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Frantz
France/Germany, 2016, 113 min, 2K DCP, Dir. François Ozon, French & German w/ English subtitles
In a small German town in the aftermath of World War I, a young woman (Paula Beer) mourning the death of her fiancé forms a bond with a mysterious Frenchman (Pierre Niney) who has arrived to lay flowers on her beloved's grave. Prolific director François Ozon's new film is an elegant, beautifully rendered, mostly black-and-white elegy to a lost generation and the legacy it left. Shot equally in Germany and France, and in both languages, Frantz tells a tale of love and remembrance, of grief and mourning, in the most surprising ways. Ozon's style is discreet and quietly devastating, a perfectly subtle match for a historical topic that has particular historical relevance in today's political climate. As enemies try to overcome a painful past, what are the psychological implications of reconciliation? Finely acted by the two principals and consummately executed, Frantz is nominated for 11 French Academy Awards, including Best Film. It's a brilliant addition to Ozon's filmography and his finest, most moving film to date.
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