Every day, AlloCiné recommends a film to (re)watch on TV. Tonight: a period film based on a true story that deserves to be told again and again.
After masterpieces such as The Old Man and the Child, Tchao Pantin, Manon des Sources and Jean de Florette and Germinal, Claude Berri signs his 18th feature film with Lucie Aubrac. A story about the Second World War for someone who, from an Ashkenazi Jewish family, had to be hidden for his own survival.
As the trailer says, “everything a woman can do to save the man she loves, Lucie Aubrac did it”. We are in 1943, the Second World War is raging and the Nazis occupy France. Raymond and Lucie Aubrac then engage in the resistance.
On June 21, Raymond was however arrested by the Gestapo following a denunciation, alongside Jean Moulin in particular. Determined to help her other half, Lucie will stop at nothing to try to free him, not hesitating to organize his escape…
Romance mixed with violence… It feels like a book here and yet, we are indeed witnessing a true story: that of the Samuel couple, better known under the surname of Aubrac chosen for the underground, two major figures of the Resistance during the Nazi Occupation and the Vichy regime during World War II in France.
History lesson and love story, Lucie Aubrac relates in the most faithful way possible the real events of our difficult past while taking liberties for its scripted version, adapted from the latter’s autobiography.
Hard and poignant, the historical drama released in 1997 does not hesitate to recreate the reality of yesteryear with its scenes of torture and muscular interrogations, shown or suggested, but above all pays homage to the legendary Aubrac couple played on screen by the overwhelming Carole Bouquet and Daniel Auteuil.
Moving acting, sets, light, music and authenticity to bring you closer to a past era with as much realism as possible – even in its costumes and its atmosphere, you would believe it – Lucie Aubracwhich will receive a BAFTA nomination for best non-English language film in 1998, is an essential moment in history not to be missed.
Lucie Aubrac by Claude Berri with Carole Bouquet, Daniel Auteuil, Patrice Chéreau…
From 12 years old
Tonight on Arte at 8:55 p.m.