La Rafle

Product Description

On July 16th, 1942, French authorities carried out an extensive raid of Jews in greater Paris, resulting in the arrest of more than 13,000 people - including 4,000 children. After spending several miserable days in the VTlodrome d'Hiver stadium at the apex of summer with little food or water, families were deported to internment camps elsewhere in France and then, finally, to Auschwitz; never to be seen again. Audiences of all ages are discovering writer-director Rose Bosch's powerful portrayal of France's infamous Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, featuring international stars Jean Reno (The Da Vinci Code, the Professional) and the luminous MTlanie Laurent (Inglorious Bastards, Now You See Me) in a subtly moving, career-defining performance. With it's emotionally astute and sensitive exploration of a long taboo subject; Jacques Chirac issued a public apology to the citizens of France only in 1995; the raid, it's political backdrop and the exquisite and poignant beauty of Paris during wartime are brought to stirring life in this modern French classic.

Review

Critics Pick! A harrowing historical drama that tackles the infamous events of July 1942, when thousands of French Jews were crammed into a stadium before being herded off to camps. A diffuse approach tells the story through a variety of threads (including Laurent as a kind nurse who s thrust into the middle of it all), which avoids easy narrative resolutions and arcs. But this is undeniably powerful stuff. --New York Magazine

La Rafle is a film about redefining a moment in history that went ignored for decades; it's about the French speaking to themselves about their own story. It's a mainstream, sentimental drama because it needs to be. It announces in a clear voice that this happened. --Joel Arnold, NPR

Completely engrossing... This is the second film by the writer-director Rose Bosch, and we very soon sense her surety, her confidence in her ingenuity, which gives virtually every the feeling that it has been made the best way possible. Every moment is flawless. --Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic

La Rafle is a film about redefining a moment in history that went ignored for decades; it's about the French speaking to themselves about their own story. It's a mainstream, sentimental drama because it needs to be. It announces in a clear voice that this happened. --Joel Arnold, NPR

Completely engrossing... This is the second film by the writer-director Rose Bosch, and we very soon sense her surety, her confidence in her ingenuity, which gives virtually every the feeling that it has been made the best way possible. Every moment is flawless. --Stankley Kauffmann, The New Republic