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The Blood of Others (film)

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Wikipedia article




'The Blood of Others' is a 1984 drama film directed by Claude Chabrol. It is based on the 1945 novel 'The Blood of Others' by Simone de Beauvoir. The film was originally made as a three-hour English-language television film which debuted on August 25, 1984 on HBO. The film was then edited down by 40 minutes and dubbed into French for a European theatrical release.

Plot



In Nazi occupied France, Jean Blomart sits by a bed in which his lover Hlne lies dying. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about both characters and their relationship to each other. As a young man filled with guilt about his privileged middle-class life, Jean joins the Communist Party and breaks from his family, determined to make his own way in life. After the death of a friend in a political protest, for which he feels guilty, Jean quits the Party and concentrates on trade union activities. Hlne is a young designer who works in her family's confectionery shop and is dissatisfied with her conventional romance with her fiance Paul. She contrives to meet Jean, and although he initially rejects her, they form a relationship after she has an abortion following a reckless liaison with another man. Jean tells Hlne he loves her even though he believes he does not. He proposes to her and she accepts.

When France enters World War II, Jean, conceding the need for violent conflict to effect change, becomes a soldier. Hlne intervenes against his will to arrange a safe posting for him. Angry with her, Jean breaks their relationship. As the German forces advance towards Paris, Hlne flees and witnesses the suffering of other refugees. Returning to Paris, she briefly takes up with a German who could advance her career, but soon sees what her countrymen are suffering. She also witnesses the roundup of Jews. Securing the safety of her Jewish friend Yvonne leads Hlne back to Jean, who has become a leader in a Resistance group. She is moved to join the group. Jean has reconnected with his father with the common goal to liberate France from Germany. His mother, however, is less impressed by the lives lost to the Resistance.

Hlne is shot in a resistance activity and during Jean's night vigil at her side, he examines his love for Hlne and the wider consequences of his actions. As morning dawns, Hlne dies and Jean decides to continue with acts of resistance.

Cast



* Jodie Foster as Hlne Bertrand

* Michael Ontkean as Jean Blomart

* Sam Neill as Dieter Bergman

* Lambert Wilson as Paul

* Stphane Audran as Gigi

* Alexandra Stewart as Madeleine

* Jean-Franois Balmer as Arnaud

* John Vernon as Charles

* Michel Robin as Raoul

* Jean-Pierre Aumont as M. Blomart

* Jean-Yves Berteloot as Coutant Repentigny

Soundtrack



* "C'tait crit"

: Composed by Jacques Stern

: Lyrics by Jack Meskill

: Performed by Maurice Chevalier

* "Mnilmontant"

: Written and performed by Charles Trenet

* " Paris dans chaque Faubourg"

: Composed by Maurice Jaubert

: Lyrics by Ren Clair

: Performed by Lys Gauty

Reception



From Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews, who gave the film a C:

References




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