A Secret

I love films that don’t rely on dialogue to tell their story, but make use of imagery and moments of silence and reflection to convey feeling. Director Claude Miller’s A Secret, based on the novel of the same name by Philippe Grimbert, is one of these films.

Set in the 1930s, A Secret is about a Jewish family trying to forget the past. Miller captures the essence of a young boy, François, finding out about, and coming to terms with the secret that’s had such a negative effect on his childhood and marred his relationship with his father. It’s not until he turns fifteen that he discovers the truth from a close family friend. As events unfold through François’ eyes we learn what has had such a devastating effect on all their lives, and ultimately on his.

Every character feels whole, and their relationships are so intense and compelling that they don’t need to be bolstered by emotive background music or explanatory dialogue. Patrick Bruel, who plays François’ father, Maxim, delivers a level of passion that fills the screen. Another key protagonist, Hannah (Ludivine Sagnier), shifts through the entire spectrum of emotions without ever expressing her innermost thoughts verbally, and draws you into her happiness, pain and grief as if they were your own. While Tania (Cecile de France) is convincing as the siren who unintentionally finds herself caught in a situation from which she cannot – or seems unwilling to – drag herself away.

Of all the scenes in the film, it is the marriage sequence which really captures the sentiments of every lead character. From that moment on, the drama of this tale pulls you towards an inevitable and tense outcome. 

A Secret not only looks good, with its lush scenery and stunning period architecture, it is also well constructed and sensitively takes you through three entwining eras, retaining the suspense throughout.

This totally absorbing, richly delivered film will stay with you long after it ends.

A Secret is released in UK cinemas on 9 May.

[Reviewed and posted by PS]

Comments

[Peter Nellhaus]

I'll look out for this film. I've been sporadically catching up on Miller's films available on DVD.