tony french

Not just a Masterpiece, a Great Masterpiece. Enchanting tragic comedy and deeply affecting anti-war story. Loaded with symbolism and contradistinction. When the soldier leaves on a horse to report to his regiment the appalled lunatics stand on the city wall warning him of the lunatics out there killing each other. Finally, even the horse has more sense and refuses to go any further. When the Madam and the General cuddle on a bed in the street they decide to have children, to joyfully populate the world with prostitutes and generals. The Bishop rants incoherent nonsense. The lunatics respect the Bishop and accept the form, the ceremony, with perfect tolerance. Meanwhile the adorable Genvieve Bujold walks a tight-wire through the cathedral in her own, respected world. So enjoyable is the play of fantasy and symbolism with the underlying tension of demolition charges yet to be discovered, the impossible denouement to come, that one goes into shock when the business-like French army finally arrives. A story is easy to compose, unfolding it is critical, but resolving it makes or breaks it, and here resolution comes as a wave that richly distills the insane currents and disturbances so artfully orchestrated. An movie one cannot see too often.