Introduction, ending review, novel download of A Very Long Engagement
English Title: A Very Long Engagement
Chinese Title: The Long Engagement
Screenplay: Sebastien Japrisot
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Gaspard Ulliel, Dominique Pinon, Jodie Foster
Genre: Drama/Mystery/Romance/War
Runtime: 134 minutes
Rating: R (Violence/Sex)
Plot:
As World War I nears its end, a young French woman's great battle is just beginning.
Matilde receives not the triumphant return of her fiancé Manech, but a letter from the front informing her of his death. During the brutal Battle of the Somme, Manech and four other soldiers who had mutilated themselves to avoid combat were court-martialed. The merciless military tribunal sentenced them to be abandoned in No Man's Land between the German and French lines, under crossfire from both sides - a virtual death sentence.
However, Matilde refuses to believe Manech is dead. Using her intelligence and determination, she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about what happened to her beloved. Her investigation takes her across France, meeting various people who knew Manech and the other condemned soldiers. Along the way, she uncovers dark secrets about the war and the men who fought it.
The film weaves together Matilde's present-day search with flashbacks to Manech and his friends' experiences before and during the war. It explores themes of love, loss, memory, and the devastating impact of war on individuals and society.
In the end, Matilde's persistence leads her to an unexpected but deeply moving conclusion about Manech's fate. The story concludes with a powerful message about hope, resilience, and the enduring power of love in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Note: The novel by Sebastien Japrisot is available for download in various formats for those interested in exploring the full depth of this poignant story.