ElMaruecan82
With his bald head, bushy mustache and below average stature, Gérard Jugnot has always been type-casted as the typical French guy, definitely not the leading type by Alain Delon or Lino Ventura's standards.Yet, for an audience avid of characters to mock and/or to identify with, Jugnot's always been one of the most instantly recognizable and popular of all the French actors, thanks or because of the physical qualities I described. To give you a hint, when he shaved his legendary mustache for the first time, it was like a national event in France. In fact, though they played in different registers, Jugnot was the eternal 'average Jean' like Woody Allen the 'neurotic nerd'. And with the same artistic talent, Jugnot was capable to turn what could be seen as a handicap into a true career's asset, when he started directing himself in the early 80's.Jugnot had his breakthrough film as an actor/director by playing "Pinot, simple cop", in the underrated "Wonderful Times", he embraced the economical crisis of the early 90's as Berthier, a guy who lost everything and started living in the streets. And in 2002, he played another memorable anti-heroic role as Edmond Batignole, a Parisian butcher who starts hiding Jewish children and helps them to get to the Swiss border during the Occupation. Although the film can be seen as the typical 'ordinary hero' tale and lesson of courage and integrity, it's not "Life is Beautiful" material and looks more like the kind of TV drama you'd watch on a Thursday night. Strangely enough, the film doesn't have the stylish ambition its story would have called for, a pity considering the potential of the titular character.Batignole's qualities are efficiently highlighted by contrast: he's not as opportunistic as his wife or as zealous as his soon-to-be son-in-law Pierre Jean, a wannabe playwright and notorious collaborator. The film opens in 1942, Batignole, as the brave worker who gets up early finds out that his rabbits were stolen. Convinced that only a child could have entered the warehouse, he questions Dr. Bernstein about his son, keeping him upstairs while Pierre-Jean, smelling the attempt to escape, calls the police, Batignole has some rude words against Dr. Bernstein, not because he's a Jew, but because of his snobbishness. The family ends up being arrested and realizing his participation–Pierre-Jean calls it a deliberate diversion- Batignole understands that his views about class struggles are outdated by a much bigger issue.Yet he acted like a collaborator and thanks to his help, Pierre-Jean pulled some strings to convince Gestapo officers to take Batignole as a caterer. He reluctantly accepts this promotion, he who fought the Germans during the Great War and it's obvious that there is a big part of remorse regarding the Bernstein family. One day though, he finds Simon Bernstein who managed to escape from the Police and an opportunity to redeem himself. He hides Simon and two other girls in his cave, and in the process, kills Pierre-Jean off-screen, when he was about to call the Police. The film's first act is an occasion to remind of the disgrace of the collaboration and humanity of those who jeopardized her lives by protecting Jews.Jean-Paul Rouve is a scene-stealer as the treacherous Pierre-Jean and received a César award for Most Promising Newcomer, the film's only win and nomination. I personally believe that not showing Pierre-Jean's death was a mistake that hurt the film's impact regarding the significance of the character as a first-rate villain and the pivotal role his killing played in Batignole's life. I wonder how the death of Pierre-Jean would have looked on-screen, maybe it wouldn't have worked, but it would have liberated the kind of energy the film mostly lacked. Instead, Jugnot chose the 'easy way', and wasted acting talents for scenes that only consisted on words, while the actions speak much better.The most significant moment is the climactic confrontation with the Vichy Police, the level of tension is perfect when Batignole is asked about Simon, but then, realizing he's not believed, Batignole pretends to be a Jew and starts an inspirational speech accusing the French collaboration. More than a genuine expression of disgust, it sounds like the kind of crowd-pleasing statements intended to raise the eternal 'what would have we done?' question about France's responsibility in the deportation of Jews. Some viewers believe that France resisted and movies like this continue to convey a negative image. Some others believe that such films are essentials, and then some consider that France should approach other historical themes like the unwounded war with Algeria or slavery.I'm sure Jugnot didn't just make another 'Holocaust' film but his climactic speech would have made a more impacting pay-off if the film had featured more intense moments before. Instead, it flirts with many war dramas' archetypes: the good-hearted bishop, the lonely woman who gives her house and body, with such a sort of detachment that I wonder if Jugnot really trusted his material. Jules Sitruk also gives a nice performance as Simon Bernstein, but he never seemed to grasp the gravity of his condition. The film lacked the kind of powerful shocks where Batignole would have slapped him for his own good, would Simon scream or insult him? Maybe, but that's because the kid acted more like HIS generation and his performance needed a 'better' directing. And the two girls didn't have much screen time to grab our interest.The film is a good tribute to anonymous heroes who helped France to keep its honor and only Gérard Jugnot could have pulled such a performance. But it feels like he took the premise of granted and shot the film in a rush, filling it with inspirational speeches yet preventing it for the kind of energy and tension, we expect from a WWII drama.
writers_reign
Despite enjoying a high-profile in France where he has been writing, directing and starring in films for 20 years, ex-Splendid member Gerard Jugnot remains virtually unknown outside his own country. As an actor only he is starring in 'Les Choristes' which opened in April and is still playing in several large salles in Paris in September. Clearly this year's 'Amelie' it has already been seen by well over one million people which SHOULD justify release abroad but distributors are queer cattle; we wait in London for 'Le Choristes' yet a piece of merde like 'Merci Dr. Rey' which played two weeks in ONE salle in Paris before being yanked has already been and gone in London leaving as much trace here as it did in Paris. Meanwhile this entry from 2002 shows Jugnot at his best in all three departments; he has written a good, solid well-made script, directed it to perfection and for good measure thrown in a leading performance as good as anything around. The setting is Paris under German Occupation. Edmond Batignole is a middle-aged hen-pecked butcher living with a wife, daughter and the daughter's fiancé, Jean-Pierre Lamour (Jean-Paul Rouve) an open collaborator who writes vitriolic articles for a fascist journal. At the outset a small boy crawls through a grating to steal a precious ham from the shop and when the theft is discovered Lamour is quick to point the finger at Simon Bernstein (Jules Sitruck) the small son of a Jewish doctor, who lives in a lavish apartment. By coincidence the Bernsteins en masse are just about to flee so for good measure Lamour places the telephone call which results in their arrest and subsequent detainment in Vel d'Hiv (Velodrome d'Hiver, a large stadium on the outskirts of Paris which was used at the time as a holding centre for Jewish detainees prior to their shipment to Germany).Given Lamour's connections the Batignole family are soon living in comparative luxury in the Bernstein's apartment and Batignole has a lucrative contract to supply meat to the German High Command. Then one day Batignole answers a ring on the doorbell to find young Simon Bernstein standing there. Having somehow managed to escape from Vel d'Hiv he has, not unnaturally, returned to his old home and is disconcerted to find it occupied. Against his better judgment Batignole hides the boy and brings him food then, learning from Simon that two female cousins, Sara and Guila Cohen, are being 'looked after' elsewhere in Paris, Batignole attempts to offload Simon on the same carer but to no avail. Things come to a head when Batignole brings food to Simon only to discover the two girls have joined him. Their raised voices attract the attention of Lamour who, after breaking down the door, reveals his intention of denouncing everyone, including his prospective father-in-law. During a heated exchange Lamour winds up slightly dead and Batignole flees with the children and eventually is able to leave them at the Swiss border where, after a moment's hesitation, he joins them. This is much more than the cross between Noel Coward's 'Fumed Oak' in which a hen-pecked husband finally leaves his wife, daughter and his country and Nevil Shute's 'Pied Piper' in which a middle-aged man caught in France in June, 1940, agrees to take two children back to England and winds up with seven, that it appears on first sight. The period detail is spot on and Jugnot has managed to coax brilliant performances from the three children, primarily Jules Sitruck as Simon. There's also a nice put-down which may appeal to French culture buffs. In addition to his articles Lamour is also an aspiring dramatist and whilst dining in a large restaurant he notices Sacha Guitry coming towards his table. He accosts the great man and reminds him that he (Lamour) sent him a play to read. Guitry speaks scathingly of the play and, stung, Lamour says 'You have insulted me', 'Yes', replies Guitry, 'but I don't do it for a living'. Until the distributors get real there is probably little chance of seeing this film other than on DVD and even then you'll have to buy it in France. In my opinion it is worth it. 8/10
courfeyrac
Though a very heavy subject, Monsieur Batignole approaches the French collaboration and attempts of two Jewish families to escape war-time Paris in an enjoyable manner that is so common of Jugnot.Jugnot plays one of his typical likeable characters who doesn't want to get involved, but finds himself nonetheless thrown in with three Jewish children as they attempt to escape to Switzerland. Jean-Paul Rouve also does a fabulous job of acting, making you hate him just for playing his character.Well seasoned with humor, recognition and turning points, this is definitely a good film to see and perhaps even learn a lesson from.
