It’ not often enough that we can get reminded in film of some of the more dismal times from the past, especially those that show ‘man’s inhumanity to man.’ This happens to be the case of La Rafle (The Round-Up) a French film that captures a period in history covering the cruel extermination of a helpless people, including children in the 1941-45 France. The movie has a sorrowful tone that resonates throughout yet a must see to remind us that the world we live in is so fragile.
The film opens with French children already wearing the yellow Jewish identification star sewn to their clothes like some sort of tattoo. With fear of punishment and death, the Jewish people are scared with the scorns of those who look upon them as a scourge. Stamped with this awful disparagement they still go on with their daily lives. The Nazi occupied France has put fear in the pathetic Vichy Government to do their bidding and time is running out for all Jews everywhere.
With an order from Adolph Eichmann, the French police have been told to round up 20,000 Jews and movie them to the Velodrome d’Hiver, a massive stadium normally used for rallies and sporting events. There they will wait their fate as French Vichy leaders debate with Hitler’s bidders on the next step in the lives of these powerless humans. An unfavorable decision gets made and thousands of men, women and children are put in the Beaune La Rolande detaining facility, the last step before total extermination.
The solemnity of the film showing how vulnerable we are as humans to governments, the power that’s wielded by a chosen few and the fear that instills a weakness in those that are afflicted gets played out under the excellent direction of Roselyne Bosch.
Also the writer of the true story Bosch relates that “All the events, even the most extreme, happened during this month of July 1942”. Her story isn’t all an uncourageous narrative as we are presented with heroes like Dr. David Sheinbaum played by Jean Reno who gives his medical experience to his fellow Jewish prisoners. Reno has that kind of poetic face that shows a kindness and love for what he does, even in the face of being subjected to the same fate as his fellow Jews.
But the best courage comes from a French Christian nurse, Annette Monod played exquisitely by Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds as Shosanna Dreyfus the girl that gets her revenge on Hitler) who helps Jews escape, puts in hundreds of hours in the medical ward and tries to intimidate the police to get more assistance. As a special note, Laurent made a comment in regards to her role in Inglourious Basterds that’s posted on IMDb that’s extremely appropriate to this film. “When I read the script of Inglourious Basterds, I was like, wow, it’s been my dream to kill Hitler since I was like four so I was kind of like Shosanna already. I’m Jewish. I read the script together with my grandfather and he told me, ‘You have to make that movie, please.’ So it was not just for me, it was for my family”.
La Rafle (The Roundup) has not been rated by the MPAA, but contains brutality, language, violence and a rape. The movie is performed in French with English Subtitles. I recommend this film as a must see for all adults.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A decisive reminder and an excellent production. (A)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Cast: Melanie Laurent, Jean Reno, Hugo Leverdez, and Anne Brochet, with Mathieu and Romain Di Concerto as Nono Zygler
- Directed and Written by: Roselyne Bosch
- MPAA Rating: Unrated (contains violence, rape, language and brutality)
- Genre: Foreign, Drama
- Running Time: 2 hrs 4min
- Opening Date: Now Showing
- Distributed by: Menemsha Films
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
