Frantz
- Director: François Ozon
- Writer: François Ozon
- Producer: Eric Altmayer; Nicolas Altmayer
CGiii Comment
Walking into a François Ozon film is akin to the uncertainty of chance...you never know what you're going to get! He's had triumphs and catastrophes. Frantz - frustratingly - is neither!
Ozon's reputation precedes him...and, he uses it to great advantage. Frantz is an exercise in fishing for a red herring...when the fished is hooked, there's a slight gasp...you can almost hear Ozon giggling in the distance...never take this director for granted!
Frantz could have been - quite easily - an absolute triumph...but for the last 10 minutes or so. There were two points in the film that were natural, cliff-hanging endings. One of which would have made too big a demand on the audience, the other...a fitting conclusion. But, no...he had to go that extra mile, by-passing the finish line for no reason whatsoever. Shame.
It's a beautifully shot film...a totally immersive cinematic experience. Tears were [almost] constantly rolling down my face...at the beauty, with the incredible emotion wrought from such a fine story...and then he went and ruined it [slightly]!
Aaargh!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
In the aftermath of WWI, a young German who grieves the death of her fiancé in France meets a mysterious French man who visits the fiance's grave to lay flowers.
Cast & Characters
Paula Beer as Anna;
Pierre Niney as Adrien;
Ernst Stotzner as Hoffmeister;
Marie Gruber as Magda;
Johann von Bulow as Kreutz;
Anton von Lucke as Frantz;
Cyrielle Clair as La mere d'Adrien;
Alice de Lencquesaing as Fanny