Amor e Ódio

In the summer of 1942 more than 12,000 French Jews were delivered to the Nazi. They were locked at the Vélodrome d'Hiver for several days without food or water or sanitation.

It was up to Red Cross nurses, like Annette Monod (Mélanie Laurent), and Dr. Sheinbaum (Jean Reno) to care for the prisoners and mitigate their suffering.

La Rafle is not a film about the deportation of Jews and the horror of the concentration camps with Hitler's Final Solution. This film is powerful testimony to the denaturalization of French Jews, the appalling conditions of the Vel d'Hiv, the lack of resistance of the French police as well as the existence of the French camps.

On 06 June 1942, the government of Vichy makes a deal with the Nazis and delivers thousands of Jewish families to be sent to the concentration Camp of Beaune-La-Rolande, Loiret and then to the crematories.

"La Rafle" is another touching and heartbreaking film that shows the fate of some Jewish families that are removed by force from their homes to the final destination of a crematory. The cruelty of the fate of the Jewish in occupied Europe in the 40's is composed of millions of tragic stories; therefore films about this theme are always extremely sad and usually well-produced, shaking with the emotions of any sensitive viewer.

This new approach of the Holocaust, based on what happened in France under the complacence of the French politicians and authorities, is very sad since it shows the destiny of thousand of children that are first separated from their mothers and then send to death. It is cruel but never comparable to the "Sophia's Choice", for me the most depressive film about mother and children relationship ever made. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Amor e Ódio" ("Love and Hate")

I loved this film that I consider as a great achievement on a difficult topic : the deportation of men, women and children in death camps. The actors are well directed (and what about children who are super touching!) and i have recognized Jean reno (from the "Big blue" ans Leon movies). That film is poignant, unforgettable, very well done by a woman, Rose Bosh (is she french ?), who has already written the script for Ridley Scott, 1492. A Reference. I recommend this movie at all both for its educational aspect, historic for its great evocative power. Because it is something that unfortunately is universal, it forces all consciences to think and be revolted. Long live the cinema when it allows reflection, and moved much better than a book to remember all those people who have suffered from tyranny and hate.

The Roundup is a must see movie even beyond its historical mission. The interpretation of the actors is excellent. Its quiet difficult to remain indifferent in front such a tragedy, a tragedy so unfair for these innocent people. French they were, but apparently not enough for the French police, with the Vichy regime headed by a man, Philippe Petain, which is known today to have done nothing to protect Jews. Quite the contrary by the way. With his henchmen, they have not mounted the raid in order to meet German demands, but to give pledges to antisemites of all stripes who supported this worthy scheme. I recommend these movie.

This movie has all I want in a film, it is informing and holds the attention. I am a great admirer of Jean Reno and he comes over here as good as ever. The acting in general was excellent and the child actors were superb with such a difficult storyline. The music fitted well to the story and allowed the feel of the movie to shine through. In all a great film which stirs the blood and makes one feel ashamed to be human. It is important to remember what happened and why we should never let it happen again, however it seems that it happens now and we do nothing about it. Long live the French film school, with a tear in my eye I end this review and think again of the many who died without a cause.