Die große Freiheit (2013)

Die große Freiheit: Directed by Jean Denizot. With Zacharie Chasseriaud, Nicolas Bouchaud, Jules Pélissier, Solène Rigot. Yves is living in hiding with his sons, Sylvain and Pierre. Two years before, he had abducted them from their mother after a judge ruled against him. But the boys are growing up now, and constantly being on the run deprives them of their adolescent dreams. Hidden on an island in the Loire, Sylvain, the younger, meets Gilda: love at first sight… and they are on their way to the good life?

“This story may be incredible in contemporary France but it is based on a true story ,u0026#39;the Fortin affair u0026quot; ,and the father and his two sons were u0026quot;on the runu0026quot; from 1997 to 2009;for the record ,the u0026quot;guiltyu0026quot; father was sentenced to two months imprisonment without remission.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJean Denizot proclaims Renoir u0026#39;s influence and he makes a wonderful use of the Loire valley,quiet places where you can shun a world that has made you outcasts (the girl hints at a nuclear power plant,probably that of Chinon,and thatu0026#39;s all) .The movie focuses on the last year of this fringe family unit,when strained relationship between them begins :the older son ,who complains heu0026#39;s u0026quot;still a Virgin ladu0026quot; , disappears early in the movie before reappearing for an admirable scene : the youngest boy compares the lit up windows of a building to an u0026quot;Advent Calendaru0026quot; which the schoolteacher brought to her class:he left when it was his turn to open a window.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe screenwriters do not pass judgment on their characters: dad is a good man ,he lives for his children and -some call it emotional blackmail but it is not so ,for his children can return to their mom if they want to- he will give himself up,should they leave him.As for the mother ,we learn she is a u0026quot;bourgeoisu0026quot; ,she is educated ,but she is never really blamed : the director avoids being biased and that may explain the abrupt ending.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut Jean Denizot was also influenced by Terence Malick and he tried to infuse American elements into his movie:u0026quot;La Loire is our Mississipiu0026quot;he reportedly said So,hello Huck Finn and moon river !IMHO,itu0026#39;s irrelevant:his movie does not sound American at all,and he succumbs to an usual contemporary vice: thereu0026#39;re three country-folk cuts in the soundtrack,in English of course , whereas there ARE plenty of French old folk songs or contemporary works such as those of singer Renaud which deal with childhood nostalgia :u0026quot;La Pêche A La Ligne u0026quot;,notably, would suit the movie nicelyu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;La Belle Vieu0026quot; (the title was borrowed from a Sacha Distel song,mentioned in the final cast and credits ,but not heard in the movie),despite some reservations,is an endearing work,and the Young actors ,the two boys and the girl give convincing performances ,if only for their spontaneity;Nicolas Bouchaud is a moving dad,tired of the world,who still tries to smile through the pain and to enjoy simple things ,like eating fish in front of a campfire ,even if he does not know what tomorrow will bring;it u0026#39;s really the outcast against the whole world,but ,and it is much to Denizotu0026#39;s credit,he never feels sorry for himself and his sonu0026#39;s last words show that he is proud of his rebel dad .u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNot to be mistaken for Robert Enricou0026#39;s eponymous movie (1963)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLike this? try this…..u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Un week-End Sur Deuxu0026quot; (Nicole Garcia,1990)”