ナチス占領下のフランスを舞台に、女優、その夫である演出家、女優の相手役の男優という3人がおりなす愛をめぐる葛藤を、現実と舞台という二重構造の中で描いたトリュフォーの渾身作。セザール賞で作品賞、監督賞、主演男女優賞など主要10部門を独占し、トリュフォーを名実共にフランス映画界のトップの座に押し上げた長編第19作。ヒロインには、トリュフォー作品「暗くなるまでこの恋を」のドヌーヴが久しぶりに起用され、美しさをたっぷりと披露。共演はトリュフォーの次作「隣の女」にも続けて出演したG・ドパルデュー。 1942年、パリ。ユダヤ人の劇場支配人兼舞台演出家のルカは南米に逃亡したと偽装しつつ、劇場の地下でひそかに潜伏し、劇場の看板女優である妻マリオンを主演女優にし、何とか芝居の上演を続ける。そんな事情も知らず、新たに芝居に加わった男優ベルナールは美しいマリオンに夢中になるが、マリオンはそんなベルナールに冷たい素振り。だが通風管から聞こえる2人の芝居から、ルカはマリオンがベルナールを愛していると気づく。
FindKeyのエディトリアルチームがこの作品の深層や歴史を解説しています。
脚本: Suzanne Schiffman / François Truffaut / Jean-Claude Grumberg
音楽: Georges Delerue
撮影監督: ネストール・アルメンドロス
制作会社: Les Films du Carrosse / Sédif Productions / SFP / TF1 Films Production / TF1
Despite, or possibly because of, the Nazi occupation of Paris in 1942 the theatres and cinemas of the city are thriving. One of the most popular was in Montmartre and run by the Steiners. Now he's a Jew so they decide it best he leaves for the Vichy and the theatre in the hands of his actress wife "Marion" (Catherine Deneuve). Rather aptly, they decide to present a new play called "the Disappearance" and draft in "Granger" (Gerard Depardieu) to co-star with "Marion" under the director "Jean-Loup" (Jean Poiret). Now it's fair to say that "Granger" is a bit of a womaniser - but the object of his desires here, who happens to be the costumier "Arlette" (Andréa Ferrêol), wouldn't touch him with a flagpole. Their best laid plans as a troupe is to survive what's left of the war in one piece, and with dangers around every corner as well as rationing, they have their work cut out. As the story develops, we come to realise that both "Marion" and her co-star have secrets to keep and their make or break production will also be seen by the arch anti-semite critic "Daxiat" (Jean-Louis Richard) who could readily undo all of their hard work and see them all on the scrapheap. There's loads of chemistry here and François Truffaut manages to inject some dark humour into an environment that's admittedly riddled with fear, but that also presents us with some insights into the lives of these artistes who compete, contrive and contrast with each other in just about every aspect of their daily lives. It's a film about bravery, courage and determination - often found in the least likely of places, and Deneuve offers us a powerfully engaging characterisation that epitomises the concept of less is more. It takes it's time, so settle down with a glass of decent Malbec and you ought to enjoy some talent at the top of their game.
