La nuit de Varennes

After having been annoyed by the candy cane music video of Coppola's "Marie Antoinette," I went in search of this film again. I had remembered liking "La Nuit de Varennes" when it came out, but 25 years later it looks much, much better.

A hostile person once defined French film as people saying wounding things to each other for an hour and a half, then somebody dies of cancer or a gunshot. This film redeems the stereotype, as people say wounding things to each other for over two hours and nobody dies (on camera, anyway).

Imagine "Stagecoach" with politics instead of Catholic redemption, then add a solid, witty script and great acting. Veterans Barrault and Mastroianni give canny, memorable performances and everybody else is just fine.

If your model for the movies is the roller-coaster or the video game, you will scream in agony. If you would prefer not to be insulted, this film will be balm for the soul.

Since the powers that be have decreed that this film shall fall between the cracks, it's worth a little research to find it on DVD. Google "That Night in Varennes" and check the first dozen results. It's the best we can do until the delinquent owners of the film come to their senses.