France, 2003
Director: Jean-Paul Rappaneau
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu, Peter Coyote, Virginie Ledoyen
Score: *****

When director/writer Jean-Paul Rappaneau complained to fellow filmmaker Alain Cavalier that he was only coming up with funny stuff when working on his first film, A MATTER OF RESISTANCE, Cavalier retorted, “That is you and your sense of humor.  Go with it!” And so it is with this historical period piece set in the handsome city of Bordeaux at the beginning of World War II, the comic elements are so abundant that BON VOYAGE establishes itself more of a swashbuckling romp than a war suspense thriller.  Take the start where Gerard Depardieu trying to impress Isabelle Adjani, trips and literally falls at her feet in the sight of the entire theatre audience or the film’s best scene where hero Gregori Derangere fights his way out of a posh restaurant - ramming into tables, tumbling platters of carefully prepared meals before finally jumping through a huge smashed window.  Everyone is always excited or about to burst in emotions.

Rappaneau’s films (CYRANO DE BERGERAC and HORSEMAN ON THE ROOF) are always gorgeously lit, beautifully costumed, set designed and wonderfully scored with every last detail re-created to match the period it is set in.  (I can say this having seen 4 of his films, CYRANO, HORSEMAN, THE SAVAGE and this latest.) BON VOYAGE, written by Rappaneau himself with Patrick Modiano (LACOMBE LUCIEN) is a spirited story about heroes, romance, intrigue, murder and winning the war.  Who would expect to find the young dashing but unlikely hero, Frederic Auger, a writer no-less (Derangere of THE OFFICERS’ WARD) suddenly abandoning his long undying love for a famous actress, Viviane Denvert (Adjani) to risk his life to help France win the war? 

A bit of history is necessary to appreciate the nature of the period of confusion in which the story is set.  It is June 1940 and the Germans are about to occupy Paris.  The city is abandoned and all high society including cabinet ministers like Beaufort (Depardieu), spies like Alex (Peter Coyote), criminals like Raoul (Yvan Attal), writers, journalists, famous actresses, students like Camille (Virginie Ledoyen) and scientists like Professor Kopolski (Jean-Marc Stehle) head for Bordeaux, where chaos reigns.  The action takes place at the grand Hotel Splendide in Bordeaux.  The writer, wrongly imprisoned in Paris, has been let loose and lands here, where he meets up with Viviane, now flirting with Beaufort who is trying to be contacted by Prof. Kopolski and Camille to escape to England.

Rappaneau creates wonderful cinematic images; of romance – lovers kissing in the rain; of movies – a smoky cinema auditorium and of the war – the Germans in uniform riding their vintage cars on cobblestone lanes.  All his characters are likeable, except for the German spy, a reflection perhaps of his personal hatred for the Germans who took his father prisoner when he was a kid during the war.  Despite the war setting and the intrigue involved, Rappaneau’s film is a comedy at heart.  His comic timing is great.  At one point, Camille is explaining to Frederic the most important piece of news that would help the Germans lose or win the war, when he is suddenly distracted by the appearance of Viviane.  Camille quickly states: “Am I boring you?” Rappaneau knows how to interact with different emotions, settings, stories and characters, illustrating the point that there is humor in every situation, if one only knows where to look for it.  The film’s climax is also likewise set.  The poor driver with the bad car has to catch up with the expert driver with the better car in the dark of night in order to save the professor from being captured by the Germans.

BON VOYAGE is expertly paced, well-written and winningly performed by its notable cast from veterans like Depardieu to newcomers like Derangere.  Even Yvan Attal as the criminal is engaging!  Thierry Arbogast’s camera is fluid, sweeping with ebullience often to overhead shots to disclose perhaps a corpse, a bird’s eye view of convicts running down the prison’s spiral staircase or even the performers’ gestures.  Everything here appears perfectly choreographed.  A shiny polished button can be as clearly observed as a bridge full of refugees.  BON VOYAGE has to be seen for its grace, magic and entertainment!

Review by Gilbert Seah.