Didier Decoin Movies

Robert Dornhelm's epic-length period tragedy The Crown Prince takes as its dramatic inspiration the heart-rending and irrepressibly romantic tale of Rudolf (Max von Thun), Crown Prince of Austria heir to the Habsburg monarchy during the late 19th Century. The young man's story culminated in the notorious Mayerling tragedy of January 1889; Dornhelm travels back to the years immediately prior for an operatic exploration of the events leading up to Mayerling. The film begins with Rudolf's marriage - an arranged marriage that leaves the young man miserably unhappy and emotionally isolated. In time, the dissatisfied Rudolf commences a tempestuous affair with Baroness Mary Vetsera (Vittoria Puccini), and the two promptly fall in love with one another. Yet the crowned royals frown upon this forbidden romance, forcing young Rudolf into an emotional corner - and leaving two desperate acts of violence as his only escape. The film's supporting cast includes Omar Sharif, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Christian Clavier. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

While Louis XIV had the longest reign of any French monarch and used his nation's military might to significantly expand his nation's control of Europe, he was also a noted patron of the arts with a particular love for dance, and this historical drama looks at the unlikely relationship between the King of France and noted 17th century composer Jean-Baptiste Lully. As a teenager, Louis XIV (played by Emil Tarding) was the ostensive ruler of France, but his mother Anne of Austria (Colette Emmanuelle) made most of the decisions, while Louis staged elaborate dance pieces set to the music of Lully (Boris Terral). When Lully was forced to leave Italy, he found an eager patron in young Louis, who loved his music and was fascinated by the flamboyant composer and his libertine ways. Years later, after Louis XIV had grown to adulthood, the more mature ruler (now played by Benoit Magimel) took control of France's political and military affairs, to the annoyance of the Prince de Conti (Idwig Stephane), who had been Anne of Austria's top advisor. But as Louis confronted his European neighbors, he also established a French dance academy and commissioned Lully to write a number of new dance scores. Lully's flamboyant nature and open infidelity with both men and women earned him the enmity of the more conservative members of Louis XIV's court, but the King remained Lully's champion until health problems began to affect his ability to dance -- causing him to lose interest in performance, as well as in Lully's music. Le Roi Danse also explores Lully's relationship with Jean Baptiste Poquelin Moliere, with Tcheky Karyo portraying the great playwright. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This remake of the 1975 German film Jakob der Lügner stars Robin Williams in a dramatic role as a man who uses his active imagination to bring a ray of hope where hope was all but unknown. Jakob Heym (Robin Williams) is the owner of a small café during the Nazi occupation of Poland; he has little money and is struggling to keep body and soul alive in the shadow of the Third Reich. One day, he overhears a radio broadcast, forbidden to Polish ears, that reports a major victory for Russian troops over the German army. Enthusiastic about this good news, Jakob begins spreading word of the Russian army's progress through the Polish ghetto. He notices that the story gives people hope and makes it easier for them to get through the day. So Jakob begins inventing stories and passing them along, creating fictional war reports that suggest that the occupation may soon be ending. However, when the occupation troops get wind of these stories, they become convinced that someone has communications equipment stashed away somewhere, and they're determined to find both the radio and its operator at all costs. Jakob the Liar was the first American feature for director Peter Kassovitz; the supporting cast includes Armin Mueller-Stahl, Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, and Liev Schreiber. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A French army journalist bears witness to the atrocities of the Algerian war in 1962 in this gripping French war movie. It is based on the 1967 novel by Philippe Labro. The film begins in Paris as Jerome Carier, ready to embark to Algiers, is beaten and questioned about the politically sensitive photographs he has. The photos were sent to him by Francois, a friend stationed in Algiers. Francoise is trying to get the French and the Algerians to reconcile. Jerome arrives in the war-torn country and finds himself faced with unbelievable carnage. The French are behind most of it. Because he took the pictures, Francois life is in jeopardy. He is murdered and Jerome finds himself attracted to his girl friend, a radio station announcer. The film contains graphic pictures of the slaughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In the Dancing Machine, Alain Delon is Alan Wolf, a former great name in the world of dance, who has been forced by injuries to retire and become an instructor. He trains talented young people who hope for a career as dancers. In particular, despite an incredibly harsh and demanding demeanor, he wins the fanatical adoration of his female students. Indeed, so ardent is their worship of him that when they are dismissed from his studio for artistic shortcomings, many of them become suicidally despondent. One of them actually dances herself to death outside the window to his home. As deaths among his students begin to accumulate, Inspector Eparvier (Claude Brasseur) begins an investigation. Is Wolf simply a cold-blooded and apparently misogynistic manipulator, or is he deliberately bringing about these deaths? ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Kumiko Goto and Toru Nakamura co-star in this sentimental tearjerker. Yumi is an academically and musically gifted junior high school girl who is dying of leukemia. Akira is a college student who hopes to someday become a teacher. Akira's mother talks her son into courting Yumi so she will know what love is before she dies. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Henry Volney (Yves Montand) is a crusading district attorney who refuses to believe the official investigation on the death of an assassinated President in this uneven suspense thriller. He interview a waitress who is the only one who can positively identify the killer, but conspirators trace his call and are able to capture him. Montand gives a good performance, but the plot is too full of holes to be effective and is too implausible to be believable. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide