Sarah's Key (2010)
Mature themes, holocaust scenes and infrequent coarse language
| Director: | Gilles Paquet-Brenner |
| Actors: | Kristin Scott Thomas, Melusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup, Aidan Quinn |
When journalist Julia Jesmond is commissioned to write an article about the notorious 1942 Val dhal Round Up she stumbles on an appalling family secret. The apartment she and her French husband plan to move into was once occupied by the Jewish Starzynski family who were sent to the camps in the Round Up. As Julia investigates their fate she begins searching for their daughter Sarah and also for her own place in the world.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 111mins |
| Origin: | FRANCE |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
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Member Reviews (72)
72 Member
Reviews
Barbara Mitchell
says
Really a great movie. More of these.
says
very moving, sad story, but a must see to get an insight into the life of a Jewish child during WWII
JeffK
says
The story moves easily between the new world and the old, meaning the USA and Europe and between 1937/38 and the present. It exposes irrational public attitudes towards the Jews by the French, as opposed to the NAZI’s, which is an important distinction that resulted in the execution of many thousands. It also explores contemporary relationships engulfed in the exposition of the central story. This is an excellent film, beautifully acted and directed. ‘Sarah’s Key’ is as disturbing as it is compelling.
says
My husband and I found this story very moving. The reality of what happening to the Jews in France had a huge impact on us both. Found the subtitles a little disconcerting to start with, but really glad I persisted with the movie.
says
Very moving
alistair c
says
Hmm, this is a tricky one. You could characterise this movie as one women's obsession (or was it mid life crisis?) with the past to the extent that she will destroy her family and foist the (assumed) sins of the grandfather on the grandson. Or you could just say it is an interesting bit of investigative historical journalism. I enjoyed the historical story but not the trashy way the director syruped up the last half hour to suit american tastes.
says
I loved this movie. The young girl "Sarah" was a brilliant little actress. The story was enlightening, as I did not know about the fate of French Jews during WWII.
Jenny
says
A moving and distressing drama about Sarahs' experience in WW2
Bren
says
a avery good story but with all the horrible events of jews and nazi's in 42 and the attrocities that went on was terrible inthose times but the story was told well and there was a brighter outcome although sad.
s.k.
says
Another praise-worthy performance from Ms Scott Thomas. A tragic story told with sensitivity and deftness.
sue
says
good story, i liked this one.
Nigel W
says
A French journalist investigates what happened to a Jewish family in WWII. A holocaust drama that doesn’t quite have the impact it should given it deals with a black chapter of French history.
theodora
says
one of the best movies i have seen in a long time - very intriguing story line!
Elise
says
Sarahs Key is an overwhelmingly sad film in which one of the the main characters, Sarah, finds herself in a situation she can't possibly correct. This creates great angst in the film watcher, as it is like a bad dream that you can' be wokenfrom. It presents another aspect of the attrocities of WWII that most people will not be familliar and contains a reminder that those intensely saveg times of the World Wars still impact on our modern lives.
Filipio
says
Any film that addresses aspects of the attempted genocide of European Jews ought to be confronting, brutal and emotional. But this film, concerning the mass deportation of Jewish people from France, is especially heartrending in its focus on the central character of Sarah, a young girl (played by M?lusine Mayance) who finds herself in an unimaginably difficult situation. Mayance is excellent, and Kristin Scott Thomas is also very good as a contemporary journalist who discovers a personal connection to her story. The film is let down somewhat by its final section (featuring Aiden Quinn), which is set largely in the US and becomes sentimental and somewhat clichéd -- I'm left wondering if this was designed to cater for American audiences.
Bron
says
Excellent movie, spoken in English and French (subtitles). A historical/mystery drama set in France during WWII about the fate of a young Jewish girl, Sarah, who escapes from a detention camp to rescue her younger brother. Switches to the present time, where a compassionate American journalist (Scott-Thomas, excellent) digs into the past to try and find out the fate of Sarah and her younger brother. Tragic moments but overall, uplifting. Had me riveted - my husband & 13 yr old son really enjoyed it too.
marinemaison
says
Fabulous intelligent movie. A true story worth seeing. Kristin Scott Thomas does not disappoint.
Barbara
says
Please do not send foreign films - I don't like subtext.
Phil
says
Touching French movie which despite of slow bits remains interesting til the last minute. Very nice, well made, well acted.
Mary
says
This was an exceptional movie. The subtitling very good.
This has definitely inspired my interest in foreign movies and my husband (who has industrial deafness) really appreciated the subtitles.
Counie
says
It would be good if we'd known 99% of this movie was in sub titles!
Otherwise not bad, nice ending
Jayne
says
Great movie but very sad. Thought the young girls acting was superb. Subtitles were easy to keep up with. Well worth watching.
Alex
says
I lived in Vienna during that time and was about the age. I hadno idea what was happening to the Jews. This film portrais what probably happend. A must see movie.
Jan
says
compelling movie, a must see!
Helen
says
Harrowing story but fantastic acting
June
says
Wonderful movie. Interesting story line which bought tears to our eyes. One of the best movies I have seen in a long time!
Therese
says
Brilliant film, great cast, and compelling insight into the way the Parisians treated their own Jews. Highlights the propaganda, uncertainty and fear of war.
Susan McCarthy
says
This is a great movie and you can feel Sarah's desperation that she may have hurt her brother, rather than saved him. It's very interesting to watch the effects of the long kept secret on further generations. I love seeing Kristin Scott-Thomas utilising her high level of French proficiency, and her skilful acting. A great story!
kjn2010
says
Very moving story and a reminder of just how any war can change and affect a whole family. Could watch again.
Irix
says
Good film, very compelling.
bushy
says
Brilliant,brutal,honest,unexpected.
Liz x
says
Subtitles where a bit distracting initially - but an excellent film. Would watch it again
PL
says
Fantastic film..don't be put off by sub-titles. A reminder of the atrocities of war and those persecuted amidst an engaging and realistic story that stays with you. The complexity of the characters is brilliantly acted.
Sherri
says
great to watch , makes you relaise how precious life is ... will keep it dear to our hearts and think of those that were dismayed ..
Bev M
says
Apart from the subtitles, this was a Great movie.
If your happy to read subtitles,[ they are not to long]
you should enjoy.
dmatters888
says
Excellent. A must-see movie with historical detail and great acting by the ten-year old star.
CW
says
Good movie, ending was fairly cheesey.
Lyn
says
Terrific adaptation of the book - very close to it, in fact. Great acting. Storyline even better. Such a little known part of WWII when the French turned on their own people. Deserves to be told.
PK
says
Sarah’s key is a provocative and touching film, bringing to life forgotten and horrific remnants of events that occurred in France by their own kin during World War II. Drifting between past and present, threads of history are sought and prodded by a journalist with unforeseen consequences and ramifications that both shatter and build relationships. In a word, Perfect.
LP
says
Thought provoking drama
N Cary
says
Excellent
Fel
says
Very good thought provoking movie
Lorraine Wait
says
It was all in french and could not understand any of it would like to see it again but in english
ssg
says
Wonderful film. Held my interest the whole time
Boo
says
Very engaging story although i foudn the ending incredibly irritating
shelley
says
Memorable film Kristen Scott Thomas gives an amazing performance
Gordon Hart
says
Tight story line with excellent performances by the cast.
A Turner
says
I enjoyed the book and was pleasantly surprised that the film lived up to expectations without becoming melodramatic. As usual, Kristin Scott Thomas was brilliant!
Susan
says
Such an amazing and captivating film so brilliantly acted. Movies as good as this are hard to come by so it really is a "must see"!
sue hiras
says
It was exelent.
Lynne
says
excellent
CAROL
says
Excellent
Pauline of Cairns
says
A beautiful story. Quite sad really but very interesting and well filmed and produced.
Kismet
says
Awesome Film....what more do you need to know than that!!!
Karen
says
Liked the movie, but would have enjoyed it more if it was ALL subtitled not just here and there.
mcmanpp
says
A quality film, in my opinion. Ms Scott Thomas rivets attention as both her character and we as viewers suspect but can't quite identify how the events of long ago affect her family intimately and remain unresolved today.
MLV
says
Very interesting, really well acted and kept me fascinated to the end.
kimbo
says
In modern-day Paris, a journalist (Kristen Scott Thomas) finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel' d'Hiv Roundup in 1942. Superb acting and great story. Very impressive
Helen
says
Truly amazing and thought provoking.
karengray
says
fantastically moving i have never cried like that before at a film!
Deborah
says
very slow
gol
says
Powerful story of a woman's journey to find the truth about the history of a house she now lives in, it is set in 2009 but has flashbacks to the horrors of World war 2. They are sad and disturbing especially as it was the French persecuting their own on behalf of the Germans. Thomas is always brilliant as was the young girl Melusine. Wooden acting by the son and the father of Sarah detracted from what is a excellent nights entertainment. Great drama and tension that builds to a quality climax. Highly recommended
Andrew
says
Even though I read the book I enjoyed the movie immensely, the story was incredible, the scenes from 1941 were very realistic. The cast was excellent.
Jo
says
Even though the movie was sticking in places this movie was very interesting kept me glued to the screen
Lharry
says
part french with subtitles/part english, from past to present. 2 womens journeys. An amazing story based on Jewish roundup and deportation from France by the French, not the Nazi's. Heart wrenching story which really leaves a lasting effect.. story, direction, acting, scenery all done to perfection, absolutley beautiful.
Lharry
says
part french with subtitles/part english, from past to present. 2 womens journeys. An amazing story based on Jewish roundup and deportation from France by the French, not the Nazi's. Heart wrenching story which really leaves a lasting effect.. story, direction, acting, scenery all done to perfection, absolutley beautiful.
Lauren
says
The atrocities of the holocaust are often called to the attention of contemporary audiences by filmmakers. Sarah's Key, however, seeks to tell a story that has largely been neglected throughout this process - the 1942 Vel' d' Hiv roundup of Jewish families by French (not Nazi) authorities. On that front, the film deserves some credit. There are, moreover, some truly estimable moments in this film. However, with a growing tide of affected emotionalism and mawkishness, the film loses almost all of its initial impact. The final scene is particularly hard to stomach and trashes any genuine feeling that the film has established earlier on. It's very inconsistent and, as a result, rather disappointing.
Danielle Gibson
says
One of the most captivating movies. Showed great insight into the plight of many Jewish people in WW2.
Seashells
says
Very different approach to the subject........very interesting right to the very end !
Always good to see it from another point of view....still frightening to think it could have ever happened ........but at the same time how easily it actually did happen!
Anne
says
SARAH'S KEY, what an amazing movie! I didn't have high hopes but it sucked me in until I couldn't stop watching. The characters were spell-binding, the story gut-wrenching and afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Kristen Scott Thomas was excellent. I didn't know anything about how the French treated their Jews, and after seeing this there was a documentary about the very subject on SBS and it was almost the same as the movie. So I am a real fan of this movie. Nowadays movies are mindless, boring entertainment but this one is almost like the movies that I grew up with, with a real story that captivates.
Linda Newstead
says
If you think, 'oh no, another holocaust movie', please think again. This is a story about relationships past and present. An American writer starts delving into the horrid history of an apartment she and her husband are renovating in Paris. The consequences are life-changing. This is a wonderful study of how history should never be put on the backburner.
Pauline
says
A well-crafted storyline, strong acting and beautifully shot. Thoroughly recommended.