Despite the fact that Audrey Tautou is simply adorable, this movie is great because the director (Jeunet) had the ability to reflect the horror of war. I think that the difference between this film and many others is the simplicity of the characters. Common people involved (some cases against their will) in atrocities and desperate to find a way out to that hell. An that's exactly the main issue around the plot: five characters accused for a martial court to death penalty because they shoot their selves in the hand to return home. One of the characters has a fiancé waiting for him (Mathilde interpreted by Tatou) and after some confusing episodes, military authorities decided to declare him dead on action. Mathilde convinced that his love is alive starts an investigation to find out the true about the facts related with those 5 men. Apparently there were a lot of misunderstandings and each clue conducts to an imprecision or another episode. During the film Jeunet involves in a brilliant way all the characters to tell us the history of one specific moment during the First World War: five French soldiers abandoned between their and enemy lines with the specific goal to get them death. Suddenly there is a surprising attack and a big confrontation occurred. During the chaos, death bodies and confusion the destiny of the prisoners is unknown. Mathilde's obsession is trying to found out what happened. She has the feeling that his fiancé remains with live somewhere, but someone is hiding vital information. She starts to search and figures out piece by piece the complicated puzzle.
This love history is full of romanticism, but at the same time shocking scenes about the war and its atrocities were well developed. In particular there is one short shot where a woman is executed using the guillotine. Realism achieved and art direction/ set decoration is magnificent. The movie has another Jeunet's feature: comedy. There good scenes with hilarious situations and as the same way he did in Amelie, he combined perfectly drama, intrigue and comedy. I recommend to everyone to watch this film and have a good time.
This love history is full of romanticism, but at the same time shocking scenes about the war and its atrocities were well developed. In particular there is one short shot where a woman is executed using the guillotine. Realism achieved and art direction/ set decoration is magnificent. The movie has another Jeunet's feature: comedy. There good scenes with hilarious situations and as the same way he did in Amelie, he combined perfectly drama, intrigue and comedy. I recommend to everyone to watch this film and have a good time.