“Come What May” (Written Foreign Film Review & Trailer)

“The German offensive of May 10, 1940 drove almost 8 million people from their homes, one of the largest displacements of people in the twentieth century. To my mother, a young girl among those who took to the roads”- Director Christian Carion

 

 

Review by John Delia

With many World War II films out there on video, another foreign made movie has entered local theatres with a different take. It’s a heart ‘tuger’ based on a true life happening titled Come What May. It features the French people and two German refugees fleeing their home country. The war drama shows how large numbers of innocent people had to flee the murderous onslaught by the Nazis.

It’s 1939 in Germany where the Nazis have gained power and are ferreting out dissidents that are considered enemies of the Third Reich. Narrowly escaping a German arrest for distributing communist propaganda, Hans (August Diehl) and his eight-year-old son Max (Joshio Marlon) take to the woods hoping to get to safety. It’s very risky as German patrols are looking for rebels.

Finally after crossing the border into France, Hans has started working on the farm of Mayor Paul (Olivier Gourmet) in the village of Lebucquiere. Near the northern border of Belgium the people of the town are aware of the German invasion of countries to the north. Going about their business however, the townspeople have their weekly meeting consisting of funding a new windmill to pump water to the village. Assisting the Mayor is Suzanne (Alice Isaaz) the local school teacher.

Hans and have been working under the guise of being a Belgian and he speaks fluent French. But suspicion has grown in the small village and the local police arrest him thinking he’s a spy. So begins the plight as Suzanne takes Max in to her home just before the Germans invade France and prepare to flee along with hundreds of townspeople.

Director and writer Christian Carion shows the appalling treatment by the Nazis who are taking innocent lives while invading France and those escaping Germany. But, this film has even a greater story that involves the will to survive, the determination of a father to find his son and what it takes to stand up against the Nazis.

Carion puts his audience right into the middle of the fight with German planes attacking long columns of fleeing villagers. During their exit from the Nazis invaders we get an understanding of how awful the treatment of the unarmed innocent people and the brutality that the German Army delivers.

The acting all around is extremely good making their characters realistic and credible. August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds, Salt) shows the love and determination to find his son no matter what lies before him. Putting himself in danger while escaping patrols, he helps others during his quest to be united again. Matthew Rhys (TV’s “The Americans”) as the British Officer Percy who teams up with Hans on his journey, shows the bravery of those who came to the aid of France even before the Brits were in that country’s conflict.

As Suzanne the school teacher who “adopts” Max so he can hide from the Germans after his father gets arrested, Alice Isaaz shows the daring and humanitarianism of the French. She’s asked to take point looking for Germans or problems ahead of the long column of refugees on the road to the South of France. Sweet, but very capable she helps the people avoid endangerment.

Come What May has been rated R by the MPAA for some war violence/bloody images. The bloody images include the depiction of the brutality and killing of innocent men, women and children. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature teens see the film as it does have scenes that are inappropriate for adolescents.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A compelling film that shows the courage of people against impossible odds. (A)

Additional Film Information:
Cast: August Diehl, Olivier Gourmet, Mathilde Seigner, Joshio Marlon, Alice Isaaz, Laurent Gerra and Matthew Rhys
Directed by and screenplay co-writer: Christian Carion
Genre: War, Drama, Foreign
MPAA Rating: R for some war violence/bloody images
Running Time: 1 hr. 54 min.
Release Date: September 30, 2016
Distributed by: Cohen Media Group
Released in: French, German and English w/Subtitles