dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer) (06/26/83)
If you're tired of mindless summer entertainment and/or global thermonuclear war, make sure you see this new French film. I would call it an almost perfect movie. "Martin Guerre" is set in 16th century France: a sullen young man, recently married, suddenly disappears from his village, deserting his family and wife. Nine years later he returns, and the story unfolds... This movie is enjoyable on so many levels: it's a great courtroom drama, it's an absolutely convincing portrayal of dirty, gritty peasant life, it's an investigation into the nature of belief and persuasion, and it's a story of love, justice, and recompense. I left the theater drained, but satisfied--it's a compleat movie. The acting is uniformly good; the only "star" is Gerard Depardieu, who plays the central character. The cinematography is fantastic: the entire film looks like a Breughel scene brought to life.
Holbrook.ES@PARC-MAXC.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (09/13/83)
Date: 11 Sep 83 13:23:13 PDT (Sun) To: movies@UCI Subject: The Return of Martin Guerre From: Stephen Willson <willson@uci> This French film is a period piece. The action takes place in France (where else) during the early 1500's. Martin Guerre is a complete wimp who gets married to Bertrande, this wondeful woman that he doesn't deserve. Martin is lazy and gets caught stealing from his own father! Finally, Martin, wimp that he is, runs off to fight in the war and is never seen again until... One day he shows up. Everyone rejoices at his return. He is much healthier, taller, smarter (he has learned to read and write); he works harder and is a better husband to the fair Bertrande. In fact, the two fall madly in love with each other, whereas before they were having quite a bit of trouble (they were unable to consummate the marriage until the local priest exorcised some demons from Martin). All is well, and everyone is much pleased at how Martin has changed for the better, until one day Martin demands from his uncle the profits that were made on his land while he was gone. Since Martin's parents passed away while he was fighting the wars, Martin is due some money, but his uncle, greedy s.o.b. that he is, refuses to pay up, and claims that Martin is an imposter! Ho ho! These leads us to no less than three trials before we finally learn whether Martin is the real Martin Guerre or an extraodinary imitation. The trials are the best part of this movie. The characterizations are great. The recreation of France in the 1500's is great. The trials are often concerned with Bertrande? Does she recognize her husband or not? This flick is actually a pretty good love story. I give it a 9 out of 10. It's in French with subtitles.
oscar@utcsrgv.UUCP (Oscar M. Nierstrasz) (10/02/83)
Return of Martin Guerre, The (Vigne, Daniel; France; 1983; 110m) *** I have mixed feelings about this one. It's a great story: in 1542 a young woman is abandoned by her husband. Eighteen years later he returns--civilised, literate, compassionate. Husband and wife fall in love. Martin Guerre tries to claim his inheritance. His uncle and other villagers are suspicious. Is he *really* Martin Guerre? All sorts of fun- ny little things don't quite jive. Harassment and *three* trials follow. Martin Guerre defends himself brilliantly ... The acting is marvelous. Gerard Depardieu and Nathalie Baye are fabulous in the lead roles and the supporting cast is wonderful. The film is beautifully made -- a real joy to watch. So why am I left a little cold by this movie? I'm not sure, but I think it's because I have the impression of being told: "In 1542 this happened." After having this bizarre tale unfold, I don't feel like I take much away with me. It's a hard position to defend, however, since it smacks of wanting a "moral" or an explicit resolution, which I don't really believe in. A minor complaint about Gerard Depardieu overkill: he's in too many French movies nowadays. If I see him do his "civilised peasant" routine again, I'll plotz! Go see it. It's good. Oscar Nierstrasz @ utzoo!utcsrgv!oscar
speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP (10/04/83)
A small group of us at the University of Maryland have just seen "The Return of Martin Guerre" and new french film now in the Washington D.C. area. IT'S GREAT! Not as obtuse as a lot of foreign films you may have seen the film tells the true story of Martin Guerre, a land owner of France in 1574. Martin leaves his wife and farm only to return some years later a changed person... but is it REALLY Martin Guerre who has returned? An excellent film! Subtitled and not dubbed so that you can listen to what is really being said. -- - Speaker speaker@umcp-cs speaker.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay