Il ritorno di Martin Guerre

The one thing that THE RETURN OF MARTIN GUERRE serves to do is prove positively and absolutely that not all the great film productions come from the USA.

This is an extremely well made movie, with extremely high production values. Great acting, great sets, great costumes, great score. Pure quality.

After about thirteen or fourteen years I finally was able to see this film again, this time in French with subtitles, not dubbed into German. There was nothing wrong with the German version, the film certainly didn't fail to impress me so much, that I declared this film to be the best Gérard Depardieu has ever done. I think I still have the same opinion, although meanwhile it ties with Les Misérables.

Now today I watched it again. I couldn't remember anything really, just parts of scenes and what happened at the end, of course. But then everything came back. The music suddenly seemed familiar, the village, the faces. I still was surprised to see Tcheky Karyo's name in the credits at the end, because I missed him completely, while I recognized Dominique Pinon at once, much younger of course. Again I stood in awe of the costumes and the village scenery. Everything was so convincing and realistic. As if someone had done a time travel and brought back a video. After The Name of the Rose this is the best period film till now. In the art department. But also certainly in acting, writing and directing.

Gérard Depardieu and Nathalie Baye deliver performances which are outstanding. Every acting student should watch them, they are masters of their profession. They show emotions which are almost palpable, you feel with them, certainly towards the end, but also during the rest of the time. The script offered them "only" great parts and they created lives out of the printed words. Every gesture, every movement, every look fits and connects the viewer with the story. As if you're in the story, not watching it. There is no doubt whatsoever that this story is real. Even if history should have been a bit different (which I don't know), the story in the film feels real.

And I just want to add that everyone who calls M. Depardieu ugly or anything like it, is not only extremely rude but obviously not receptive to any kind of charisma and aura. With actors (as with people in general, right?) looks are not important. Whoever thinks that, should switch from watching films to watching models. There he can get empty beauty.

My recommendation is: watch this film. You can hardly spend an evening in a better way. 10 out of 10.

This is the true story of a peasant in 16th century France who left his home village for almost a decade without saying a word to anyone, even his long suffering wife. When he comes home he's different; he's better. He's sweeter, more helpful, he smiles, hell - he laughs. Martin was never so good. Then comes the day a couple of drifters hit the village. They claim to know Martin but by a different name. That was the first chink in the armor. Things become so uncertain that he is finally put on trial to ascertain who this guy is. This is a loving microhistory intimately telling the story of life on a southern French farm after the wars of religion. It is superbly directed and acted, especially by the two leads, Gérard Depardieu and Nathalie Baye.

One of my favorite movies, even if the ending is a heartbreaker. Every Depardieu fan should have a copy - in French, not dubbed. You can't help but like the returning Martin, as played by Depardieu. His talent at facial expression is wonderful. The courtroom scene is his best - check out the look he gives the wife as she steps forward to select the correct Martin.

Brings to life intriguing and complex drama from middle ages. Brilliant acting, musical score (original instruments--well-researched), and costumes. Possibly one of the best Gerard Deperdieu films.