Robert Enrico Movies

This is a psychological drama about Louis Riquier (Charles Berling), a veteran of the Algerian war and a divorced father whose wife (Beatrice Palme) has custody of their children and who barricades himself with the kids in his country house. The police and the press surround the house, but he does not want to surrender. Instead, he gets more and more violent. Manipulated by their father, the kids go along with the scenario, taking it as a game. The film has as background the turbulence of 1968, with all its left-wing political implications. As in the director's previous film (Vieux fusil (The Old Gun), the gun also has multiple purposes here. Literally speaking, it is the instrument of crime; metaphorically, it is the force that would liberate the poor victim from his tragic fate. But the hero is just too violent and emotionally disturbed to evoke one's pity. The film is heavy with many denunciations, trying to evoke the atmosphere of the early 1970's, but it loses its impact when it abandons character development in favor of political jargon and becomes only an imperfect copy of an important period in French history. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide

Alice (Nathalie Baye) is the widow of a Jewish surgeon who helps the former diplomat Jerome (Pierre Arditi) smuggle Jews out of Austria to save them from the Nazis. The duo recruits Charles (Christophe Malavoy), a shoe manufacturer whose uncle is a Nazi sympathizer in the Vichy government. Charles and Alice become lovers when they are picked up in Paris by Nazi soldiers on a curfew violation. Genevieve Mnich co-stars with Philippe Clevnot and Jean Bousie in this dramatic World War II love triangle. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Corruption in the rarified air of the corporate and governmental elite drives the action in this fast-paced thriller. Claire Rousset (Sabine Azema) heads to a small town to come to the aid of her ailing ex-husband, who has been poisoned by the town's drinking water. As Claire arrives, she sees a band of arsonists burn the city down, lock, stock, and water barrel. The iron-clad official statement is that the incinerated town had an unfortunate gas explosion. This blatant lie propels Claire to find out who torched the town, and why no one in government is listening to her. Meanwhile, Jeff Montellier (Richard Anconina), an employee of a company that transports lethal chemicals, finds out that a dangerous accident in the destroyed town poisoned its water supply. Eventually, Jeff and Claire cross paths in their investigations and discover that they are up against some very powerful enemies. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The source for the French detective drama Heads or Tails? was the American novel Baroni by Alfred Harris. Phillipe Noiret plays a weary Bordeaux detective, hot on the trail of Michael Serrault. Serrault's domineering wife has allegedly committed suicide, but Noiret suspects murder. As hunter and hunted get to know one another, an unusual bond forms between them. When Noiret is forced to retire by his corrupt superiors, he accepts a bribe from Serrault, and the two men retreat to the freedom and comfort of the South Seas. A you-can-see-it-a-mile-away "surprise ending" caps this minor escapade, which was originally released in France as Pile ou Face. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

During a summer vacation spent together, tensions in a large family surface. Joel, one of the family members, has Down's syndrome and has a happy and winning disposition. Unfortunately, his great-grandmother and grandmother and grandfather are cold to the boy. They feel that his presence in their midst shames them. This attitude infuriates the boy's parents and leads to recriminations and a split in the family. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Le Secret, based on a novel by Francis Ryck, begins with the escape of mental patient David Daguerre (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who kills an asylum guard in the process. Daguerre hides out in the home of writer Thomas Berthelot (Philippe Noiret), explaining that his wounds and bruises are the result of torture at the hands of the "special police." Berthelot and his wife, Julia (Marlène Jobert), are willing to believe that Daguerre is a fugitive from oppression, especially after their house is surrounded by a group of soldiers on maneuvers. The couple tries to help David escape to Spain, but Julia, who during most of the proceedings has been attracted to the escapee, becomes convinced that Daguerre is insane and kills him in self-defense. The surprise ending leaves the audience wondering whether or not the man had been telling the truth all along. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This broad French comedy includes some affectionate parodies of silent film features. Corny (Lino Ventura) is the captain of a rum-running boat during the U.S. Prohibition era, which ended before talking pictures were introduced. In his spare time, he haunts his local cinema, and his favorite actress is the divine Linda (Brigitte Bardot). Through a series of accidents, he finally gets to meet her in the flesh, and woo her. Their romance is obstructed by his bosses and her other suitors, but they keep trying to spend time together. Finally, the demands of stardom intervene. Corny goes back to his boat and sighs over the movie screen as before. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Zita, portrayed by Katina Paxinou, is a Parisian widow who has suffered a stroke. She is cared for by her niece Joanna Shimkus, who chafes under the responsibility and wanders off. Shimkus falls in with thieves and lowlifes, finally ending up in jail. She is bailed out by her family doctor (Paul Crauchet), but soon she's back in her old seedy nightclub haunts. While making love to jazz musician Jose Maria Flotats, Shimkus begins reminiscing about her childhood with her aunt. Somewhat chastened, a more mature Shimkus returns home to resume her duties--but by this time, Aunt Zita has died. The film's sympathies are squarely with the niece, whose "escape" from her aunt is meant to represent her final break from childish dependency. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this adventure, a hotshot pilot loses his license after he attempts to fly through the Arc de Triumph in Paris. Later he and his buddy head for the Congo accompanied by an unsuccessful female artist to locate a crashed plane supposedly filled with a fabulous treasure. Unfortunately, they are followed by greedy crooks who want the treasure for themselves. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Ambrose Bierce's classic hallucinatory short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge has been adapted to film at least three times. The first version was a 1932 short subject directed by Charles Vidor; the second was a two-part 1959 installment of TV's Alfred Hitchcock Presents; and the third was this award-winning French short, adapted and directed by Robert Enrico. The time is the American Civil War: Southern plantation-owner Peyton Farquahr (Roger Jacquet) has been condemned to death for spying against the Union cause. As he prepares to be hanged from the Owl Creek bridge, Farquahr morosely contemplates his fate and fondly recalls his loving wife (Anne Cornaly). The commanding officer gives the signal, Farquahr is dropped off the side of the bridge -- and suddenly the rope breaks. Farquahr breaks loose of his bonds, remains submerged in the creek as the soldiers' bullets whiz all about him, breathlessly reaches dry land, and painstakingly makes his way home to the arms of his wife. As he rushes towards her and.......ah -- to say more would be to ruin the surprise. The music by Henri Lanoe includes an original ballad, "Live Livin' Man", sung spiritual-style in English. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge made its American TV premiere as the February 28, 1964 installment of the anthology series The Twilight Zone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Robert Enrico directed and wrote the screenplay for this American Civil War trilogy taken from the stories of Ambrose Bierce. In "Chickamauga," a young deaf-mute witnesses the bloody battle and carnage as a surrealistic dream. "The Mockingbird" and "Incident At Owl Creek" are also done in a style heavy on symbolic realism and vivid imagery. Frenchman Enrico has done his homework to accurately and believably portray the settings and stories of the Civil War. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Art films. Films of two short stories: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and La Jetee. ~ All Movie Guide