Classic in a good way. Greed, ambitions, treachery, suggestible men and vengeful women, French aristocratic opulence. Fornication, adultery, under-the-table deals and the start of the Holocaust. But also a love that stubbornly makes its way, always as a background story line and yet - always primary. Love of a mother for her son, of an aging prima to a young admirer, of a child for the first muse of the heart, of a personal assistant for a confidante whom she understands without the need for words. Despite all the thrill of the games of the great, from the skill of the calculating and the size of their bet, despite all the dizziness from the refined sets, postures and manners, for me we are talking about a film sewn from this same love. The French are adept at portraying her with understatement (remember "Red and Black"), and her almost imperceptible traces are tiresome, but precisely because of this, where they are, the feelings are saturated to the extreme. A short sign, a long moment, and an unspoken yes that outlives time-that's the bait I'll always fall for.

Of french modern filmaking, believe it or not this will become a classic for the real filmenthusiast. You may want to stop my braggilation, but on location choice and set management, being introduced to an era of french history that only a handful of people alive today have witnessed, a crowd that will applaud the authenticety of the colours on fire of france 1927-1938.

A vast production this mustve been, a setup for a revenge that would make headlines even today, where the rich gets richer on behalf on other rich people,becoming ruined of the loss of fortunes, fortunes made from hard work accumulated from generation to generation getting lost due to simple fraud and theft by compagnions and envious relatives when the ''roix'' of the company dies.

The plot may seem slick for the actionseeker that breeds on films involving financial crimes , heists and other ponzi schemes, but its adagian pace of plot, its excellent cast, and the hints that leads us to believe its based on a true story, makes it quite a fond personal feeling to handle the dagger of sweet revenge on the crooks.

I dont fancy opera much, but as a major part of the plot and storyline, the score is quite a part of the story itself. Also the political and racial issues raised really gives this story a mighty big punsh into our present times. The filmatographical magics may take you breath away at moments, its darn well edited, the costumes and make up departments has gone wild to give a most authentic taste of the past.

Well if youre not much into french life and film, do make a start on this one.

I was awestruck by sweedish ''fanny and alexander'' once upon a time, this gave that same gutfeeling of the good old lays and days, allthough with different plot inclinations.

A production and a cast ensemble that almost blew the brains out of a grumpy old man.

A recommande apres'