Pierre Jolivet was usually oriented in social, modern dramas. This one may be seen also as a social topic too. And that's a good film, poignant, powerful, helped by strong characters and actors. I thought about MIKAEL KOHLHAAS when watching this film, same period, more or less, same atmosphere, same settings and landscapes. One of my Pierre Jolivet's favourites. I did not expect such a sad story, and also such an action packed French film, from a director whose it is not the speciality. I guess much resarch was made before shooting this film. Excellent production design. We can see this as a French western, concerning the scheme, story, but set in France instead of USA and not in the 1870's.
Plot summary
13th century France. To live, to survive, requires weapons. Which do you choose? Weapons of war, which give the power to punish and kill? Or the sword of knowledge, which gives the power to read and heal? Two brothers, separated long ago, must do battle. Alongside, and coming between them, a woman... Thomas, the mercenary, his body marked by scars of varying degrees of valor, left the family farm many years ago. When he returns, his mother, the local healer, is dead. She passed on her skills to her younger son, Arnaud. But he has lost his memory after a beating from a gang of ruthless outlaws. And so, Arnaud's young and defiantly resourceful wife, Guillemette, must persuade Thomas to help her in the quest for lost knowledge.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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Curious Pierre Jolivet's foray in the costume genre film
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Canet and Lindon:brothers in arms?
Back to the Middle Ages ,but as the precedent user wrote ,what's the point?It was already questionable in "le retour de Martin Guerre" ,an overrated movie which used the era as an "exotic" background for was finally a story which could happen nowadays.
"Le frère du guerrier" ,on the other hand ,seems at first sight less spectacular,less academic,depicting a rural landscape,like Bertrand Tavernier in "la passion Béatrice":only the first sequence recalls the heyday of the French swashbuckler in the late fifties/early sixties ,some of which are still entertaining today.
The main problem with "le frère du guerrier" is :is this entertaining?and if it is not,is there much food for thought? Entertaining is not a word I would choose :the movie definitely lacks tempo and the characters meander endlessly in an hostile environment."Le frère du guerrier" fills its quota of blood and sex ,even when it gets tougher,it never succeeds in exciting .The actors are never given a chance to move us ,even in the last sequence.
Now for the "intellectual" side (if there is any):like "la passion Béatrice" ,the most interesting subject is the stranglehold religion had on everything:in the Middle Ages culture was to be found in the nunneries and the cathedrals .But it's only skimmed over and even refuted by the ridiculous "latin" sequence.At least,Tavernier's hero,coming back from the crusade and having lost his faith was a strong character superbly portrayed by Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu.Neither Canet nor Lindon have his talent and the movie is finally a disappointment.