Sarah's Key (2010)

This movie is pretty bad. Considering that it has some great performances and an interesting story, that's saying something. Unfortunately, it happens a lot. The story and the performances in a movie are related to, but not necessary tied to what the director does with the material. The problem here is the script, (lack of) editing, and the direction, which combine to make this movie reminiscent of a mushy soap opera.

Mélusine Mayance is the real star of the movie, and she is amazing. At the time of filming, I would guess she was about 10. And the kid can act. She can do so much with just facial expressions that most of Hollywood should sit up and re-think all that Botox. She plays a Jewish kid in a Paris apartment, and we meet her as she is playing joyously with her brother in one of the bedrooms. This happiness only lasts about a minute of screen time because the police pound on the door and round up the family to go to Vel' d'Hiv, the Paris velodrome. Parisian Jews are being held there in filth and heat before being shipped to the camps. The French police and officials are doing the round-up for the Germans. It's harrowing, to say the least.

Before leaving the apartment, Sarah hides her little brother in a locked cupboard. She tries and is unable to pass the key to a neighbor. She is eventually separated from her parents, and her entire being is now focused on getting back to that cupboard. Sarah's story is riveting. The parallel story being told about and by Kristin Scott Thomas in 2010 is not nearly as interesting. Parts of it are totally unnecessary and distracting and should have been edited out of the script and movie. I have heard fantastic things about this book, and it is very likely that the modern story is great in the book. But a movie usually cannot include all of a book.

There are also way too many conversations like this:
- You need to know the truth!
- I don't want the truth. Take your stories away from me.
And later...
- Why did you have to tell me the truth?

Kristin Scott Thomas is under-used, but it's still fun to watch her switch back and forth from French to English.

Pass on this one. Maybe read the book.