THE RETURN OF MARTIN GUERRE

France, 1982, 122 minutes, Colour.
Gerard Depardieu, Nathalie Bayed.
Directed by Daniel Vine.

The Return of Martin Guerre is based on a memoir by the Toulouse parliamentary counsellor, Jean de Coras, who had handled the court case of Martin Guerre.

The film is set in the 1540s in south-western France. The atmosphere of the film is beautifully re-created with location colour photography, costumes and decor. The film received an Oscar nomination for this. There is an atmospheric score by Michel Portal, trying to re-create the style of 16th. century music. The film focuses on life in a French village and the crisis when Martin Guerre leaves and then, unexpectedly, returns to take up his life. Doubt is thrown on the identity of Martin and court cases ensue - with tragic ending.

Gerard Depardieu, who has shown himself a powerful actor in contemporary dramas, is excellent as the returning Martin. Depardieu had shown his skill in period work with his title role of Danton. He is supported by Nathalie Baye ( A Week's Vacation ). Writing and direction is by documentary-maker turned feature director Daniel Vigne. Interesting and stylish historical drama.

1. An entertaining piece of history? period, characters, values? Dramatic impact? Insight into human nature?

2. Production qualities: re-creation of 16th century France, the life in the village, the countryside? Location photography? Costumes and decor? Authentic atmosphere? The use of art models for compositions and landscapes? The contemporary style score and use of instruments?

3. The structure of the filming the two parts - the court case and the interrogation of Bertrande with her flashbacks? The second court case with its result and the knowledge of the truth?

4. The atmosphere of mystery, evidence, judgment? Decision in terms of justice? The final human verdict? Audience response to young Martin, his leaving his wife and family? The audience response to the changed Martin and his return and participation in the life of the village? The ultimate response to the return of the real Martin?

5. The authenticity of the characters and events? The memoir of Jean de Coras? His interrogation of Bertrande, his perceiving of character and issues? The credits sequences and his travelling to the village, his arrival? The bases for his judgment? The judge's congratulations for the justice of the judgment? The new evidence, the new trial? Jean de Coras' perception of Arnaud, of Martin? His portrayal as a character in the events? The historical note at the end of the film - and his being hanged as a Huguenot?

6. The initial focus on Bertrande: as interviewed, as coming alive in her memoirs? As a child, marrying, her fondness for Martin, the hurt at his departure? The importance of his return to her? The flashbacks to the young newlyweds, the ceremony, the celebration, the rituals of the first night, Martin's refusal to consummate the marriage, his being chased by the village men, the symbolic castration, life in the village, the sorcery, the whipping, the consummation, the birth of the child? The background of the parents, the rituals for marriage, dowry, property? Life in the village, work in the fields, Martin stealing the grain and disappearing? Bertrande's memory, her yearning, her prayers for his return, her suffering? Her image of Martin? The credibility of Arnaud as a real Martin? The pathos of the real Martin - and his not having changed?

7. The return: an answer to Bertrande's prayer, his arrival in the village, being photographed from the back, the glimpse of him, the audience sharing the response of the villagers, running to meet him, the joy, the recognition, the new Martin perfect in his story, the glee in the town, the harsh memories being erased, the visit to Bertrande at the laundry (and the atmosphere of the others scurrying off before he arrived)? The response of his son? The doubts and their quickly going?

8. Martin's resumption of life again, the details of life in the village, prosperity, Bertrande and her son, his love and tenderness, the new child? Bertrande's response to him - deception or not? The relatives? The question of the wealth, the reaction of the uncle? The brothers and sisters, Bertrande’s mother and marrying of Martin's uncle? The potential for tension? The open clash? The wandering soldiers and their identifying Martin as Arnaud de Thil? The reaction in the village?

9. The opening of doubts because of the rights and the money, greed? Martin standing on his rights? The fickleness of the family? The seeking of testimony, the pressures and tricks?

10. The holding of the court case? Arnaud and his ability to bluff, the judges and their attention, the testimony, angers? The questions of scars, incidents, words repeated? Bertrande's evidence? The joy of winning the case? The son's reaction to the vindication of his father?

11. The impact of the reopening of the case, Bertrande’s evidence against her husband - and her signature, her learning to write her own name and signing? The solemnity of the court, the witnesses? The judges and their decision to be fair? The finale and the dramatic entrance of the real Martin? The clash of the two men, Arnaud wanting tests? His mistaken testimony and the revelation of the truth?

12. Jean de Coras interviewing Bertrande to find out the reasons for her saying Martin was her husband? For his journal?

13. Justice administered and Arnaud being hanged? His final explanation of himself - and its justification? His being a true husband to Bertrande? The effect on her and her son? Comparisons with the real Martin and his irresponsibility?

14. The audience being left with the emotional response, the legal response? Reality and the administration of justice?