Political and romantic intrigues run parallel and then intersect in Francois Truffaut’s critical and commercial success, The Last Metro, a film that was inspired by Jean Marais’ memoir about the joys and pains of a Parisian troupe during WWII.
Grade: B+ (**** out of *****)
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In his multi-nuanced narrative, Truffaut blends effectively artistic ambitions, popular storytelling, and technical excellence, resulting in a high-quality but conventional film, the kind of which Truffaut himself had rebelled against back in 1959, as one of the leaders of the French New Wave.
“The Last Metro” explores the group dynamics of a theatrical troupe, operating in a climate defined by antagonism and fear.
As the story unfolds, the message—the power of artists, even when confined to silence and isolation—gets clear. The plot concerns a theater’s struggles during the Occupation and Bernard Granger’s fight for the French Resistance.
In 1942, Lucas Steiner, a stage director takes refuge in the basement of his own theater to escape the Gestapo. His wife Marion (Deneuve) must persuade the French authorities not to close the theater. Soon she falls for the new actor, Bernard Granger (Gerard Depardieu), and a parallel story details their clandestine love affair. The gloomy environment of the theater echoes the disorder of the Occupation and the tracking of the Jews.
When Marion is given a choice between loyalty to her husband and to her countrymen, her dilemma offers two solutions–both of which are acted out on stage during the play in Pirandellian-like mode
The subtlety and quiet desperation with which these intrigues are explored are remarkable.
The director’s passion for filmmaking is expressed in the elaborate mise-en-scene and polished cinematography by the Cuban maestro Nestor Almendros.
The Last Metro was one of a group of French films, which includes the stunning “Entre Nous” (1983), that capture vividly the feel of life in Paris under the Nazi’s regime.
Critical and Commercial Status
The film won 10 Cesars (French Oscar) for: best film, best actor (Depardieu), best actress (Deneuve), best cinematography, best director (Truffaut), best editing, best music, best production design, best sound and best writing.
The Last Metro was one of Truffaut’s most commercial productions, grossing $3 million in the US alone, and over $23 million globally.
In France, it had 3,384,045 admissions, making it one of Truffaut more successful films in his native country.
Oscar Context:
Oscar Nominations: 1
Foreign Language Film
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The surprise (or rather disappointing) winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar was the Soviet entry, Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears.
Credits:
Directed by François Truffaut
Written by Truffaut, Suzanne Schiffman, Jean-Claude Grumberg
Produced by Truffaut, Jean-José Richer
Cinematography Néstor Almendros
Edited by Martine Barraqué
Music by Georges Delerue
Distributed by Gaumont
Release date: September 17, 1980
Running time: 131 minutes
Box office $23.3 million
3,393,694 admissions (France)
