Review of Lacombe, Lucien (1974) by Richard L — 06 Dec 2014
The 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature went to Patrick Modiano, co-writer of this 1974 French film. Pierre Blaise gives a standout performance as the title character Lucien Lacombe, an enigmatic young man rejected by the Resistance in 1944 and instead stumbling into a role as a member of the Gestapo. The character is somewhat enigmatic and never successfully sympathetic but instead young, apathetic, selfish, cruel, quick to take advantage of his unexpected new powers as a German policeman but forced to face the consequences of the war, especially after he falls in love with a young Jewish woman.
The movie is tense and suspenseful precisely because it is always unclear what Lacombe will do next, even after he begins to realize that he is probably on the wrong side of the war.
One of the more disturbing aspects of the film is the apparent lack of rules about harming animals during the filming. There are some really gruesome dispatches of animals that reflect the time and culture and add to the character's cruelty and the bleakness of the film. This is not an enjoyable movie to watch but it is incredibly well done and its commentary about war and complicity will likely always be timely.
This review of Lacombe, Lucien (1974) was written by Richard L on 06 Dec 2014.
Lacombe, Lucien has generally received very positive reviews.
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