Suite Française (2015)

Directed by Saul Dibb
Produced by Romain Bremond, Andrea Cornwell, Michael Kuhn, Xavier Marchand
Screenplay by Saul Dibb, Matt Charman
Based on "Suite française" by Irène Némirovsky
Starring: Michelle Williams, Kristin Scott Thomas, Matthias Schoenaerts
Music by Rael Jones
Cinematography: Eduard Grau
Edited by Chris Dickens
Production companies: Entertainment One, BBC Films, Qwerty Films, TF1 Films Production, Radio Television TSE
Distributed by Entertainment One, UGC Distribution, The Weinstein Company
Release date: 13 March 2015 (United Kingdom)
Running time: 107 minutes
Country: United Kingdom, France, Belgium
Budget: $20 million

Box office: $15.4 million

"Suite Française" is a romantic war drama film directed by Saul Dibb and based on Irène Némirovsky's novel of the same name. It tells the love story between a French villager and a German soldier during World War II.

Cast

• Michelle Williams as Lucille Angellier
• Kristin Scott Thomas as Madame Angellier
• Matthias Schoenaerts as Commander Bruno von Falk
• Sam Riley as Benoit
• Ruth Wilson as Madeleine
• Lambert Wilson as Viscount de Montmort
• Margot Robbie as Celine
• Harriet Walter as Viscountess de Montmort
• Eileen Atkins as Denise Epstein
• Tom Schilling as Kurt Bonnet
• Deborah Findlay as Madame Joseph
• Cédric Maerckx as Gaston Angellier

Saul Dibb ("The Duchess") can create a splendid image telling an interesting story. The picture turned out warm in spite the fact "Suite Française" is a film about the war. Therefore this makes it a good movie for a quiet evening.

I'm interested in Michelle Williams' acting but I can't say I'm a big fan. As for her role in "Suite Française", I like her portrayal of a hopeless young woman who meets a man in due time. Matthias Schoenaerts as a respectable German looks so attractive that it's difficult not to fall in love. Kristin Scott Thomas in role of spiteful Madame Angellier is noteworthy as she shows that not only enemies may hurt. Sam Riley, who was my main reason to watch "Suite Française", played a difficult one-sided character not humbling with current circumstances. And I want to mention Margot Robbie's performance who became my discovery: of course, I heard about her but haven't watched any film with her before "Suite Française" where she remained in my memory as a minor but clue part.

Advantages

• Michelle Williams as Lucille Angellier
• Sam Riley as Benoit

Disadvantages

• War can't be beautiful

"Strangenesses"

• Why do people always want only to judge?

Clue Moments

• Falling in love with the enemy

A person is described not with his nationality: foes may be closer that you think and this film shows this unusual side of the war. Yes, the Germans were almost everyone's enemies during the Second World War however it doesn't mean that all of them were... bad. Who said that opponents can't be honest or merciful? These character traits depends on a person, not on a nationality. Moreover, where are proofs allies will be kinder?

Fall in love with a soldier? Okay. Fall in love with an enemy? Anyone who will take the trouble will blame. It goes without saying most people judge superficially not going deeply in details. However why nobody believes in pure feelings not with an opponent but with a human? Although during the wartime everything were even more difficult...

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 8/10

Entertainment: 7/10

Acting: 8/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10