Knowing the story of Simone Veil is knowing a bit of the European and French history. She was arrested at 15 because she sang the international outside her home. She was deported by the French government, survived Auschwitz, Death marches, and Bergen-Belsen. She was one of the only females attending the Science Po school at the time, married, had 3 children, decided to get back to her studies against what society wanted from her. She then became one of the first female magistrates, and helped get the prisoners' condition to a humane one. She was appointed as Health Minister and managed to make abortion legal, helped addicts and people suffering from AIDS... She was elected president of the first universally elected European Parliament, the 6th woman to get into to the Académie française, the 5th woman to get into the Panthéon... She fought for the rights of women, she was one of the first politicians to talk about collaboration in France. She was one of the reasons why France and Germany got closer after the war, she fought for Europe as a way to prevent history from happening again. Her life and actions made her a hero for many people in France, which is why a movie was made on her. And what a movie. It is of course a difficult one, but so many things happened to that incredible woman that we need to see it. The movie is a non linear one, which is not my favourite, and sometimes you get bits of stories that don't have any link to the one before, which makes you lose a bit of the plot. But I would still recommend it, at least to see history being made in front of your eyes, by a woman who fought against everything that was thrown against her, for the dignity of the weak.
8 Reviews
The couple of bad reviews is incomprehensible this is an EXCELLENT movie
katyaregan4 January 2023
I don't usually write a review but had to in response to the couple of bad reviews here.
Those who left bad reviews don't like inventive ways tk tell a story and want spoon fed chronological A - Z storytelling.
This was one of the most truly moving and well done movies I have seen in ages. The acting was incredible they were not "dolls" with "too much makeup on" I have to conclude the reviewer who said that was maybe in the business and jealous that did not get a part. The elder Simone wore some make up as was the era - no one else did!
Days later still thinking about this film. Do not miss it if you can see it. Moving and well done. It will definitely be a foreign film Oscar contender.
Those who left bad reviews don't like inventive ways tk tell a story and want spoon fed chronological A - Z storytelling.
This was one of the most truly moving and well done movies I have seen in ages. The acting was incredible they were not "dolls" with "too much makeup on" I have to conclude the reviewer who said that was maybe in the business and jealous that did not get a part. The elder Simone wore some make up as was the era - no one else did!
Days later still thinking about this film. Do not miss it if you can see it. Moving and well done. It will definitely be a foreign film Oscar contender.
A true emotional and inspirational wonder
florianernst-0210220 November 2022
I came to this movie knowing a lot about Veil. My girlfriend knew almost nothing. We both teared up and learned a lot in these two hours.
This dive deep into the fight of her life and for her life was an emotional Experience. The distribution and the actors were amazing. The music, the filmography were splendid and gave life to this biopic.
Other comments seemed to find the timelines confusing, jumping from her future to her past. Instead, I found it very well done and useful to the story. Instead of watching her life unraveling, you get to understand what she fought for before understanding why she did.
I recommended this movie to all my friends and family, and their outstanding reception is a tribute to this journey of the century.
This dive deep into the fight of her life and for her life was an emotional Experience. The distribution and the actors were amazing. The music, the filmography were splendid and gave life to this biopic.
Other comments seemed to find the timelines confusing, jumping from her future to her past. Instead, I found it very well done and useful to the story. Instead of watching her life unraveling, you get to understand what she fought for before understanding why she did.
I recommended this movie to all my friends and family, and their outstanding reception is a tribute to this journey of the century.
What a disappointment
tonikbabe15 November 2022
If you don't already know everything about Simone Veil's life and accomplishments, this movie isn't for you. And if you do, you probably won't like it either.
The movie constantly jumps from one period to another, from one subject to another, in an unforgiving 2h20 long artsy montage, mentioning people/organization names or showing them speak, without giving any clue as to who/what they are, so no chance to understand unless you're already an expert on the movie's subject.
Sexism is represented as very easily manageable and unthreatening, antisemitism is absent aside from the arrestations and camps...
I was so enthusiastic for a movie that tells Simone Veil's story, this movie is so not up to the task.
The movie constantly jumps from one period to another, from one subject to another, in an unforgiving 2h20 long artsy montage, mentioning people/organization names or showing them speak, without giving any clue as to who/what they are, so no chance to understand unless you're already an expert on the movie's subject.
Sexism is represented as very easily manageable and unthreatening, antisemitism is absent aside from the arrestations and camps...
I was so enthusiastic for a movie that tells Simone Veil's story, this movie is so not up to the task.
Inspirational and Emotional
brikenave22 November 2022
It is always hard to make a movie about someone who as done so much for humanity in every aspect, putting this in 2h20 is a real challenge. The movie is not perfect there is alot that could have been better, but it is still worth watching. There are some really beautiful parts of it too.
It is a carousel of emotions and history.
Knowing the history of Veil which is an endless inspiration, this movie showed some very beautiful and unique moments of her life. It was a mix of hope and melancholy, yet sometimes a little too overplayed and staged.
The movie was showing someone so strong and intellectual in her most vulnerable moments.
The camera also very intense at moments and the focus on the lighting not so bad either.
It is a carousel of emotions and history.
Knowing the history of Veil which is an endless inspiration, this movie showed some very beautiful and unique moments of her life. It was a mix of hope and melancholy, yet sometimes a little too overplayed and staged.
The movie was showing someone so strong and intellectual in her most vulnerable moments.
The camera also very intense at moments and the focus on the lighting not so bad either.
A must see to see the Donald for what is not an humanist
ccarriere-430444 January 2023
What an incredible woman, I remember her as a soft spoken woman but with a determination,a force of character, an humanist so much at the opposite of the Donald, the movie was so well realized that the many flashbacks are not to much, the movie start with her remembering her childhood, then her teen, and so on, but also the great moments of her political career, the flashback are used to give us some clues of the sources of stenght of character. The last few phrases that she wrote in the movie are still so a propos with the rise of the narcissistic trumpians in the world, we are so quick to reject the humanity of the Others.
Abhorrent kitch like you have never seen before
viridiana202028 August 2022
Saw this at the Film Festival in Angoulême and was absolutely shocked by how Jewish suffering during the WW2 was portrayed. The actresses didn't act; they were dolls with too much make-up on and too good of a hairstyle to provoke any sympathy. The structure of the film is pretentious and doesn't work at all. One scene we're seeing images of men in camps in war torn Bosnia, and next scene we're sitting under a moonlit sky in the Mediterranean enjoying a romantic talk. How is this possible? Camera work is ugly; too much steady cam, too many close ups. And don't get me started on the music! Was there even one second when the spectator can catch a breath from the never ending score? No. This director should be banned from making films for life.
Strong, touching, a must-see!
office-417-32575612 December 2023
This movie manages to captivate me for two and a half hours. Touching from the first to the last minute. I knew nothing about Simone Veil, now I adore her. The staging and acting are unique, the decidedly unconventional script is courageous in its dramaturgy and - contrary to what many here in the reviews think - I think it works quite well with all its time jumps. The history of Judaism in the 20th century and also the history of democracy and the importance of the European Union are reflected through a very personal point of view. Although I have seen a lot of movies on the subject, I learned a lot. An unconditional recommendation!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
