Summary
At the time of the Nazi occupation of France, Bernard Granger joins a theatre company
in Paris managed by Marion Steiner. Marion is the wife of a famous stage director,
the Jew Lucas Steiner, who is hiding in the cellars of the theatre. As Marion and
Bernard rehearse Lucas' latest play, the two actors become attracted to each other, although
Marion is determined to stay faithful to her husband.
Review
Despite strong performances from Depardieu and Deneuve, Le dernier metro is not
quite in the league of Truffaut's more memorable films. The repetition of the rehearsal
scenes and the claustrophobic nature of the setting (virtually the entire film taking
place within the theatre) weigh down a film that feels somewhat over-long and lacking
in content.
Surprisingly, the presence of Nazi soldiers conveys little sense of menace. If anything,
the threat to Lucas Sterner, a Jew hiding in Paris, is played down. Some nice comic
touches add some relief - such as Depardieu being rejected by a lesbian - but the film
still feels slow and plodding.
Truffaut's views on the politics of this period of history can perhaps be gleaned from
the script and that is probably the most interesting element of the film.
The film was a welcome success for Truffaut, coming after the flop La chambre verte
and the lack lustre L'amour en fuite. For the initial release in 1980,
cinema bookings were very respectable in both France and the United States, making this
Truffaut's last great commercial success.
© James Travers 2000
See also:
The life of François Truffaut
Les 400 coups
Tirez sur le pianiste
Jules et Jim
Farenheit 451
Baisers volés
Le Dernier métro
Buy films by François Truffaut
Buy films with Gérard Depardieu
Buy films with Catherine Deneuve
More about the French New Wave
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