Colonel Chabert

Yves Angelo cannot deny his original profession as a cameraman and the whole film is characterized by beautiful compositions, whether it be a battlefield, the streets of old Paris, or the interiors of old bourgeois houses. Just the opening nearly eight-minute scene of a field covered in corpses with the moaning of wounded soldiers, exhausted faces with strained features who have just survived their deaths, is a perfect example of the chaos of war. Even though this is not a war film but rather a historical drama with a romantic motif, very few war films can provide such a suggestive depiction of military craft. The film has an outstanding cast, with Gérard Depardieu showing why he became a star and an acting legend, and his animalistic officer, who grew up in poor conditions only to return to them after a catastrophic turn of events, is incredibly convincing. Fanny Ardant, on the other hand, plays a beautiful bitch who knows how to use her charms, intelligence, and social status to achieve her goals. And among them, Fabrice Luchini is an exceptional lawyer, who seemingly cannot be surprised by anything anymore yet is shocked by the fascinating life story with an improbable twist. This is how I imagine an adaptation of a literary classic. A lavish film that does not drown in and does not attempt to shock with special effects but focuses on the story and portrayal of the setting. Overall impression: 90%. (05/03/2014)