Monsieur Batignole

This is a rather good simple light movie about a heavy subject. Despite its heavy WW II subjects, such as anti-semitic feelings, collaborates, this movie at all times remains a light and pleasant one to watch, due to its approach and way of storytelling.

The movie is rather simplistic and there is not an awful lot of tension or even surprises in this movie really. Yet the movie is effective since it is well made, has nice characters and a rather nice main plot line that it follows.

The movie is build up well and sets up a good feeling and atmosphere of 1942 occupied Paris and the characters of the movie. Too bad that about half way through the movie the movie suddenly takes another approach and becomes an almost entirely different movie, with different settings and also for some part different characters. It's also obvious that they spent most time and effort on the first halve of the movie that is definitely better looking, more believable constructed and has a better flow. In the second halve of the movie some unlikely events occur and the movie and story at times feels like it was done in a hurry and not everything flows well or reaches a satisfying conclusion.

The movie has some good and enjoyable characters in it and the movie gets carried by Gérard Jugnot, who also directed and wrote the movie, who plays a rather unsympathetic and anti-hero at first but as the story develops he gets more and more human so the speak and starts showing his emotions and expresses his thoughts. This is a nice approach for the main character that also works well for the story. It's a great role by Gérard Jugnot, who shows how multi-talented he is. The young Jules Sitruk also was great in a quite big role. Jean-Paul Rouve was also greatly cast as the future son-in-law and collaborator.

The movie is a good watch but overall the movie is just a bit too light and simplistic to leave a really lasting or powerful impression.

6/10

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Probably the best film I have seen so far this year. We recently screened it for our Film Festival Selection Committee and the response was near-unanimous - four stars. The previous commenter's accusations of "terminal cuteness" baffle me - this is the best good-old-fashioned solid three-act structure Hollywood movie I have seen in a long time - and it was made in France. The distributor claims that they cannot find an American distributor who will meet their terms - therefore, there are no plans for American release. If you can find it playing at your local Jewish Film Festival (about the only place you are likely to find it in the US - a shame, really, since it is not a film only for Jews)by all means buy your ticket and go.

This movie suffers from terminal cuteness.. Even treating such a horrible subject, Gérard Jugnot does what he's been doing for over 20 years : playing and directing average french citizens facing not so ordinary situations(of unemployment in Une epoque formidable, of the sects in Fallait Pas, of being a father of a famous actress in Meilleur espoir Féminin...etc.,etc.). Treating in a comic way a serious subject.

This flick is plain silly...a long road to clichéness with an ability to open doors that have already been opened 50 years ago. The germans are bad, sex-crazed people.Deportation is horrible. Every french citizen was pro-german during the war and pro-De Gaulle in 1945. Daaah? The best part is when he's taking the 3 jewish children nearby the swiss border. The french people living there are supposed to have a strong accent (as the kids). But all the adults don't. It is simply both stupid and hilarious (but unintentionally, of course).

Because it wants to tell us about a tragic event and deliver a message of hope we're supposed to love the movie? Nah. It just falls flat on every level : ludicrous dialogues, comedy, drama, war, suspense (ooooohhhh, are the poor children going the get caught by the nasty nazi??? Nah.)...everything is over-demonstrative and SO predictable. This tearjerker is a huge success in France where most of the official critics just love that sense of cuteness. It is beyond redemption, really. This movie deserves a slap in the face to wake it up a bit...but no...terminal cuteness indeed.

And not even an accurate use of the Scope A.R to higher the note a bit. Pfff.

Superwonderscope says : 1

Comedy/drama with splendid performance from Gerard Jugnot as a grocer who becomes involved numerous risks and adventures to save three little Jews . 1942 Paris is under Nazi occupation , there a store keeper named Edmond Batignole (Gerard Jugnot) benefits this situation . He lives with his spouse (Michelle Garcia) and daughter (Alexia Portal) in a small flat in the building of his grocery . Thanks to his future son-in-law , a notorious collaborationist (Jean-Paul Rouve) he organizes banquets for Germans . However his life changes when a Jewish little boy appears in his door asking for help . Batignole hides and protects him against his fateful destination by any means , despite risking to lose his privileged position . Later on , there appears his two Jews cousins , then Batignole decides to travel with three kiddies to Switzerland .

This is an interesting comedy/drama/war developed in an occupied France during the 40s and based on writing credits by Philippe Lopes and Gerard Jugnot. It's the feeling story about a humble grocer with sweet moments, humor and amusing situations . Interesting film is sometimes slipping into banal sentimentality , comedy or outright melodrama, three things that in this powerful portrayal are well combined . Over-all this is an engaging look to infancy friendship with periods of heavy-handed sentimentality . Extraordinary performances from duo protagonist, Gerard Jugnot acting similarly to Louis De Funes with excessive gesticulation , he plays an insignificant shop keeper turned into liberator hero and Jewish saving , and a likable kid stunningly interpreted by Jules Sitruk . Enjoyable relationship between the obstinate shop keeper and the Jewish know-all boy . This stirring and highly acclaimed riveting war comedy about a grocer who has intense relationship with a Jew boy is powered by marvelous performances being very well directed by Gerard Jugnot . He is a magnificent director and actor , his greatest hit was , of course , ¨The Chorus¨ . He has directed eleven films, generally , dramas and comedies , such as : 2008 Fashion victim, 2000 Meilleur Espoir Féminin 1994 Casque bleu , 1988 Sans Peur et sans Reproche ,1985 Scout Toujours , 1984 Pinot simple flic . ¨Monsieur Batignole¨ at his best and a highly rated film . Better than average , worthwhile watching .

Both an entertaining and a sincere movie. Jules Sitruk definitely did a very good job in here. The story had indeed some emotional involvements and was above the average. I liked the way Gerard Jugnot and Jules interacted with each other. Sometimes it was a bit oversubscribed and unrealistic - I'm thinking of the gorgeous sequence with the German soldier who had his knee dislocated - but nonetheless it didn't minimize the movie's natural charm. The historical background adds a significant amount of authenticity to the whole plot and grants the movie additional quality. Solid acting, entertaining experience. Recommended.