Josette Wells

I love this sensitive and poignant film. It is immaculately produced, acted and captures delicately and sublimely the universal impact of war on emotions and fortunes of individuals and indeed communities and nations. The story is told through Adrien and Anna, the former a French soldier in World War 1 and Anna, fiancée of the deceased German soldier, Frantz, killed by Adrien as the two enemies opposed each other in a blown out crater. Against a background of the lingering hostility of war between two countries in a post-war environment, Adrien and Anna, both victims of these tragic events seek forgiveness in their own way and hope to reconcile. I did not see this as an unsubtle movie but as a many-layered masterpiece. Paula Beer as Anna is poised, elegant and mesmerising.