A magnificent film,which will keep you completely engaged from the opening scene right through the credits. Totally absorbing and the crowd (mostly grey-haired) were respectfully silent for the entire 2 hours. The movie beautiful weaves the past and the present into a compelling tapestry which has a searing, if not entirely surprising, conclusion. Tears filled my eyes at the conclusion, tears shed for so many reasons. I must admit to a particular affinity for themes of this nature. Nevertheless, I was terribly impressed.… Expand

Fascinating.! Sarah's story was amazing, gave me one of the most shocking moments in a long time, the ending a bit weak but that does not diminish the merit of a movie that left you wanting to see more.! Kristin Scott Thomas of course fantastic and excellent Mayance Mélusine; favorite phrase "No one decides when I die"

Moving, tragic, and very human. This is storytelling at it's best, switching between a untold event in French history, and the modern day. This film literally left me glued to the screen, sort of like a tv soap opera on a much larger scale. I would greatly recommend it if you happen to be curious about history, or are looking for a movie that portrays reaslitic characters. Sure, the acting is better in some places than others, but this is a rare movie that made me feel for characters as much as it did.… Expand

An unusual film that combines two stories and the journey of two women dealing with issues that impact their life. Sarah a young jewish girl who survives the French Roundup in 1942 and Julia who late in life becomes pregnant during her investigation into Sarah's life and has to deal with her husbands not wanting the child. It's a quiet film for it's subject matter. The director was careful not too weigh on story more than the other and in the process lost the dramatic impact of both life altering decisions. Kirstin Scott Thomas portrays Julia with a great deal of restraint and reserve. Melyanne portrays Sarah with mostly expression in after she's matured. The young Sarah is excellent but is decidedly held back to let the finding of her brother have a great deal of impact. It really doesn't have the impact that the director intended. The supporting actors are much more interesting in some aspects than the two central figures. The farmer Dufare stands out immediately. Visually it's as quiet as the pace of the entire film. The stories conflict one another without a great deal of explanation for why Julia is so driven to find Sarah and how Sarah who survives the Holocaust can't seem to find that her survival is miraculous enough to build a new life. It's a rather quietly intense film without a great deal of hystrionics.… Expand

I found this film to be more like a made for tv film but I did enjoy it and I learned something. As with all of these type films, I always wonder what took the French 50 years to admit their actions. Is it shame or paying compensation? I'm glad Iam not religious as I would feel so guilty for the treatment of the Jews. The more I learn, the more I am stunned. The dual plots worked out ok but I thought Adrian Quinn's role was too short. The film is worth seeing.… Expand

Kristin Scott Thomas plays a journalist in Paris, who makes personal discoveries as she researches an article on a shameful event: During the Nazi occupation, the French authorities rounded up more than 13K Jews for the death camps. This bi-lingual film alternates between Thomas' quest for truth and the wartime plight of one family. The plot (although somewhat predictable and deliberate) is the main reason to watch. The recreations, while horrific in description, are never horrendous in execution. The emotions stay primarily on the surface and this keeps the film from being emotionally involving.… Expand