The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)

Must See Movie...

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

An intriguing premise, fitting music, and a solid performance by Nathalie Baye make this okay viewing overall, but it is terribly overlong, since the premise just does not have enough in it to last for a two-hour length. The situations and various issues that arise are interesting at first, but it all becomes a bit repetitive, drawn out and monotonous as the film progresses. This was a breakthrough piece for Gérard Depardieu, who does quite a good job, and the film was Academy Award nominated for its apt costumes too. It is quite competently made, and certainly quite watchable, despite somewhat awkward narration and thrills and excitement that are only intermittent. I cannot help but feel however that as a short film the material would have worked better. Either way, it is still worth a look.

I can't find an attribution, but I think it was Mae West that said: . . . a hard man is good to find . . . Certainly that is the attitude of Nathalie Baye's Bertrande de Rols. The story begins in 1542, not the middle ages as stated, but the age of the Reformation, the Council of Trent and the turbulent religious wars. Though the original Martin Guerre (there is meaning in this name, St. Martin of Tours was actually Hungarian, I believe) is a veteran of the Battle of St. Quentin little of the days current events intrudes on Martin and Bertande's village, and contributes little to this romantic triangle. After two hours the two Martin Guerres cancel each other and what is left is Nathalie Baye's wonderful performance as Bertrande de Rols and her concurrence with Mae West.

This movie has all the elements of fine cinema: Great acting, compelling story, great cinematography, and terrific costumes. But above all this movie is lovingly crafted. It is so nice to be taken back in time to another place and experience life as our ancestors lived. This movie proves that you can do this without updating the script to modern thought. I put this movie on my list of top movies ever made. You may want to compare this move with the Americanized version `Sommersby' and see how a copy can be bad.

I mean, I know there are, but come on.Martin and Bertrande got married. Martin was not a very good husband. They finally had a child. Martin left. Many years later, he came back. Or did he?The premise behind "Le Retour de Martin Guerre" ("The Return of Martin Guerre," obviously) is that someone has returned after many years saying he is Martin and that he has been at war. But is it Martin or Arnaud du Tihl? Bertrande says it's Martin. Martin's uncle says it's Arnaud. Whoever it is seems to know an awful lot about Martin's life, but on the other hand, his feet are a couple sizes too small.Depardieu (as the returned Martin... or is he?), Nathalie Baye as Bertrande, and Roger Planchon as Jean de Coras, the chief investigator into the matter, all give fine performances, and the matter of who Depardieu really is is in doubt right up until the last, a good sign. It's ironic that a 1500s period piece ends up turning into a whodunit courtroom drama, but it works well. The final ending is a bit of a letdown, but it's what had to happen, so it doesn't take too much away from the picture. (A-)