'Frantz' tells gripping tale, stunningly told
Director Francois Ozon’s “Frantz” features stunning cinematography that switches from color to stunning black-and-white images and a unique twist to the storyline.
The period is post-World War I in 1919, immediately after the war to end all wars. In a quiet German town, a young woman, Anna, discovers that a mysterious Frenchman is laying flowers on the grave of her fiance. The grave is empty though because the body of her beloved Frantz vanished in the chaos of the trench warfare. The film is a loose adaptation of the 1932 Ernst Lubitsch drama “Broken Lullaby” with the second half of the story coming directly from Ozon’s change of perspective.
When we first meet Anna, who is brilliantly played by Paula Beer, she’s understandably morose and quiet, having recently lost the love of her life to war. Her parents are eager to marry her off to another German suitor, but she is unwilling to entertain that option. She perks up with the surprise arrival of Adrien (Pierre Niney), a lanky Frenchman with a sexy moustache, who claims to have been close friends with her late fiance. Adrien charms even her family. Anna’s journey to Paris takes your heart on the journey as well.
Flashbacks recounting Adrien’s time spent with Frantz in Paris give a closer glimpse and the misery affecting Anna’s circumstance are shown in a rather Pleasantville-like style culminating in a profound final shot. I was a guest at a special screening of the film with a post-discussion lead by Leonard Maltin with Ozon. It was beautiful with the use of color and black-and-white images and the contrast of emotions.
The film is in French with English subtitles. Showings are today, April 13, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available online or at the door www.panida.org
In other news, Brad Cummings, co-author and collaborator of “The Shack”, will be at the Panida for the Thursday, April 20, showing of the film. Thursday’s special visit is sponsored by Kochava and is for one night only. The film will play April 20, 22, and 23 at the Panida’s main theater.
“The Shack” is an adaptation of the popular 2007 novel by William P. Young, which focuses on a man (played by favorite Sam Worthington) who sinks into severe depression after his daughter is abducted during a family camping trip; struggling to keep his faith, he suddenly receives a mysterious letter urging him to return to the site of the abandoned shack deep in the Oregon hills. Against his better judgment he arrives at there on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest moments. What he finds there will change his life forever.
It is there where his mourning is met with a spiritual epiphany.
Adding another layer of amazing talent to the film is Tim McGraw. He and wife, Faith Hill, wrote the theme song “Keep Your Eyes On Me” that they hope resonates with everyone — regardless of faith or religion. McGraw said recently that the song captures “the spirit and soul of what the film is saying.” McGraw also stars in the film and said it was such a well-made film and a beautiful story that “it doesn’t have to be about just what you think your religion is or what you think your faith is.”
“I think we can all find the love and the redemption in this film,” McGraw said.
Tickets available at www.panida.org or at the door.