Marc Barbé Movies

The brutal legacy of the Algerian war forms the heart of filmmaker Florent Emilio Siri's stark period drama concerning a young French soldier confronted by the horrors of war. Lieutenant Terrien (Benoît Magimel) has been dispatched to one of the most remote regions of Algeria to replace an officer who was killed in a recent skirmish. But this war is much more complicated than Lieutenant Terrien ever anticipated, and before long he is forced to confront a World War II French Army veteran willing to kill the soldiers with whom he once served in order to secure the independence of his birthplace. When the fellaghas (Algerian national fighters) massacre an entire village in retaliation for a visit from the French, Lieutenant Terrien vows to remain calm and professional despite the unspeakable horrors that greet him with each passing day. On the other side of the coin is battle-hardened Sergeant Dougnac (Albert Dupontel), a soldier who has seen more than his fair share of combat and stands firm in the belief that this brand of brutality can only be confronted with equal measures of barbarity. Later, Lieutenant Terrien meets a young boy who miraculously survived the massacre of his village and is forced to see the conflict through the innocent eyes of a child. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A newly married attorney accepts the murder case that could establish him as a top defense lawyer, only to find himself hopelessly intertwined with a prime suspect after meeting the mysterious beauty at the scene of the crime. Approached by this brother with a case that seemed especially difficult, ambitious lawyer Lucien Lambert agrees to defend a woman accused of murdering her husband in cold blood. Blanche Kaplan is going to trial for murder. Despite the fact that Blanche has an airtight alibi, the case against her is strong due to the fact that her fingerprints were all over the knife that was used to kill her husband. As Lucien begins to investigate the case by exploring Blanche's home, he happens across a strange but mesmerizing woman named Marguerite who seems to have taken over the abandoned abode. In the days that follow, Lucien and Marguerite enter into a bizarre game of seduction and persecution - often interacting like a married couple as they dine together, discuss the events of their day, and grow increasingly intimate. Later, as Marguerite admits to Lucien that she had been having an affair with Paul Kaplan, plain close policeman Louis Berger observes their actions from afar. Yet despite the fact that her recent confession has made Marguerite a prime suspect, Lucien's view of her has become hopelessly biased since he has fallen completely in love with her. Now that Lucien has become blinded by his feelings for Marguerite, it's up to detective Berger to uncover the truth and capture the killer. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Guillaume Depardieu, Jeanne Balibar, and Michel Piccoli star in director Jacques Rivette's adaptation of the Balzac novella The Duchesse de Langeais, which tells the tale of a Parisian socialite who is romantically pursued by a Napoleonic war hero. The story begins as grieving French general Armand de Montriveau (Depardieu) arrives at a Majorcan church to speak with French nun Antionette le Langeais (Balibar). General de Montriveau believes le Langeais to be a woman he once loved dearly, but eventually lost. As the pair is reunited under the watchful eyes of the presiding priest and mother superior, their romantic past gradually comes into focus. It was five years ago that bored socialite Antoinette first became enamored with the wounded soldier whose rousing tales of adventure offered exciting contrast to her highly refined lifestyle. Though she was married at the time, the coquettish cosmopolitan quickly fell under the spell of the commanding military man -- who vowed that very night that Antoinette would be his lover. As their romance grows more complicated, the passionate pair finds it increasingly difficult to deny the powerful connection that binds them. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

In the scattered narrative of The New Life, men and women are for sale, apparently to be used as prostitutes, at a housing project somewhere in Eastern Europe. Melania (Anna Mouglalis of Merci Pour le Chocolat) is bought by a pimp, Boyan (Zsolt Nagy), who brings her into a room and torments her, painfully cutting off her hair with a pocketknife before forcefully kissing her. Seymour (Zachary Knighton), an American, goes to a strip club and watches some dancers. He is immediately attracted to Melania, and pays to have some private time with her. Once they're alone, he hesitates, uncertain of himself, before lust overcomes him and he pounces on Melania. It's over in a moment. She dresses quickly and leaves, while he lays on the bed, moaning in despair. Melania next services a sadistic man whose instructions she can't seem to follow properly. He humiliates her, beats her, and then sings her a song. Seymour becomes obsessed with Melania. He watches her sing in a nightclub. He pays to spend more time with her, and then tries to buy her outright, against the advice of his troubled friend, Roscoe (Marc Barbé, who starred in director Philippe Grandrieux's debut film, Sombre). Seymour fantasizes about taking Melania away, but Boyan is determined to keep her. He makes her dance for him, spinning like a top. Roscoe winds up being chased through the woods and attacked by dogs. The New Life, scripted by Grandieux and Eric Vuillard, was shown at the 2002 London Film Festival and at Lincoln Center in New York as part of their 2003 Film Comment Selects series. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Former video installation artist Philippe Grandieux made his feature directorial debut with this French psychological thriller that probes the mind of a serial killer. A hand-held camera follows murderer Jean (Marc Barbe) as he strangles French women while driving about France. When Claire (Elina Lowensohn) has a roadside car breakdown, she and her sister Christine (Geraldine Voillat) get a lift from the demented Jean, who later attacks Christine while she's at a lake for a swim. Back at the hotel, he menaces both sisters. Claire succeeds in extricating Christine, who leaves on a train for Paris -- while Claire makes the mistake of sticking around in order to "help" the crazed Jean. Shown in competition at the 1998 Locarno Film Festival where it provoked controversy and an official statement: "Half of the jury would like to call attention to Sombre. Our jury split between those who were morally offended by the film and those who saw a purpose in its darkness, and in the strength of its mise-en-scene and images." ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

This French film offers a powerful fictionalized account of renowned French poet, actor, and intellectual Antonin Artaud who in life walked a fine, often blurred line between genius and insanity. It is told from the viewpoint of Artaud's intimate friend, student, and pusher, the poet Jacques Prevel. The story begins in late Spring 1946 as Artaud is released from a Rodez asylum where he stayed for nine years. He returns to Paris where Prevel, eager to resume their mentor student relationship, patiently waits. The last two years of Artaud's life provide the focus for much of the film. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi