THE LAST METRO

This is François Truffaut's love letter to the theatre in the same way that 1968's 'Day For Night' was his love letter to cinema.  Both are essentially light in tone but this film has darker undertones, being set in Nazi-occupied Paris of 1942.

Catherine Deneuve is Marion Steiner, a celebrated actress who has had to take over the running of her husband Jacob's theatre because he has had to go into hiding, being Jewish. 

Fairly early on we learn that he hasn't left Paris at all, and that instead he is ensconced in the cellar of the theatre, until Marion can arrange his safe passage out of France.

The other main character is Gérard Depardieu as Bernard, an up-and-coming actor who is to star opposite Marion in the theatre's next production.  Given Depardieu's real life conviction for sexual assault it is unfortunate that the film starts with a scene in which Bernard is pestering the theatre's designer with his unwanted advances. 

Perhaps because of this I found Bernard to be an unsympathetic character even when we learn that he is assisting the Resistance although there is no denying Depardieu's charisma.

Anyway the film moves along pleasantly as we get to know the various actors and staff at the theatre, whilst all the time there is an underlying tension as to Jacob's safety.  There is also a villain in the form of a theatre critic Daxiat who espouses anti-iviews and seems too cosy with the city's Nazi overlords.  Sabine Haudepin as Nadine, a young and ambitious actress, is a delight throughout but in truth the entire supporting cast is well up to snuff.

Things seem to be building up a head of steam when Jacob is almost discovered by some Gestapo agents and Daxiat tries to take over the theatre.  

Then, somewhat disappointingly and surprisingly. we get a flashforward to the end of the war to learn that everyone is all OK, other than Daxiat.  

Just before this we discover that Marion is infatuated with Bernard.  Her husband, despite being stuck in the cellar, has realised this and is surprisingly relaxed about it.  I on the other hand did not see this development coming and wasn't that thrilled with it (as I say, I didn't find Bernard sympathetic). 

On the plus side, the final scene is very neatly done and brings proceedings to a satisfying conclusion.