Sarah’s Key (Gilles Paquet-Brenner, 2010): France

Reviewed by Stacie Manifold. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2011.

Sarah’s Key is based on the New York Times bestselling novel by Tatiana de Rosnay.  The original title for the movie was Elle s’appelait Sarah, translating to Her Name Was Sarah.  In an interview for TheBlurb.com, Gilles Paquet-Brenner (director) say’s he was drawn to this novel to prove to himself that he could create a “Saturday night” movie.  He was inspired by Schindler’s List and wanted to mimic Spielberg in the way that the movie was raw and realistic and really made you feel.

Kristen Scott Thomas stars as Julia Armond, an American journalist who finds herself in Paris because of her husbands business.  She takes interest in the history of the persecution of Jewish families in Paris.  Her findings lead to the discovery of a connection between her husband’s family and a Jewish family with a young girl named Sarah.

This moving film captures the art of combining sound with cinematography.  So many of the scenes focusing on the concentration camps had abrasive, loud sound effects that made you uncomfortable in your seat.  A direct effect of what the characters were feeling on screen.  Scenes of Julia quietly uncovering clues about this girl named Sarah were soft and eloquent with classical music opening your mind.

A scene between Julia and her husband Bertrand (played by Frederic Pierrot) had poignant moments talking about truth.  Bertrand asks what has finding the truth given us?  We are unhappy, fighting and angry.  Julia replies that the truth has a price whether you like it or not.

An interesting note to bring up is the question about who the main character is.  When asked, who’s story is this?, I reply Sarah’s.  The  character of Julia is there as a way to tell Sarah’s story since she does not have a voice in current time.

A well-written script as well as experience acting made this movie a treat to watch.  It definitely earned it’s place as the opening night film of the film festival.


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