THE RETURN OF THE HERO/ LE RETOUR DU HEROS

France, 2018, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jean Dujardin, Melanie Laurent, Noemie Merlant, Christophe Montenez, Evelyne Buyle, Fyodor Atkine.
Directed by Laurent Tirard.

In many ways, an enjoyable romp. However, there are some serious undertones about war, death, desertion, as well as false heroism and fraud.

The setting is 1812, the mansion of a French family. Jean Dujardin is a showy captain, riding to propose to the daughter of the house before he goes off to war. He clashes with the older daughter, Elizabeth, Melanie Laurent. He promises to write to his fiancee but does not. She pines, Elizabeth writes letters in his name and the younger sister revives and writes back. Elizabeth contrives to indicate that he has died in action and the sister marries a local suitor.

The complications arise when the captain arrives back, impoverished, having deserted. An encounter with Elizabeth and her warning him off encourages him to spruce himself up and return, regaling the family, with rapt listening, to all his exploits that Elizabeth has created for him, but developing diamond mines and members of the family wanting to invest.

The interactions between the captain and Elizabeth include her setting him up with her sister’s husband and the fighting of a duel. However, the captain comes out on top every time.

There is a final testing time when the Cossacks are attacking the mansion, the captain has to make a choice, in fact, goes out heroically to confront the mounted Cossacks with one gun – but the French intervene and win the day. He makes peace with Elizabeth – and she shrewdly wants to share in the fraud investments in the diamond mine. When he is called up to follow the troops into action, he heroically rides off. They turn left. And he turns right and rides faster way!


1. The Napoleonic wars? 1812? Napoleon’s retreat? The Cossacks pursuit? Life in the French countryside?

2. The recreation of the period, costumes and decor, the mansion, the grounds, the lavish interiors? The battle sequences? The musical score?

3. The blend of tones, serious and comic? Ideals, Romance? Fraud and deception?

4. The irony of the title, Neuvillel as hero, the opening, his getting dressed, gallant riding, the encounter with Elizabeth, the proposal to Pauline, the delight of the family, his being called to war? The idealised Napoleonic soldier? His promise to write to Pauline every day?

5. No letters, Pauline languishing, Elizabeth’s idea, composing letters, Pauline replying, the creation of all kinds of adventures, heroism, going to India, elephants, plantations…? The letter to say that he was besieged, presumed dead, Nicholas and his attentions, Pauline marrying him?

6. The hero returning, in the coach, smell, hungry, the encounter with Elizabeth, her hostility, warning him off? Denouncing him? His dressing himself up, his return?

7. The welcome from the family, the sequences of him recounting his deeds, initially playing then developing the material from Elizabeth’s information, then his letting loose, the vividness of his stories, the introduction of the diamond mine? The delight of the listeners? The various proposals to finance the mine? The effect on Pauline, infatuation? Nicholas and his reaction?

8. Elizabeth, her fascination with the captain, yet her hostility? Wanting to bring him down? Threats of exposure, especially about the mind? His explanation of the financial scheme, pyramid?

9. Elizabeth forging the note, talking with Nicholas, his reading the note, challenging the captain, the duel, the captain and willing, the selection of pistols, his giant strides, Pauline hurrying to the site, standing on the way, twisting the situation into gallantry? Elizabeth watching and frustrated?

10. Elizabeth persuading him to confess – and his build-up, and then the proposal to marry Elizabeth? Her parents, critical of her, telling the captain they would not be upset if he backed out?

11. The arrival of the Cossacks, the French troops, the general, inviting him to the dinner, the conversation, Elizabeth wishing the captain to be exposed?

12. The general and his invitation for the caaptain to explain the battle in Austria – and the very serious speech, his telling the truth about the massacre, his saying that he ran fast?

13. The Cossacks and their approach, the family and their fears, the captain going out, one rifle, confronting the troops? Their riding towards him, the explosions, the French attack? The captain as hero?

14. The possibility of marriage with Elizabeth, her getting a percentage of the investments?

15. His being asked to leave with the troops and go to battle, his farewell, his riding away, and his turning in the opposite direction!

16. A tongue in cheek picture of heroism? But serious undertones about war?