Synopsis
One of world cinema’s most prolific auteurs, François Ozon (Swimming Pool, In the House) returns with the moving and poetic period drama Frantz, an elegant reimagining of the story behind Ernst Lubitsch’s undersung 1932 drama Broken Lullaby. In a small German town in 1919, Anna mourns every day at the grave of her fiancé, Frantz, who was killed in battle during World War I. One day she spies a mysterious young Frenchman, Adrien, also laying flowers at the grave. Together they begin to bond over their shared grief, though Anna is intrigued by the enigmatic nature of Adrien’s relationship with her fiancé. As the pair become increasingly close, long buried secrets are revealed that will change the fabric of their lives and take them across a wearied and battle-scarred Europe. Shot with stunning black-and-white photography, Frantz is a masterfully told story of romance, grief and guilt featuring two remarkable lead performances from newcomers Paula Beer and Pierre Niney. At once graceful and and gripping, it is an intimate and timely exploration of healing and forgiveness across European borders.
Director
François Ozon
Cast
Pierre Niney: Adrien Paula Beer: Anna Ernst Stötzner: Hoffmeister Marie Gruber: Magda Johann von Bülow: Kreutz Anton von Lucke: Frantz Cyrielle Clair: Adrien's mother Alice de Lencquesaing: Fanny
Crew
François Ozon: Director / screenwriter Eric Altmayer: Producer Nicolas Altmayer: Producer (Mandarin) Stefan Arndt: Co-producer Uwe Schott: Co-producer (X Filme) Philippe Piazzo: Screenplay in collaboration with Ernst Lubitsch: Loosely based on Broken Lullaby by Pascal Marti: Director of Photography Michel Barthelemy: Production Designer Pascaline Chavanne: Costume Designer Philippe Rombi: Music
Details
Production year: 2016 Loosely based on Broken Lullaby by Ernst Lubitsch DVD catalogue number: ART826DVD Blu-ray catalogue number: ART213BD
Awards
Official competition, 2016 Venice Film Festival
Official selection, 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Winner of the 2017 Cesar Award for Best Cinematography
Winner of the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor (Paula Beer), 2016 Venice Film Festival
Out now in cinemas & Curzon Home Cinema
Out on DVD, Blu-ray & on demand from 10 July
GENRE: Drama, Romance
CERTIFICATE: 12A
DIRECTOR: François Ozon
CAST:
Pierre Niney: Adrien
Paula Beer: Anna
Ernst Stötzner: Hoffmeister
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CREW:
François Ozon: Director / screenwriter
Eric Altmayer: Producer
Nicolas Altmayer: Producer (Mandarin)
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DURATION: 114 Mins
COUNTRIES: France, Germany
LANGUAGES: French, German
AWARDS:
Official competition, 2016 Venice Film Festival
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Where to watch
Videos
Poster
Reviews
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“Sumptuous... Feels like new territory for Ozon”
Nigel M Smith, The Guardian
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“Pitch-perfect performances... an unashamed throwback to old cinematic values”
Phil De Semlyen, Empire
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“Beautifully made and very moving”
Geoffrey Macnab, The Independent
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“Elegant... Beer’s silky self-possession is utterly beguiling”
Wendy Ide, The Observer
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“Handsome, teasing and therapeutically smart”
Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
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“A fascinating exploration of the complexities of war from the perspective of those left behind”
Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman
Articles
François Ozon
Interview with Financial Times
Paula Beer
Interview with The Upcoming
Discuss the film
Other films we recommend
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Le Refuge
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Time to Leave
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Ida
Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski
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Le Refuge
Directed by François Ozon
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Time to Leave
Directed by François Ozon
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Ida
Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski