This film highlights many of the mixed emotions, loyalties, betrayals and personal sagas that characterized life during the Occupation (1940-44). It has all the features of a classic love/war story: intrigue, suspense, seduction, betrayal--you name the component, and it's part of the film. My biggest criticism is that the film moves a bit too fast, and it doesn't develop the plot enough. There are a lot of nuances and subtle innuendos that aren't clear on the first viewing. I must add that it is just like Françoise Sagan's novel (on which the story is base), which also has the same structure--extremely esoteric and difficult to pick apart. You really need to be a good student of history (France, WWII, the German occupation, etc.) in order to understand why people are acting the way they are, and how difficult life really was back then.
Even more potentially frustrating for some viewers: the film does not come to a clear conclusion. Being an American, I have the constant desire for some sort of resolution (usually a positive one) at the conclusion of the film. That isn't true here, as the film adheres to the storyline of the novel, with virtually NO changes, albeit for a few names. Alas, one must also realize that this is also a French film and the 'norms' for American films just don't apply. The viewer has to be willing to ask the right questions and put the facts together quite quickly. Some of the facts are only suggested or even just tacitly hinted at. While that is arguably the mark of a good picture (one that makes you think), I think the screen writers could have done a better job by just concentrating on just a few of the historical details, rather than overloading us with them.
One particular place where this is true is the scene immediately following Alice and Charles' return from Paris, where Jérôme is burning documents. You really have no idea why the documents are important, and why it was that Alice 'risked her life' so to speak carrying them home from Paris. Also, what happens to the Blumfield family? There are so many questions you have after seeing this film, you wonder where to start. Again, the fact that the film follows the novel's story line so closely gives the director very little margin for artistic license.
As a French teacher, I would recommend this film to only the best of students. I would also suggest reading the novel before watching the movie, as you will know what to look for--particularly with respect to the personal dynamics between Alice, Jérôme and Charles. Unless the student is willing to analyze virtually every scene, it will be virtually impossible to understand, as the only copies available in the United States (that I've found) are not subtitled.
With that said, I'd give the film a rating of 6 out of 10. I really enjoyed watching the film, but there are just so many nuances and questions that the film fails to deal with. Then again, that may be the film's greatest strength, rather than it's weakness!
