CarnivalAskew

There is something engaging about European War movies that Hollywood cannot match. It may be the attention to detail or the fascinating plots but what sets Les Femmes de l'ombre apart is its humbleness. In the film, people are people and not representatives of states. There are no inherently evil officers or cruel torturers. Everybody has their own motives to fight and war and society are the only enemies.

Femmes de l'ombre tells the story of female agents in the British Special Operations Executive. It begins with Louise Desfontaines (Sophie Marceau) alongside her brother Pierre Desfontaines (Julien Boisselier) as they recruit four women to carry out a secret mission. The mission involves saving a British geologist who was found collecting samples of sand at Normandy for the preparation of D-day. German SS Colonel Heindrich (Moritz Bleibtreu) uncovers the significance of the geologist and seeks evidence of the plan to convince his superiors.

The story is based loosely on real events and is gripping and unpredictable. The reason for this, which is also the greatest strength of the film, is the consistent cuts between the endeavours of the female agents and Heindrich. It is less a story of a Nazi executing his wraith upon the French agents and more a balanced story of cat and mouse. Heindrich is a reasoning and merciful officer similar to Captain von Rauffenstein in the Grand Illusion. He murders and tortures but we cannot hate him. His heart is as big as his iron fist.

The film is also beautiful. The active but never intrusive camera work and nuanced acting are impeccable. Every actor in the film brings out the heroism of each character and more importantly their flaws. The sets are also lavish with French subways covered with period posters and buildings creaking with cosiness yet able to instantly summon danger. On the other hand, realism is at times pushed under the blanket with the use of blood and religion but they are believable and subtle enough to not choke on. In short, Les Femmes de l'ombre never takes you to one side to sell you symbolism and an anti-war message. These gems are littered throughout the film and are the attraction not a deviation.

Many things have been said about World War 2 but Les Femmes de l'ombre says it with a loud, clear and elegant voice.

Opening nationally on August 7

CAST

Louise Desfontaine SOPHIE MARCEAU
Jeanne Faussier JULIE DEPARDIEU
Suzy Desprez MARIE GILLAIN
Gaëlle Lemenech DEBORAH FRANÇOIS
Karl Heindrich MORITZ BLEIBTREU
Maria Luzzato MAYA SANSA
Pierre Desfontaine JULIEN BOISSELIER
Eddy VINCENT ROTTIERS
Lieutenant Becker VOLKER BRUCH
Melchior ROBIN RENUCCI
Claude Granville XAVIER BEAUVOIS
Maurice Buckmaster COLIN-DAVID REESE
Gerd Von Rundstedt JURGEN MASH
British Geologist CONRAD CECIL
René Bourienne ALEXANDRE JAZEDE
Bernard Quesnot DAVID CAPELLE
Doctor on train WOLFGANG PISSORS
Madame Duchemin CHANTAL GARRIGUES
British Officer #1 JAMES GERARD
British Officer #2 EDWARD HAMILTON-CLARK
Man with mustache on train MARC BERTOLINI
Lt. Normandy hospital RAINER SIEVERT
Radio Operator ASHLEYWANNINGER
Buckmaster's Secretary NATASHA CASHMAN
Pilot STANISLAS KEMPER
Dispatcher SIMON BOYLE
Feld-Gendarme St-Lazare OLIVIER DE WISPELAERE
SS Major on train JOHANNES-OLIVER HAMM
Corporal Pioche DAVID VAN SEVEREN
English Nurse SARAH TULLAMORE
Ticket-puncher PHILIPPE SOUTAN
Subway Car Driver YVES HECK
Train Guard STEPHANE FOENKINOS
Sentry CHRISTOPHE GROFER
Wehrmacht Officer STEFAN KOLLMUSS
SoldierPierre FABIAN ARNING
Militiaman OLIVIER HERAUD
Prison Van Soldier ALEX LUTZ
Hospital Sentry JAN-OLIVER SCHROEDER
Hotel Regina Concierge SERGE ONTENIENTE
Bus Boy ANTOINE SALOME
Priest ANDREWWILSON
Teacher IDA TECHER

CREW
Directed by JEAN-PAUL SALOMÉ
Screenplay by JEAN-PAUL SALOMÉ and LAURENT VACHAUD
Original Score BRUNO COULAIS
Director of Photography PASCAL RIDAO A.F.C
Production Designer FRANÇOISE DUPERTUIS A.D.C
Sound Recordist LAURENT POIRIER
Costumes PIERRE-JEAN LARROQUE
Sills Photographer THIBAULT GRABHERR
1st Assistant Director SERGE ONTENIENTE
Casting Director STEPHANE FOENKINOS A.R.D.A.
Script Supervisor LAURENCE LEMAIRE-BAZI
Storyboarder MAXIME REBIERE
Key Makeup Artists ODILE FOURQUIN
NURITH BARKAN
Key Hair Stylists BRIGITTE LAURENT
SYLVIE MATHEVET
Production Manager NORA SALHI
Unit Manager HENRY LE TURC
Mechanical SFXLES VERSAILLAIS
Film Editor MARIE-PIERRE RENAUD
Sound Editor VINCENT GUILLON
Foley Artist PASCAL CHAUVIN
Re-recording Mixer DEAN HUMPHREYS
Post-production Supervisor CHRISTINA CRASSARIS
Digital SFXMAC GUFF
Produced by ERIC NÉVÉ
A coproduction LA CHAUVE-SOURIS
RESTONS GROUPÉS PRODUCTIONS
TF1 INTERNATIONAL
TF1 FILMS PRODUCTION
In association with POSTE IMAGE
COFIMAGE 18
BANQUE POPULAIRE IMAGES 7
BANQUE POPULAIRE IMAGES 8
COFINOVA 4
VALOR 7
With the participation of CANAL+
CINECINEMA
With the support of LA RÉGION ÎLE-DE-FRANCE
International sales TF1 INTERNATIONAL