Michel Drach Movies

Based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Ania Francos, this tragi-comedy follows the diagnosis and internment of lawyer Lola Friedlander (Carole Laure) in the cancer ward of a large clinic. There Lola encounters Marie-Aude (Jeanne Moreau) and Cathy (Dominique Labourier), two very different patients from opposite walks of life who each contribute to Lola's adjustment. Given that the doctor at this clinic is a media-star, there is a certain aura of unreality to the story that also permeates some of the episodes involving subsidiary characters like Lola's boyfriend or her archetypal Jewish family. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

A good argument against capital punishment, this polemical as well as compelling docudrama tells the story of the arrest, conviction, and execution of a man who may have been innocent. In 1974 a young girl was kidnapped and murdered near Marseilles. The public was outraged at the crime, so when traveling salesman Christian Ranucci (Serge Avedikian) was arrested, the prevailing mood was to convict him. As this story unfolds, it is revealed that the court did not allow certain exonerating evidence to be presented nor contradictory witnesses to take the stand. Among the facets of the case that raised doubt was a red sweater found at the crime scene. It belonged to the killer but was several sizes too big for Ranucci. In brief, there is enough evidence to suggest that the real killer and kidnapper got away with it. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Adolescence and sexuality hits Daniel (Louis Julien) particularly hard, and the romantic hypocrisy of the adult world nearly drives him to distraction. He drops out of school, sponges off his father (Michel Aumont), who has divorced his mother, and has a brief romance with an older woman, an actress (Nathalie Roussel). When she is revealed to him as the opportunistic hussy she is, he goes home to attempt suicide. His mother (Joelle Bernard), who has been having problems of her own, comes upon him just as the attempt fails, and the two of them find themselves laughing at their problems. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Elise (Marie-Josee Nat) is a young provincial woman working in a factory in Paris. Her revolutionary brother secured the position for her, and she falls in love with an Algerian native who works with her. She becomes painfully aware of the prejudice he experiences from the police and his superiors. The recent conflict between France and Algeria only compounds the problems of Algerians in France. Her love and concern for the man causes her to search for him after he disappears one day. Elise considers moving to Algeria to find the man she loves in this bitter social drama. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

This comedy is built around a car and the various characters who own the vehicle throughout the feature. A Countess takes her terrified secretary on a wild ride in the country before she sells the car to a dealer. The auto serves as the connection for a series of predictable situations and sight gags. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

The vagaries of love are often tragic, as Amelie ou le Temps d'Aimer seems to say. Directed by Michel Drach in his second try at a feature-length film, the well-wrought romance revolves around the love that develops between Amelie (Marie-Jose Nat) and her cousin Alain (Jean Sorel). Amelie is an orphan who lives with Alain and his family on an island off the coast of France. Alain has dreams of working as a seaman, while Amelie works for Alain's father. The budding romance between the two takes a nose-dive when Alain falls for a glamorous actress who shows up on the island one day. Not mature enough yet to make a wise choice, Alain's betrayal of Amelie turns out to be a grievous mistake. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide