Demain dès l'aube

The title is the first three words of a very famous Victor Hugo 's poem :as this poem is about a visit to a grave , it fits the movie like a glove.

Mathieu is a pianist virtuoso ,so his life is exciting and he does need any way out .So far.His brother Paul ,as soon as we meet him , seems irrational ,behind his smile .Perhaps to forget all about his sick mom, he 's involved in very special role plays :to live in another time, to reenact old historic battles ,and to find back a sense of honor through duels (which,although forbidden by Richelieu survived till the nineteenth century in France).And to look very spick and span in an uniform of yore,what a thrill!But the border between game and "for real " is thin .And Mathieu who accompanies his brother is spellbound.

The cinematography in the dewy forests at dawn is superb ;these settings give one the strange feeling of entering another world .As for the performances, IMHO, Jérémie Rénier effortlessly blows Vincent Perez off the screen.

Tremendous little French drama, very unusual, unpredictable, puzzling for many audiences, that's the reason why it did not work so well in terms of gross. Such a shame. It is unlikely, I admit, but that's precisely why I crave for it that much. I guess that Ridley Scott's DUELLISTS - or BARRY LYNDON - influenced this one, I won't explain why, it is so obvious.... It is impossiblle for me to spoil the story, so surprising, but believe me, if you search something different, this is definitely for you. Jeremie Renier and Vincent Perez steal the show together, this awesome, gripping, engrossing and daring movie. But from time to time, French movie industry provides such golden gems.