Brian Moore's novel was an excellent novel. The story takes us back to a past that remains unresolved because the criminals who were responsible for a lot of atrocities during WWII, either became part of the establishment, or are no longer around to be judged by their sins.
The adaptation of the Moore's novel is by the distinguished writer, Ronald Harwood, one of the best in the business. Norman Jewison takes the story to France, where the story takes place. The adaptation stays close to the original story.
Some comments to this forum have criticized the fact that this is basically an English cast playing French people. In a way, it's naive to think that if an American or English company decided to film the novel, it would have to cast French actors. Frankly, it's based on an English book, written by an English speaking writer, were we supposed to read the novel in French just because it happens in France? I don't think so.
That said, if you haven't seen the film, you would like to stop reading at this point.
Pierre Brossard has led an easy life in the years after the end of the war. He enjoyed the patronage of the French clergy, who took pains in keeping him out of the inquiring eye of groups trying to bring into justice the war criminals. Brossard was a collaborator of a higher up in the Vichy regime that did the dirty work for the invading Germans.
Right after the war, most of these wanted criminals fled to South America, others found a way to reintegrate the establishment in their own countries and since they had power and money, no one called them to justice. How many of those are still around, living in relative peace and quiet and enjoying protection? One's guess is that many are still unaccounted for.
The best thing that could have happened to Brossard was to have been sent to a French speaking country to get rid of his presence in France, where he is clearly a dangerous proposition. It is not until a judge decides to look into that horrible massacre in the small town during the war, that everything comes into play. Suddenly, Brossard is a problem that has to be dealt with, perhaps, eliminating him is the best thing that can happen.
Thus, we find an aged Pierre Brossard, who's still good with a gun, confronting the ones that are sent to eliminate him from his own former benefactors. The thing is that his death must appear to be the work of perhaps a Jewish group operating in France. Who will get to him first, is the question. Will judge Livi and her colleague, Colonel Roux, or the secretive operatives paid by his former Vichy higher ups?
Michael Caine, as Pierre Brossard, does some of his finest work. His Brossard is a man in his seventies with a heart problem. Mr. Caine makes this criminal come alive; he will not be taken without a struggle. In fact, he surprises in the way he can disappear into the monasteries where Brossard feels welcome.
The rest of the cast is just as good. Tilda Swinton shows a tremendous courage being the judge that wants to bring Brossard to justice. She leaves no stones unturned in her quest to do the right thing. Jeremy Notham is equally effective as the military man that is helping with the investigation.
In smaller roles we see a lot of excellent English actors. Ciaran Hands, Frank Finlay, Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates, among others, help make this thriller look real.
The adaptation of the Moore's novel is by the distinguished writer, Ronald Harwood, one of the best in the business. Norman Jewison takes the story to France, where the story takes place. The adaptation stays close to the original story.
Some comments to this forum have criticized the fact that this is basically an English cast playing French people. In a way, it's naive to think that if an American or English company decided to film the novel, it would have to cast French actors. Frankly, it's based on an English book, written by an English speaking writer, were we supposed to read the novel in French just because it happens in France? I don't think so.
That said, if you haven't seen the film, you would like to stop reading at this point.
Pierre Brossard has led an easy life in the years after the end of the war. He enjoyed the patronage of the French clergy, who took pains in keeping him out of the inquiring eye of groups trying to bring into justice the war criminals. Brossard was a collaborator of a higher up in the Vichy regime that did the dirty work for the invading Germans.
Right after the war, most of these wanted criminals fled to South America, others found a way to reintegrate the establishment in their own countries and since they had power and money, no one called them to justice. How many of those are still around, living in relative peace and quiet and enjoying protection? One's guess is that many are still unaccounted for.
The best thing that could have happened to Brossard was to have been sent to a French speaking country to get rid of his presence in France, where he is clearly a dangerous proposition. It is not until a judge decides to look into that horrible massacre in the small town during the war, that everything comes into play. Suddenly, Brossard is a problem that has to be dealt with, perhaps, eliminating him is the best thing that can happen.
Thus, we find an aged Pierre Brossard, who's still good with a gun, confronting the ones that are sent to eliminate him from his own former benefactors. The thing is that his death must appear to be the work of perhaps a Jewish group operating in France. Who will get to him first, is the question. Will judge Livi and her colleague, Colonel Roux, or the secretive operatives paid by his former Vichy higher ups?
Michael Caine, as Pierre Brossard, does some of his finest work. His Brossard is a man in his seventies with a heart problem. Mr. Caine makes this criminal come alive; he will not be taken without a struggle. In fact, he surprises in the way he can disappear into the monasteries where Brossard feels welcome.
The rest of the cast is just as good. Tilda Swinton shows a tremendous courage being the judge that wants to bring Brossard to justice. She leaves no stones unturned in her quest to do the right thing. Jeremy Notham is equally effective as the military man that is helping with the investigation.
In smaller roles we see a lot of excellent English actors. Ciaran Hands, Frank Finlay, Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates, among others, help make this thriller look real.