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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 17, 2004 It's the journey - and the destination By Chris Honor� For the Daily Tidings "Bon Voyage" is a wonderful French film, a comedy-drama that is engaging, filled with energy, multiple subplots, and never seems to let up. Here is the setup: On the eve of Germany's invasion of France, Paris is electric with rumors and uncertainty. A famous and beautiful actress, Viviane (Isabelle Adjani), calls an old beau, Frederic (Gregori Derangere). Tearfully she explains that there is, apparently, a dead man in her living room. How he came to be there and how he got dead is, well, a bit vague. Frederic, blinded by love, agrees to help her dispose of the body. And so begins a series of events that will bring an ensemble of characters together, all with their own exigent agendas, all ricocheting off of each other in a delightfully frenetic way. And now act two: Hearing that the French resistance has failed and that German occupation inevitable, thousands of Parisians flee to the south of France, to Bordeaux -- to include the French government, specifically the French Prime Minister Beaufort (Gerard Depardieu). A young girl, Camille, and an aging scientist, are also headed south, hoping to find a ship that will take them to England. They happen to be in possession of a trunk load of heavy water (needed to make atomic weapons) which must not fall into the German's hands. The Germans have been tracking the water and the scientist for days and are most eager to get their hands on both. Should they be successful the consequences would be catastrophic. Frederic escapes from prison, where he was awaiting trial for murder because he was caught with the body in the trunk of his car; the Germans are in the hunt for the water; a gang of enterprising thieves is busily emptying out Bordeaux warehouses of good wine and brandy; Frederic, still in love, despite being framed, pursues Viviane; and much of this takes place in and around the Bordeaux Hotel Splendide, where countless socially prominent Parisians have gathered, insisting they must have, immediately, the best rooms and the best service. Of course, there is always Nice. Act three is the climactic escape from Bordeaux by Camille, Viviane, Frederic and, of course, the heavy water. In the end, it all leads to a most satisfying denouement. And so this very funny and serious movie goes, moving along at a brisk pace, with much intercutting of scenes and characters, never seeming, even slightly, out of control. It is well plotted and though intricate never convoluted. Of course, the camera is in love with Isabelle Adjani and often lingers on her pouting face; however, she doesn't dominate the film. Actually, "Bon Voyage" balances all of the performances neatly, is beautifully photographed, with lovely, panoramic shots of France, and is striking for its nifty costuming. As well, it captures perfectly the ambiance of France in 1940, the anxiety and chaos that preceded the inevitable arrival of the Germans. "Bon Voyage" is much recommended: It is funny and serious, a bit farcical to be sure, yet never heavy-handed. A film not to miss. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams