staying put likely means torture, if not death. There are some touching moments between Marcel and the kids, and some acts of pure bravery from all involved.

At times, the film teeters into LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL territory, but never for long. The moments of pure terror are well presented, yet never overly graphic. We feel the stress of the Resistance as they struggle to get the kids to safety, and feel their pain in tragic losses. As the film ends, General Patton finishes his story by introducing his story's Marcel. The spotlight then lands on Marcel Marceau in full make-up and costume. Marceau, of course, went on to become famous and beloved around the world as the most famous mime. Filmmaker Jakubowicz has delivered yet another fascinating story of heroism and courage ... another story that deserves to be remembered.

Fantastic Holocaust film. I doubt many people know the true life connection this great stage actor had to saving children during WW2.

Fantastic movie based on true events.screen play, music, actors are well mannered and they did their best actually ! everything are perfect!

The film itself is pretty formulaic, neither really bad nor really good. My biggest problem was Eisenberg as a total miscast for young Marcel Marceau. As a professional mime artist, I might be twice as critical here. But his stone face, stiff moves and rapid-fire talking are pretty much the opposite of real Marceau. So I simply couldn't believe his role. So in the end, there is nothing special about this film, apart introducing Marceau's WW2 experiences to an audience that might either never have heard of him or just know him as the world famous mime that he became later.

Was this the most brilliant film I've ever seen? No. Was it a well-told adaptation of a true story that deserves to be remembered? I think that sums it up pretty well.

Jesse Eisenberg delivers a decent performance if you can look past the shoddy French accent, but Clémence Poésy and Matthias Schweighöfer are the true stars here, with the nazi brutality of the latter made all the more shocking when contrasted with the concern he shows towards his own child.

A few reviews comment on the 'formulaic' nature of this film - whilst from an entertainment perspective this might be a valid critique, I personally believe it is vital that these stories are told and retold, and highlighting the bravery of an individual is a valuable way to do so.