6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing,sweeping,overwhelming if not somewhat confusing!, March 12, 2008
This review is from: Les Uns et les Autres (Bolero) (DVD)
Every film that I have ever seen that has dealt with pre WW2 and the during and after effects all combined together in this amazing and sweeping epic film LES UNS ET LES AUTRES (roughly translated "These people and the other people") and released in America under the title BOLERO.It is difficult to give an accurate review of such a film,directed by Claude Lelouch (
A Man and a Woman) because frankly it is overwhelming in it's scope and characters,as it is also a film of music and feeling that evokes the senses,and yet tells a powerful story of people's lives affected by the Holocaust, starting in the 1930's, in four different countries,four different languages, and following the after effects into the 1980's!!!! There is A LOT to take in this movie.One viewing is simply not adequate to express all that is in this film.That it is a tribute to the human spirit and to the power of music is undeniable.The characters in this film are all based from real life, except the names are changed.Some characters I could figure out such as the German Pianist/conductor Karl Kremer, who seemed a composite of Wilhelm Furtwangler (
Taking Sides-the film about his complicity with Hitler)and Herbert van Karajan. The Russian ballet dancer who defected to America as Rudolf Nureyev or possibly Mikail Baryshnikov (
White Nights-a film based on his defection). The other characters were harder to identify;the failed boxer and the American singer (played by Geraldine Chaplin), and the author who was abandoned on the railroad tracks as a baby! Someone will know who all of these people were that Claude Lelouch places in this tribute to music and humanity.This film is SPECTACLE and I honestly can say that in all my years of watching films,I have NEVER seen anything quite like it.It runs for 177 minutes,just slightly edited from it's original 188 minutes.The music flows from Beethoven,Ravel and Liszt to the contemporary Michel Legrand and Francis Lai.The choreography by the French great Maurice Bejart is astounding.Bejart is well known as the choreographer for the rock group QUEEN'S
Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid.The film can be a little confusing as certain actors,James Caan, Geraldine Chaplin, Nicole Garcia etc.play dual roles.You must keep up with this this film especially in the third hour when the story shifts into the 1960's and then into the 1980's.It is all there, but don't blink.
I would have never known that this film existed unless a friend had given it to me who said,"Dedicate three hours of your life, non stop, to 'experience' this film!" SHE WAS RIGHT.This is as epic and grand as any film I have ever seen.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fascinating film, not that old., February 7, 2005
This review is from: Les Uns et les Autres (Bolero) (DVD)
Actually this film was produced in 1980 and released at 27 May 1981. I still remember I went to theater twice to see this movie.
the music is very good so I bought the original soundtrack cassette too.
This film is just a classic.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Two for One!, August 18, 2005
This review is from: Les Uns et les Autres (Bolero) (DVD)
I remember this movie from my late teens when I loved it. As an adult watching it again I was struck more by the contrast between the two parts - the first World War II part where there is very little dialogue and the story is told in pictures and sound seems far more affecting to me. Then it moves into what can seem like a completely different film - more of a French character film with the focus much more on relationships than events.
However, i still love it - not quite sure why, but I just do!
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