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'Bon Voyage' is worth the trip to the theater

Thursday, Jun 10, 2004 - 09:59:53 pm CDT

BYL. KENTWOLGAMOTT

"Bon Voyage" is part romance, part spy story, part comedy and thoroughly entertaining - the kind of old-fashioned, quality movie making that people always claim to be looking for, then rarely go to theaters to see.

The offsetting factor this time is likely to be the language. "Bon Voyage" is in French, and American audiences have a built-in aversion to subtitles - even though they just turned the subtitled "The Passion of the Christ" into a $370 million blockbuster. But those willing to set their cultural prejudice aside can't help but enjoy this lavish period piece from director Jean-Paul Rappeneau and his talented cast, including Gerard Depardieu and Isabelle Adjani.

Adjani, who's in her late 40s, plays about 15 years younger as Viviane Denvert, a self-absorbed, manipulative movie star who is willing to do whatever is necessary to advance her career. That includes setting up her youthful admirer Frederic (Gregori Derangere) to go to jail for a murder she committed and using smitten Interior Minister Jean-Etienne Beaufort (Depardieu) for any favors she deems necessary.

Then the Nazis invade France and everything changes. The moneyed classes flee from Paris to Bordeaux, and the prisons are emptied. So while Beaufort and Viviane, who has taken to living with him for survival, head south in a government car, Frederic is the beneficiary of a jailbreak.

Handcuffed to Raoul (Yvan Attel), Frederic gets away from the prison guards during the transfer, and the pair wind up on a train headed south. While on board, Raoul tries to put the moves on Camille (Virginie Ledoyen), the young assistant to Prof. Kopolski (Jean-Marc Stehle), who is fleeing to the south of France with secret material that could turn the course of the war.

Eventually, of course, all roads lead to Bordeaux, where Viviane is confronted by Frederick, Frederick remains in love with her despite the obvious affections of Camille, and a third man taken with the actress emerges. He's Alex Winckler (Peter Coyote), a journalist with a very deep, dark secret of his own. The last name's a tipoff. But that's all I'm going to say here.

The rest of the movie is a combination of rising tensions and farcical romance as Viviane moves from man to man depending on who she thinks can give her what she needs at the moment. Adjani, a brilliant actress, is at her best here, creating a character with an alluring combination of beauty and need - so much so that her suitors overlook her obvious flaws.

As for Depardieu, the other star known to American audiences, he's slimmed down and sophisticated as the minister, proving once again that he's a superb actor. The balance that Beaufort is trying to strike between possible accommodation with the Nazis and accommodating his demanding mistress is impossible, and Depardieu makes those tortures clear.

Derangere's naive Frederic is a well-drawn hero who is well played. The other major characters each fit the tale well as do the socialites, government officials, tourists and ordinary citizens who tumble across the screen, each trying to save his or her own skin.

Director Rappeneau and his four co-writers have done a superb job in creating characters that are both types and individuals, as well as crafting an engaging tale. And he's added the kind of lush visuals, with great period costuming and sets, necessary to make this kind of film work.

There are those who have blasted "Bon Voyage" for finding humor during the Nazi invasion and occupation of France. That little slice of political correctness ignores both film history (see "Casablanca") and the reality of life, where there are funny moments no matter how grim the circumstances.

I found it entertaining and captivating from the first moment to the last, hoping all along that Viviane gets what is coming to her. That engagement is a tribute to Adjani's fine performance and to Rappeneau's storytelling and direction. For me, "Bon Voyage" was a special treat. Who cares if it's in French?

Reach L.Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@;journalstar.com.

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Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau

Cast: Gerard Depardieu, Isabelle Adjani, Gregori Derangere, Peter Coyote

Rated: PG-13 (for some violence); inFrench with subtitles

Now Showing: Ross

The Reel Story: This engaging period piece is part romance, part spy story, part comedy and features a sterling performance from Adjani as a manipulative actress who uses three men to try to escape the Nazi invasion of France.