Sarah's Key
Have you ever seen a movie that affects you in such a way that you leave the theater and you can't trust your voice? For me most of the time after I see a movie alone I like to go out and socialize or at least have a conversation with another human being, but after this movie I drove home in silence and just let it sink in. I have always been interested in the history of World War Two, but I know little of what occurred in occupied France. I stumbled upon this and could not have been more pleased to have seen it.
I could not give this movie a higher recommendation. This is Oscar material.
Kristen Scott Thomas is wonderful, her performance needs to be recognized in a big way. I have seen her here and there but never really taken notice of her. Going in I couldn't picture her face. She was incredible, her character's demons play out in different parts of the film leaving the viewer with an entire character, the writing played a big part in that but she brought the whole woman to life. I am now a big fan.
Melusine Mayance, the child Sarah, is perfection onscreen. For a kid to handle the subject matter with a touch far older than her years is awe inspiring. Hopefully we will see her again on both sides of the Atlantic.
Charlotte Poutrel, the adult Sarah, charms the viewer through her character's pain. There is a scene set in the 50's where she reminded me of both Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.
I could list everyone in the cast but as I do not own a thesaurus I would quickly run out of superlatives. There were no weak performances.
Everyone in this movie did an amazing job.
The majority of this movie is in French with subtitles. They are not entirely necessary as so much of the power of this film is in the silences, the looks that cross character's faces as they transport us to that moment in time.
The subject matter is heavy, very heavy, but well worth it. The shame of a country shows on the faces of the cast. There is no whitewash painted on the collaboration of France.
The acting in this movie pulls you in and doesn't let you go until well after you have left the theater.
Sarah's Key shows how a movie should be done, everything from the writing to the directing to the acting and everything in between attained a level of perfection in my eyes rarely witnessed before.
This most likely won't be playing at the local multiplex but it is well worth looking for. Go and see this movie.
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