Sarah's Key (Elle s'appelait Sarah)

 

 

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Its 1942 and France is under the Nazi jack boot, yet thanks to the plucky resistance the fascists are being thwarted at every turn ' or not as it turned out. This is a tale that has its roots in the now infamous round up of the Jews of Paris in the summer of 1942. They were mostly women and children and were herded into the city's velodrome, where they were kept in stifling temperatures with no amenities, including lavatories, food and water.

Sarah is living in a building in the Jewish quarter with her parents and younger brother. When the gendarmes came calling, she hid him in a wardrobe, locking him in and taking the key. Once they reached the velodrome they realised their mistake in having left little Michelle behind. The Jews were then taken to transit camps before finally going to the death camps including Auschwitz. This was all done by the French authorities, albeit at the behest of their Uber Lords.

Meanwhile in the modern day, Julia Jarmond's (Kristen Scott-Thomas) husband has inherited that self same apartment from his ailing mum. Julia is working for a new French magazine and is doing a piece on the 'round up' and has done some digging as to who these people were who had been in her new home.

The story flits back and forward telling the ordeals of Sarah and her fellow captives, in line with the unfolding truths that Julia finds increasingly difficult to accept. This is an extremely well acted and crafted film that deals with an emotional scar on the French psyche in an open and honest way. President Mitterrand actually apologised for French complicity in these deportations of 76,000 Jews. It took that long for France to face up to that part of her past, but at least she did it. This whole episode was told in a much more acute way in the film 'The Round Up', this film has some resonance with that but also 'Sophie's Choice'. There are fine performances all round and an excellent musical score, the whole thing exudes quality.

This is not an action flick and not straightforward good versus evil, as some of the Gendarmes are portrayed as good guys in the wrong place etc. Whilst it does not show some of the grittier sides to the subject in hand, it still faces up to them. It is in French, some English and a smattering of German, that is not always translated. Fans of war history films and Kristen Scott-Thomas will want to see this. A special word has to be said about the performance by Melusine Mayance who plays Sarah, she is utterly convincing, a brilliant performance. Write and director Gilles Paquet-Brennan has made an interesting and thoughtful film, that does him credit.

I read the book Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay as did my sister and my mother and we all loved it. We were looking forward to this movie in a huge way. We were highly disappointed by the English sub titles. They were confusing and inaccurate in places. My mother's first language is french and she said a number of times - "That's not what he/she said". I would recommend you rent this if you must see it. Personally, I am putting it in the box for the next garage sale. I'll stick with the book, thanks.

After reading the book, my wife and I were anxious to see the movie version of Sarah's Key.

Generally, movies are not great at capturing the detail and character development of a book - and often the visualization can conflict with the way a reader interprets the event as described in the book. Having said that, the movie Sarah's Key does a very good job of covering the period with context....and keeping the viewer engaged until the end (which ends abruptly and with many questions unanswered). Sarah is highly believable as is her family in the beginning of the film. The actual reporter who covers the story was in fact born in France though in the film/book was made an American who moved to Paris and married a Parisian. This doesn't significantly impact the accuracy of the event but does create an element that could perhaps detract from the core story.

I really can't say more without giving away the outcome of the film but might suggest if you haven't read the book yet....watch the movie and then read the book....which will complete some of the detail left out in the film. This is the reverse of my usual recommendation re: book/film. It is a very compelling film.

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1.0 out of 5 stars So disappointing!
This was so disappointing. The book was so well done. I couldn't put it down. It was incredibly written and had so much feeling. The movie fell so short of the book. Read more

Published 16 days ago by Allie

4.0 out of 5 stars A Complex Treatment of a Very Painful History
I like what the filmmaker is attempting to do in this cinematic rendition of the true story of the Starzynski family's encounter with French fascism during World War II. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ian Gordon Malcomson

5.0 out of 5 stars Best film of 2011
What a powerful film. The ending will blow you away. Another film on the Vel' d'Hiv Roundup you say? Yes, but so much more. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Patrick M. Gouin

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