Colette (2013) Poster

(2013)

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7/10
Exhausted, barely hanging for the sake of love.
Reno-Rangan30 June 2015
The story was told by an escaped Jewish from the Auschwitz concentration camp controlled by the German Nazi during the second world war. Obviously the film was based on the history, so the story must be true, but I feel there are some fictional accounts as well. Because it was the first called 'Colette: A Girl from Antwerp' from the three book series about three Jewish women. The author Arnost Lustig was the victim of the war crime and it was his story. All the confuse is for the male lead character named Vili Feld, not Arnost Lustig.

It was a decent as a movie and one of the terrifying world war 2 horror as a story. Those who survived that outrage was lived to tell the stories, and just imagine how many more stories have not made its accounts. Despite it was about a young woman called Colette Cohen, the tale was narrated by Vili Feld by recollecting his memories of the prison camp events. Colette is the one he has fallen for. He gives up an easy job just to see her everyday. His secret love, suffering during held and deaths around, all these are the story's main ingredient told in a margin of the thin line between good and bad.

Vili lived all his life looking for the reason for the some unanswered questions. Being in the prison and having an affair was like a chess game. The story was also told in a similar fashion, like pawns moving all around from both the sides and sacrificing a few to win the game. Ultimately, how the game was set up for the grand finale was ended casually before the original timeline's end come into the effect. Survival was the main intention, especially the King and the Queen in the chess format to say. That's the reason the deaths around, I mean the pawn sacrifices were not heartbreaking that we see easily throughout the film.

The greatest thing a person could ever do... Is to save someone's life.

Technically, it sounded a great; photography, editing, music all were depicted the 40s era precisely as for our knowledge of understanding. The performances were too not bad at all, but it was the second string end that looked so stupid. No complain if it was accurate to the real occurrence, though there are not enough evident to prove or the movie won't tell much at the end. In a such cruelty related theme I can't believe the shortfall of emotions and rawness. The screenplay was nearly comparable to the dark comedy, having a brutal war in the backdrop. It focused lots of thriller, but there are equally cool moments that actually calms. As a result, it seems not true to the novel, but borrows certain pages from the book, especially heavily on the romance bits and ignores everything else.

After watching the whole film, still doubt remained with me in certain parts of the narrative. Maybe I need to have one more look, appears to be something I missed. The film, coming from a country like the Czech Republic is really remarkable effort, especially for it in the English language which makes the world look to on this direction. There's no argument about the international standards, the original touch is what's needed because I felt many scenes were directly inspired by the other second world war flicks. Other than that it was very close to 'Life is Beautiful', except it was not a comedy. Worth for a single time watch like any plot that related to this filthy war the man forever regretted for.

6.5/10
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9/10
AKA Prisoners of Auswitch
paulwade_uk11 December 2019
A powerful, thought provoking film that needs to be watched to the end, I can see why the book won a Pulitzer Prize, the story it tells is brutal, well directed watch it on Prime
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10/10
Outstanding.
chevymetalv22 March 2021
This film is captivating. The pace, the acting, attention to detail, the CGI, all excellent. A very moving story, and sobering insight into the deprivations and Auschwitz and casual brutality meted by the SS, as the inmates simply tried to make it through another day.
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8/10
"It is a film of the story that needed to be seen....as one of many films that will reflect the horrors committed by the Nazis...."
gwest-073312 June 2021
I feel apprehensive to review a film of the Holocaust that is harrowing to watch: How heartbreaking to see those who suffered -and died -and to hear the painful stories from those who survived: A patent reminder: The stain of inhumanity of the past, and for generations to come:

The film opens comfortably in a busy neighbourhood with the yellow cabs of New York in America in 1973: We observe a family engaged together, like a happy reunion - this is the film's basis to have the story of the past -retold: It is how the story will evolve, with two survivors meeting together.

This is a film with fleeting images of horror, that will prompt compassion - and anger: The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the true story of 'Colette,' by Arnot Lustig. It is a 'story of a couple who fall in love, but are housed in separate compounds of Auschwitz.' The film moves briskly along in storytelling; and in time, we may be drawn to read the book ourselves?

As nature is unforgiving in itself, I am disturbed by the unforgiving nature of mankind -the pecking order of control - of sadism - and horror of the Nazi regime that the film potently and singularly portrays -in a matter-of-fact way.

Sometimes, the film shows aerial views of the camp at night, with huts illuminated by search lights; and chimneys with smoke, and red fire and ash -airborne in the sky....we feel frightened; we feel alone; we want to be with our family and be safe.

It is a film of the story that is needed to be seen by the cinema audience as one of many films that will reflect the horrors committed by the Nazis. But how do we articulate and share into words, while the film will reverberate, and the book will unmask....

An answer is that the film conveys empathy of love, and courage to survive under an extreme harshness of total Nazi control from annihilation and starvation: But great sadness too, that will loom in ones' own destiny to live as a survivor from the horrors that cannot be forgotten.

Every moment is precious In a life that is treasured.

God Bless the time clock of life -least we should forget: The love that brought us to life!
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10/10
Incredibly good
ger55champ3 February 2022
Very detailed ,beautifully acted and totally believable..Stunning movie which should end up being very popular. Even although it's another reminder of how evil the nazis were during this terrible time in WW2.
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