Suzanne Lonebugg

this movie is rare in that we see it through the eyes of a female, and a sensitive male, both at once... but in a kind of aloof way. we are not spoon- fed our emotions we get a wide and lingering lens in which, we get a close up of the real dilemnas of the youth who went to war. The youth either male or female in their societal roles; have the heavy burden of nationalism and patriotism and war cast upon them like a shadow which robs them of everything they love and still they respect their elders and advisors (prospective in-laws and priest for Anna/Mother for Adrien and fiance), but they are harbouring such dread of war (frantz), dread of life (Anna/ Adrien/the young man in the last sene) that they have suicidal ideation. Anna covers for Adrien to her in laws to protect them and also redeems Adrien of his overbearing guilt, through forgiveness but also sacrifices her small blooming love which is hope, to allow him to honour his parents and possibly fiances wishes. The last sene shows her lingering in a despair. It is true to the post war disillusionment of the times but expressed even better in a hindsight which is enveloped in a more feminist framework.